Closing the Door

More than four decades ago, on the other side of the world (from where I now live), my engineer-father and … More

Tunggu Sebentar

Of all the Indonesian phrases I’ve racked up in my 6+ years of living on this isle (and there are … More

A Long Wait.. and Baby Makes Four

The other day, I set out for one of the most significant Balinese ceremonies that I’ve ever been honored to … More

Kings of the Sawah

I’ve been back home for less than 24 hours. It’s startling to note the stark differences between my own neighbourhood, … More

A ‘Hood In Flux

After two months away from Bali, my home for more than 6 years, I’ve returned and begun to settle in. … More

How to Take Leave of Your Family Home

If your life is anything like mine, it might go something like this: After a few days of crossing multiple … More

Field of Bricks

A few weeks ago, when I spotted piles of cement bricks being piled up, outside the new-ish outlandish and oversized … More

The Extraordinariness of Daily Life

One morning earlier this week, I am photographed and fingerprinted. How mug shots become normal. A make-work project for locals. … More

Burning Buffaloes

The burn is on. Understandably so, as it’s once again the season for mass cremations. Bali-style. The greater metropolitan area … More

All The World’s a Stage

.. and the players are all day – and, in one case, overnight – labourers. As of today, I have … More