A Decade of Jazz
The energy was high as I stepped onto the premises of Jakarta International EXPO Kemayoran, Jakarta. The 10th annual Java...
Travel
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...
Life’ a Beach at Tanjung Bira
“I go to seek a Great Perhaps.” – François Rabelais There can’t be many things in life that are...
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...
Tales from an Enchanted Island: A Travel Diary of Flores
Lush hills and steep cliffs overlooking lively villages and cerulean coasts adorn the winding roads of Flores from one corner...
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...
Top 10 Wellness Travel Trends for 2014
With the closure of 2013, industry strategies for 2014 and beyond are being defined ? and redefined ? by the...
The Secret Island
Travelling to an Indonesian island that is not in the guide books and barely mentioned on Wikipedia in search of...
Last Chance to See?
An unspoiled island off the northern coast of Sulawesi is scheduled for partial destruction despite a Supreme Court ruling that...
Wae Rebo: The Duality of Tradition and Progress in West Flores
The first time I saw pictures of Wae Rebo, I was intrigued with the traditional conical straw houses in the...
Beautiful Borders: The Unexplored Borders of Anambas
Although Indonesia is famous for its breathtaking mountain landscapes, mysterious caves, and rapid rivers, some forget that it is in...
The Christmas Spices of Indonesia
If you enjoy baking festive treats at home during the Christmas season, you may have noticed that imported foods such...
Good Tidings from Java-The Spirit of Sendang Sono
Many Catholics find Sendang Sono a great place to draw closer to God and strengthen their faith. And for non-Catholics...
Georgius Everhardus Rumphius: From Hobby to Fame
She was called Rumphius in honour and remembrance of the first naturalist of Ambon. Her hull was painted yellow and...
Shark Attack!
Back in 1975, Steven Spielberg?s ?Jaws? movie became one of the most successful motion pictures of all time. Leveraging on...
Twisted Tourism: LUSI
In May of 2006, Lapindo Brantas company, when drilling a natural gas well, was met with quite a surprise; a...
Development and Shifting Cultures: The Papuan Koteka
Perhaps the most iconic and essential item of clothing worn by the Dani and Yali men is the koteka or...
Rise of the Eco-Warriors
In 2010, students bashed their heads together at Microsoft?s Regional Innovative Education Forum and decided that they wanted to tackle...