Image of the Day: Cabe, Yogyakarta, Central Java

May 1st, 2007 | By Barrie | No Comments »

Go to any market in Indonesia and you will find the fiery cabe (chilli) for sale. Colourful and very hot to the palette, this delightful additive is used in practically all Indonesian cooking

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Discrimination Against the Chinese Still Remains

April 11th, 2007 | By Barrie | No Comments »

Being married to a Chinese-Indonesian I get to hear of the hurdles and discrimination faced by them in all facets of Indonesian society. This has been going on for decades and, even tough the recent reforms have assisted in relieving certain amounts of discrimination, Chinese-Indonesians are still restricted. Here is an interesting article from the Opinion in the Jakarta Post regarding this matter:

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Chikungunya Hits Mataram Residents: Lombok

January 26th, 2007 | By Barrie | No Comments »

I considered myself fairly clued up regarding most of the ailments that one can contract when travelling in Indonesia but that was until I read an article in the JP about a fever called Chikungunya.

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Durian – Deliciously Smelly!: Indonesia

January 25th, 2007 | By Barrie | 1 Comment »

I remember the first time I ever set eyes upon this fruit, the nectar of some crazy god. It was way before Candika and I were married and I visited her in Yogyakarta at her house. Candika and her brother had just purchased two Durian and were in the process of opening them up.

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The Danger of Fundamentalism: Indonesia

January 19th, 2007 | By Barrie | No Comments »

It seems to be a fact of life wherever we travel in the world these days; the threat of danger from radical groups bent on the destruction of the western world. Sounds harsh I suppose, but, it is fact.

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Diversity in Celebrating New Year: Java, Indonesia

January 6th, 2007 | By Barrie | No Comments »

When I lived in Yogyakarta, one of my favourite times of the year was New Year’s Eve and the resulting noisy pandemonium. Trumpets blaring, people hugging people they didn’t even know, crowded streets and, a lot of joyous activity.

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Perang Topat Festival: Lingsar, West Lombok, Indonesia

December 16th, 2006 | By Barrie | No Comments »

The quiet island of Lombok, is separated from Bali by the Lombok Straits. The indigenous Sasak people make up roughly 90% of the island’s population and their language and culture are unique to the island, their religion, Islam.

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Cleaning Up a Mountain: Lombok, Indonesia

December 4th, 2006 | By Wombat | 1 Comment »

If only it could be so true that the whole of Indonesia was free of rubbish. Yeah, I know, I’m dreamin’!.
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Dealing with Dengue Fever: Indonesia

September 6th, 2006 | By Wombat | 1 Comment »

You have heard about dengue fever — demam berdarah (bleeding fever) or “break bone” fever. You probably know people who have had it. You know it is in Jakarta and it is a little dangerous. But you may do not know what you can do about it.
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Satay - Satisfaction on a Skewer: Indonesia

August 26th, 2006 | By Wombat | No Comments »

At most “commercial” Indonesian restaurants you will surely find satay on the menu. There are many different types of satay to choose from. Chicken or beef satay is the most popular, but you might also find seafood satay or tempeh or tofu satay for vegetarians.
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