Bad wine is like bad breath. It can really kill the mood. There's really nothing more disappointing than one moment toasting your significant other whilst gazing adoringly into their sparkling candle-lit eyes, and the next minute be choking down an unbearable mouthful of bitter putrescence ...more

You don't have to go to the ends of the earth to find adventure. Some times it's right in your own backyard. For the province of Banten on the western tip of Java, this is certainly true. Banten is perhaps the country's most surprising province ...more

The Pilgrim's Trail through the religions of East Java can be done in a day with comfort. The journey isn't onerous and can provide a multitude of rewarding experiences. Boring it is not. Expats will see things they will never encounter in their homeland. But first a little history...more

When the northwest monsoon licks along Bali's western coast, the candles at Tugu Bali's entrance flicker in their bowls. This is the wind that once blew ships from China and India to trade silks and patola cloths for spices and sandalwood...more

Matahari 'Sun 'Island, at 6.00am is calm, tranquil and quiet. Sitting on the same jetty as the night before and looking across to the other islands reveals a strange mix of atmospheres. Not a breath of wind where I am and skies are clear...more