The History of Mapping Australia
The mapping of Australia holds a special place in the history of cartography, as both the search for the mythical...
History/Culture
Surabaya: A Journey Through Time
Have you ever wondered why Surabaya is nicknamed the City of Heroes? Well, here are two historical places in the...
Success in the Sky: The KLM Story (Part One)
The letters most commonly associated with the history of Dutch aviation are “K.L.M.,” which stand for Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij (“Royal...
Bena and Tololela – Preserving tradition in Flores
Flores Island in East Nusa Tenggara Province is a combination of sea and forested mountains with meandering highways cutting the...
The Betawi – A Look at the History, Culture and Cuisine
Nowadays Kemang is a favourite residential area of foreigners, and a trendy hangout hotspot with a wide range of restaurants,...
Corruption and Mismanagement in the Times of the VOC
The Dutch East India Company (Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie, VOC) was established in 1602. The company was initially granted a 21-year...
The Resurrection of Krakatau
When Krakatau erupted in 1883, it became the most powerful volcanic eruption in recorded history. Scientists stationed in Batavia (Jakarta)...
Precious Indonesian Artifacts Being Looted by Treasure Hunters
Precious Indonesian artifacts in the paddy fields of Sukoharjo district, Central Java, are being dug up by illegal treasure hunters who...
The Dutch Pioneering Voyage to the East Indies
The last decade of the sixteenth century heralded the emergence of the Dutch as the colonial power that was to...
The Living Dead
Benjamin Franklin once said, “…in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.’’ While one occurs...
Preserving Indonesian Fabric: Sumbanese Tenun
The government, private associations and other local initiatives are now beginning to use tenun ikat Sumba–traditional, handwoven textiles from Sumba–to...
What the Temples of Indonesia Tell Us
We live in a vast archipelago nation alongside 129 active volcanoes. Traditional wooden houses in this region have withstood the...
Get Ready To Wave The Red And White
With the Independence Day holiday fast approaching and the country already painting itself red and white, August is always a...
All Aboard Transjakarta To See Jakarta’s Sights
The TransJakarta Jakarta Explorer tourist bus routes proved a success over the holiday break with visitors flocking to the Istiqlal...
Indonesia’s old manuscripts are waiting to be deciphered
Mehamat Boru Karo Sekalu, a lady working in North Sumatra Museum reads an ancient book written in Batak letters, eloquently....
Borobudur Reliefs Tell Wise Tales
Borobudur Temple was built in the eighth century and has more than 2,670 reliefs. Each set of reliefs tells a...
Lakoat Kujawas: Comfort Food and Literature from the Heart of Timor
Munching on shrimp dumplings fried in lard (babi oangke) at lively garden weddings, dipped in a tangy chili sauce bursting...
Alfred Raquez’ Trip to Batavia
“Alfred Raquez” is the pseudonym of Joseph Gervais, a bankrupt French lawyer who fled to the Far East in the...
British Bengkulu: A Forgotten Imperial Outpost
Bengkulu, October 1685: The fort stood atop a small hillock on the banks of a coffee-coloured creek. To the west...
Tana Olen, the Forbidden Forest
“We call this place Tana Olen,” Philius, the Dayak elder explained. “In Kenyah Dayak language this means forbidden forest –...
Menteng Pulo: Field of Honour
The most astonishing experience when entering the Netherlands Field of Honour Menteng Pulo (Menteng Pulo Ereveld) is the silence. Just...