More travelers are seeking meaningful and immersive experiences rather than just ticking boxes at a rapid pace. As I listened to these words from Regal Star of Jasri Bay Hideaway, a small but elegant seaside hotel in east Bali, about the rise of slow travel in the...
In the early morning, I spotted my first orangutan high up in the trees. I heard him before I saw him. I awoke to branches cracking and some pretty furious tree-breaking overhead. Luckily, I was on a boat, safe from the massive, hairy, reddish-orange male orangutan...
I sat on the beach at Lamalera Village, only a couple of metres from a giant whale carcass, and chatted with my new friend, Benjamin. “We are devoutly Catholic here in Lamalera,” he said. “From late April to early May, our priest conducts a mass to open Leva Nuang,...
When I entered Sungai Utik Village, in the heart of West Kalimantan, I felt very excited when I caught my first glance at the longhouse. This long wooden communal dwelling with one roof stretched for 214 metres and houses 293 people. A delegation of young Dayak Iban...
Sunday brunch is a Jakarta thing to do. Many of the 5-star hotels host a Sunday brunch with an elaborate spread of food and include free-flow drinks. However, which 5-star brunch do you choose? Hands down, without a doubt, try the Hotel Mulia in the heart of Senayan....
Published: Lonely Planet, Apr 2022 As the largest archipelagic country in the world, majestic Indonesia showcases a wealth of jaw-dropping natural wonders across its 17,000-or-so islands. From leviathan volcanoes and lakes that hang uniquely above the sea to pristine...
Published in Lonely Planet Apr 2022 In an archipelago that stretches more than 5000km (3107 miles), with 17,000-some islands to explore, Indonesia’s national parks offer close contact with orangutans, leopards, and chattering rhino hornbills – even Komodo dragons –...
I stood safely behind a thin rope as a lone Sumba horseman advanced with great speed onto the large grassy field. With spear poised, he challenged his opponent on the other side of the field to come forward. He looked like he wanted blood. Elizabeth, my guide,...
TripbaliGazing over the Indonesian map sprawled out on the table, my eyes turned to the more remote Eastern part of Java. I live in Bali and drive a motorbike, as most of us do living here. I thought, maybe if I rally the troupes, we could ride our motorbikes from...
Published Garland Magazine (17 July 2020) Updated 07 April 2022 Stephanie Brookes writes about Pejeng Kangin, a resilient weaving village just outside Ubud that has united the weavers of Bali and helped revive a long lost artisan craft. The weavers of Bali are dusting...
