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 at a safe distance 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. Daniel, my guide,...
World music is coming to Bali! For four days, March 24-27, the IMEX – Indonesian Music Festival is kicking off at the Puri Lukisan Museum in Ubud. Stepping up on stage to dazzle and delight is a dynamic assortment of over 100 musicians and vocalists flying in from...
A lost village in Flores A last-minute decision to buy a pig before setting off into the isolated mountains of Manggarai, Western Flores proved to be a wise decision. I was about to embark on a three-hour trek to the old Manggaraian village of Wae Rebo and I felt it...
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...
What’s on your bucket list for 2021? Does exploring Aceh in Northern Sumatra appeal? Once a traveler always a traveller, right? When the world resumes and this pandemic passes, airlines will start flying again and my recommendation is for exploring Aceh. When...
Bali Rice Feld – a Gateway to Balinese Culture and Spirituality The humble Bali rice field, since the 9th century, has used a sophisticated system of irrigation channels or “subak”, which distributes water across the island. In 2012, UNESCO gave the...
When you get curious about other cultures, what are the best ways to explore them? Some of us book a flight, keen for a first-hand experience. Others turn to study, maybe anthropology or indigenous studies at university. Some, like Anniina Sandberg, an adventurous...
Blitar is a quiet, friendly town in East Java. From mystical lakes with god-fish legends to the stunning Bung Karno Museum honouring the founder of Indonesia, it is full of history and intrigue, as well as colourful characters. At the entrance to the Bung Karno Museum...
