Can You Talk?
My dear old granny was a spritely 97 years and 7 months old exactly when she decided she’d had enough...
History/Culture
Invisible Migrants: Indonesians Abroad
Imagine if three Dutch, American, or Germans died abroad every day? The outrage and international attention would be astounding. The...
Understanding the word ‘Bule’
According to Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia or KBBI (The Great Dictionary of the Indonesian Language), bule is a word used...
John H. McGlynn – The Lontar Foundation
For much of the world, Indonesia is an exotic country next to Bali, and Java is where coffee comes from....
Linda the Tsunami Survivor
Linda’s story is somewhat of a reflection of Aceh itself, sad but uplifting. Her life was changed forever a little...
Inspiration Comes in all Shapes and Sizes: The Madura Library Project
Inspirational adults striving to make a difference in their communities are out there. Inspirational teenagers, however, are not as easy...
Pulau Kotok – In Conversation with Nature
Travel and tourism have become so jaded these days that few places evoke the sense of calm, peace or romance...
Eat, Pray, Smile
“Ketut Liyer? You mean Ketut Liar?” is a commonly repeated joke in Bali, although I did meet a couple of...
Meet David Metcalf
Meet David Metcalf, aka Dayak Dave, a photographer and author whose passion for Indonesia gives back to the people he...
A Satirical Guide to Indonesian Politicians: What are their chances in the 2014 Elections?
A while back I was watching this Metro TV program called Kick Andy and on it there was this impoverished...
Solid as Rock: Mama Aleta, Guardian of Timor’ Sacred Towers
Fine sunrays kiss the pine-covered hills and lush grasslands as our motorbikes swept through the rural dirt roads. There’s...
Cheating on the Buses
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Transjakarta busway: a public transport system beset by financial scams. Even before...
Meet Dr. Titus Leber
Meet Dr. Titus Leber, an Austrian filmmaker who transformed Borobudur into interactive multimedia....
The Thin Light Blue Line
There are a number of things that I believe everyone should do before they die (other than “shout for help”...
A Decade of Jazz
The energy was high as I stepped onto the premises of Jakarta International EXPO Kemayoran, Jakarta. The 10th annual Java...
The Gamelan Group: All Nationalities, Ages and Motives Welcome
As Pak Parno threads his way through the gamelan, he claps his hands to guide the tempo and calls out...
For Japan: Our Sister
March 2011: In the streets of Jogjakarta some unconventionally dressed young Indonesian men and women carry boxes marked ?Jogja Care...
Siti the Dayak Dancer
Siti is an extraordinarily beautiful and determined young woman. Her story is one of courage and determination and a desire...
A Brief History of Tobacco
Tobacco was first cultivated in the Peruvian and Ecuadorian Andes, from where it spread north and south till it covered...
Dangerously Nice: Kretek Cigarettes
I was a kretek (clove cigarette) smoker for almost two years. When I first started smoking clove cigarettes in Kalimantan...
Balinese Literature: A Moveable Feast
In understanding Balinese literature, we must start with a religion and mythology founded in India over 3,500 years ago. The...