Must Visit Destinations in Jayapura
As the capital of Papua Province, Jayapura has developed into one of the most advanced and busy cities in the province. But not many people know about attractive sites that are offered by the city....
View ArticleA Peek Into Kampung Life in Yogyakarta
Most maps of Yogyakarta show three rivers running through the city: the Winingo, the Code and the Gajahwong, but these ribbons of brackish water barely get noticed by most visitors more interested in...
View ArticleExpectations and Misunderstandings
It’s rare that I have had the opportunity to have a real discussion with a local resident, the fault being my own because I lack the language skills. It happened once in Croatia when I met and...
View ArticleAngkringan food court in kampung bule
Often, restaurant reviews focus on the obvious dining places, the ones on TripAdvisor, the popular upscale local restaurants. But there are far more unknown or out-of-the-way dining establishments that...
View ArticleChinese New Year party
Chinese New Year (Feb. 19 this year – it’s a lunar thing) is a big deal in Batam. There is a large Chinese community here, primarily due to the proximity of Singapore. Many, if not most, of the...
View ArticleAceh Stays Strong on Shariah Law Despite Criticism
On a recent Friday, three stragglers sat sipping the dregs of their coffee as the city of Banda Aceh closed up around them. The gates of the cafe, like those of shops up and down the street, had been...
View ArticleBackpacker Website Blazes Trail
The blue flames seep out from the cracks under the crater of the Mount Ijen volcano in Banyuwangi, East Java. Glowing eerily, the inextinguishable blue light is not just one of nature’s eternal flames;...
View ArticleHere’s a travel tip
Never decide to visit Singapore from Batam on a holiday weekend, even if it’s a Christian holiday (Easter) and there are mostly Muslims on Batam. My 60-day period between visa runs was due to expire on...
View ArticleBored on a Sunday
With nothing much else to do, I decided to take my daily walk a little early today and satisfy some curiosity about the waterfront area about a half mile from my apartment. The area is behind the...
View ArticleThis is what I see when I see Muslims
I have been withholding this post for some time, partly because I dread the vitriol it may create, but mostly because I wanted my anger to subside. Why angry? It goes back a few months to a news report...
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