Isen Mulang – A Cultural Extravaganza
A very special event occurs in Central Borneo on May the 18th each year. Thousands of Dayaks converge on the...
History/Culture
Mount Bromo: Where Heaven and Hell Meet
Mount Bromo (Gunung Bromo), an active volcano two hours’ drive east of Surabaya, East Java, is by far the most...
The July 9 Election: a Toss-up
One month before the July 9 presidential election day, a poll held by Kompas showed that about 40% of voters...
Selamat Pagi, Malam: Good Morning, Night
Jakarta is so much more than meets the eye. Behind all the night lights and afternoon smoke of pollution and...
Adventures into the Heart of Borneo with Michael Palmieri
Borneo is the third largest island in the world, which is politically shared by three countries, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei....
Rut Dini: the River Guardian
Dini is a passionate defender of the rivers of Borneo, which is not surprising, as her memories of growing up...
The Kangaroo & the Komodo
?Australians remain wary of Indonesia,? declared a headline on the eve of Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott?s recent meeting with...
Take a Tour Down Moke Land, Flores
I had come many times to Indonesia and had visited islands and places all the way from Sabang to Sumbawa,...
When There’ Torque of Bikes
Late last year I was invited to attend a ‘motor show’ in Sanur, which I was told would be spectacular,...
Clean Up Jakarta Day 2014
As you may be aware, the second annual Clean Up Jakarta Day is around the corner and will take place...
Expats and Locals in Solidarity for a Safer Bali
In response to the recent increase in street crimes, road accidents, home burglaries, and murder in Bali, expats have created...
Unlucky Charms
It is widely believed in Indonesia that daggers, polished stones and fabrics can be imbued with magical powers that will...
Meet Rony Indo
Meet Rony Indo, The French-Indonesian Prince who is living happily ever after in Bali. Hello Rony. Where were you born...
Birth Certificates
When Fanta, a four-year-old girl living with her family under the toll road in West Jakarta was molested, Jakarta Police...
The Warung Ritual of Bali
There is something so delightfully charming about the warung. It?s a celebration of culture, where traditional foods meet a relaxing,...
Ferzya from Aceh
Whenever I meet someone on my travels around Indonesia like Ferzya, I am filled with great hope for the future...
The Village that Saved its Culture, Leatherback Turtles and its Coral Reefs
There are only a few beaches in the world on where the giant leatherback turtle lays its eggs. The leatherback...
Sekolah Kami – Breaking the Cycle of Poverty for Trash-Pickers’ Children through Education
As we approached the school to volunteer our time, girls swept with rush brooms and boys tidied up. They are...
An Endless Journey: Reflections of an Indonesian Journalist
One doesn’t plan to live 97 years, but in doing so, it is impossible not to consider how it was...
Inaro the Kerokan Healer
A conversation about world of healing would be incomplete without mentioning the wonderful world of kerokan. Kerokan, synonymous with masuk...
It’ all Downhill on a Cycling Tour of Ubud
When visiting Bali, people either stay by the sea or head for the hills. My husband and I opted for...