Category Archives: Indonesia

Facing gender inequality In Indonesia, not so different from the West

Posted on November 23, 2014 by Katherine

Last week, I sat on the floor of a community hall watching 12 men devour full plates of steamed corn, sweet potatoes, and bananas, washing down their mouthfuls with swigs of black coffee. The women who had graciously served this … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Indonesia | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Jakartans claim public spaces wherever they can find room

Posted on November 18, 2014 by Katherine

If you have noticed the long lull between posts on this blog, you are simply watching what happens after about a year of living in a foreign country. What was once a surprising and obvious topic for a blog has … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Food & Drink, Indonesia, Our Daily Life | 2 Comments

After tense election season, Indonesians breathe sigh of relief

Posted on October 20, 2014 by Katherine

Today my Indonesian language teacher showed up for our lesson wearing a blue and red checkered shirt, typical of the supporters of the newly elected president Joko Widodo (known by his nickname, Jokowi). Today, it seems like the wait is finally … Continue reading →

Posted in Indonesia, Our Daily Life, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Stark contrasts, historical ignorance on display in Indonesian presidential race

Posted on June 28, 2014 by Katherine

Watching the 2014 presidential campaign in Indonesia is sometimes like watching a bad movie’s overwrought metaphor for the tension between democracy and authoritarianism playing out in real life. The choices have narrowed since I last described the presidential candidates, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Indonesia, Politics | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Southeast Asia’s forests: vital and vanishing

Posted on June 25, 2014 by Katherine

Forests are key for our food systems and our economy. Forests are a pantry for the world’s poor, and an incubator for biodiversity and unknown genetic material that could lead to vital scientific discoveries. Even those of us who think we live in urban environments may be more dependent on forests than we realize. Continue reading →

Posted in Indonesia, Nature, the environment & landscapes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

On a Javan volcano, tourists and brimstone

Posted on April 13, 2014 by Katherine

The mountain path was wide but steep. Tourists carried backpacks with water bottles and snacks, seeking exercise and fresh air. Meanwhile, local porters carried woven baskets, carefully balanced on bamboo rods, overflowing with impossibly lemon-yellow hunks of stone. Welcome to … Continue reading →

Posted in Indonesia, Nature, the environment & landscapes | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Indonesia’s legislative elections, even more complex than expected

Posted on April 9, 2014 by Katherine

On April 9th, 2014, across nearly 8,000 islands, the citizens of the world’s third-largest democracy cast ballots for over 235,000 candidates in legislative elections. The Wall Street Journal called it “a massive logistical undertaking”. In this complex environment, none of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Indonesia, Politics | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

For Balinese New Year, the meaning is in the doing

Posted on March 30, 2014 by Katherine

On the raucous party island of Bali, Nyepi is a fascinating example of one culture’s sanctity being preserved against the odds. Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Indonesia, Religion | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Volcano’s awakening a reminder of Indonesia’s vulnerabiility

Posted on February 15, 2014 by Katherine

On Thursday night, Mount Kelud, a volcano in eastern Java, blew a plume of smoke and ash 17 km into the air. The eruption shook the surrounding villages, which were soon covered in ash and rock….
In recent history, Indonesia has suffered more deaths due to volcanoes than any other country, or even volcanic region…. Continue reading →

Posted in Indonesia, Nature, the environment & landscapes | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Public works are too little, too late as the rainy season strikes

Posted on February 11, 2014 by Katherine

When it rains, it pours; in Jakarta, it floods. Last night I awoke to a familiar sound from our bathroom: drip … drip … drip. I was surprised that I could hear it over the pummeling of rain on our … Continue reading →

Posted in Indonesia, Nature, the environment & landscapes | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment