Everyone who has been to Jakarta knows this feeling; that heavy, hot, humid air that hits you as soon as you step out of the airplane. Then, as soon as you step out of the airport, a taxi awaits to pummel your bodily breathing apparatuses with extra-cold air conditioner. A contrast of the senses... »
The Indonesian Bloggers Festival is coming up! Tomorrow, an aeroplane will fly away from all this cold crazy Melbourne weather to land on the airstrip of the humid hot crazy Jakarta weather, with me in it. Just a background on the festival: this is the third Indonesian bloggers festival. The first one, which was... »
An architect can go overseas and help turn waste into useful buildings. An artist can go overseas and do arts workshop in a poor neighborhood. A builder rides a bike for 2 hours a day, takes off his shirt and dig irrigation channels and do the dishes while a family of poor farmers gets... »
Do travelling writers have to care about theories? In our era, where many of the people we write about in far-flung exotic countries could be as media-savvy as us from the near-flung countries, what are some of the ethical dilemmas facing travelling writers? Can anthropology help? It took 26 years of travelling for Il... »
September. Sunlight. Oh how I love thee. After a painful trip to the snow, I took a chance with what is looking like a good Melbourne day to visit High Vibes 2009 in Northcote. One of my favorite local bands, Flap!, is also playing. Northcote At the tail end of the 19th century, the... »
