My Haj to Hay

Deep in the heart of rural Lombok, far from where tourists tread, past dozens of mosques and minarets, passing rice … More

The Saraswati Effect

Today, not surprisingly, this being the island of the gods, is another day of celebration: Hari Raya Saraswati, when Balinese … More

Long Live the Kris

The Balinese kris (or keris) is a ceremonial dagger historically used as a weapon of execution (secondarily to a spear) … More

Ocular Walk-a-thon

While lying on my bed last night, writing on my laptop, I removed my reading glasses to see what little … More

Bring on the Light

I read an article yesterday in which an explanation was given for why it is so hot in Bali these … More

Hurrah! (A Milestone)

I’m excited to share the news… about my first article published online! Titled 25 Things to Know Before Visiting Ubud, Bali, … More

Gifts Disguised

The full moon must have knocked me out. Asleep by 9, I awoke with a start, rather disoriented, just before … More

Outward Bound

It was an uncharacteristically busy week: I spent most of the first two days at a private luscious organic garden … More

The Paddy Effect

Why is it that otherwise perfectly rational people will travel to remote (and sometimes godforsaken) places all around Asia, fumbling … More

The Bone Man of Besakih

When I headed out of Ubud on Friday midday, with my Balinese friend A and driver Joni, I was long … More