Mangrove Park: Bali

November 2nd, 2007 | By Barrie | No Comments »

Love Potions: Madura Island, East Java

October 2nd, 2007 | By Barrie | No Comments »

The Indonesian island of Madura is famous for two things: bull racing and love potions.The concoctions made and sold on the island off the east coast of Java are touted... [Read this entry]

Madurese Barbers: Semarang, Central Java

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

Advianto Prasetyabudi was beaming with satisfaction as he rose from the chair after only 10 minutes — but looking sharper with his neatly trimmed hair. The 29-year-old Semarang resident... [Read this entry]

Spiritual and Physical Powers of the Kris

July 23rd, 2007 | By Barrie | No Comments »

Watch out, dangerous curves! No, this is not a traffic sign warning drivers of a narrow winding road, but a rather inadequate description of the kris, the traditional Indonesian dagger.[Read this entry]

‘Asam Jawa’: Indonesia

July 22nd, 2007 | By Barrie | No Comments »

In Bahasa Indonesia tamarind is called asam jawa. Actually, besides the tamarind trees producing sour fruits, trees producing sweet fruits of the asam jawa, or Tamarindus Indica Linn, exist. But... [Read this entry]

Nuclear Plant Gets Cold Reception: North Java

May 30th, 2007 | By Barrie | No Comments »

The government’s plan to build a nuclear power plant was put under the microscope again as experts said the plan was criminal, would put thousands at risk and did not... [Read this entry]

Rural Java and Poverty: Indonesia

December 22nd, 2006 | By Barrie | No Comments »

I was reading the Opinion the other day and there was a fascinating write-up by Wilmar Salim regarding the rural poor in Java. When I was travelling through Java recently... [Read this entry]