Black with White or Purity Emerging

A young Muslim girl returning home to her family. Her stark white hijab offered a startling contrast of cleanliness and purity versus the tarnished environment in which she lives. The small village is built on stilts above a swamp. The planks of wood present a precarious walkway, easily broken and dangerous to tread upon. This is a life many of us will never experience, never fully understand, and never fully be cognizant of. Kelapa Gading, Jakarta, Indonesia Please see theRead more

Stalking Leopards

I was contacted by a reporter for the International Herald Tribune last week. She had come across my blog and asked if I’d compose an article for publication. The focus of the article was to convey expat experiences with having guests stay with you, “quirky, extreme, or unexpected stories”. So, for better or worse, here’s one of those stories I wouldn’t usually share! Jakarta. Famous for political strife, bird flu, and harboring terrorist cells, it’s also the gateway to Indonesia.Read more