Indonesian Nationalism, With A Smile
On the 17th of August, Indonesia celebrates Independence Day with a day of parades and revelry. On such patriotic occasions foreigners the world over are usually relegated to being mere outsiders. Perhaps not so in this country, though, as an interesting anecdote taught me… On the 17th of October a few years ago, as I
Celebrating Indonesia’s Independence
It was surely one of the great moments in history when Soekarno and Hatta declared independence from the Dutch in 1945. To be free to govern themselves after kowtowing to the colonial government of some far-off European nation was a magical feeling which spread from end to end of this vast archipelago. But with that
Banned : Building on Beaches
One of my favourite things in life, which I’m sure I share with many of you, is simply walking along a beach. There is something so peaceful about the lapping of the waves when the sea is gentle, and so powerful when the surf is crashing in. Both are reminders that nature is our preferred
Devoted Island
Have you ever stopped to think about devotion? It’s an interesting word isn’t it? Not exactly used every day, we talk about how our friend is “devoted” to his mother, or vice versa, but rarely apart from that. Devoted means having a dedication to something or someone, it means putting that objective above our own
Ice-Cold Beer is Here to Stay
You may not know it, but Bali just averted a serious disaster: the banning of beer sales in minimarts and small outlets and informal sellers! This was proposed by the Minister of Trade to safeguard Indonesian youth from intoxication due to the ready availability of beer in the many thousands of minimarts, all over the
The Best Things to do in Bali
A year ago Trip Advisor’s 100 Best Things to do in Bali only had TWO genuinely Balinese things on it, the rest were western lifestyle nonsense including glass-bottomed boats, camel rides and bungee jumping. I wrote to them and asked them to think again, and wrote to every hotel I know asking them to ignore Trip
Is This Really What We Want?
I don’t know about you, but my idea of a paradise island is completely natural, with trees and grass all around, with little paths snaking through fields giving surprises and delights at each corner: a hidden stream with fresh flowing water, a huge tree with birds nesting in it, a serene temple standing in the rice
Love
This issue is about love. Why? Because it’s February and we celebrate Valentine’s Day! Most people don’t know that he was a saint, but he was, and he was remembered because of his great love for humanity, even forgiving his jailer when he was falsely imprisoned. How is your love for humanity? Are you depressed
Artists and Artisans – What’s the difference between an artisan and an artist?
An artisan is essentially a manual worker who makes items with his or her hands, and who through skill, experience and talent can create things of great beauty as well as being functional. Before the industrial revolution virtually everything was made by artisans, from smiths (goldsmiths, blacksmiths, locksmiths, gunsmiths) to weavers, dyers carpenters, potters, etc.
