The original world nomad

"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." - Confucius.

Indonesia

There are [975] photos and [12] stories about Indonesia


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Notes and curiosities

Tuesday, 22 Jul 2008 | Views [84]

One of the things I've been considering on this trip is that of all the travel web sites in the world, the one I usually start with is ... Google. Not Lonely Planet or Trip Advisor or World Nomads. These I use to plan our trip and I ... Read more >

Tags: planning, google, sms, internet


Beach hawkers

Wednesday, 16 Jul 2008 | Views [93]

"A massage" "Sarong?" "a bracelet for your boy" "Where are you from?" "A kite mister?" "You need car?" Local street hawkers hassle you all the time trying ... Read more >

Tags: beach, hawkers, hassle, people, children


Dichotomy on Lombok

Monday, 14 Jul 2008 | Views [91]

4am. Dark. Even the cocks are asleep. "Yohawaaaw. Awwwwwwwaaaaaahhhhhhhhh. Yohawaaaw. Awwwwwwwaaaaaahhhhhhhhh." The wailing call to prayer goes on and on and on. We have two enduring memories from Lombok of many years ago:... Read more >

Tags: adhan, lombok, wailing, mosque, sleep deprevation


Violent vomiting across the Wallace line

Sunday, 13 Jul 2008 | Views [113]

"Is that it?" Yuki looked decidedly dubious.  The GiliCat was described as the fastest way to get from Bali to the Gili Islands off the northern coast of Lombok, but the boat before us looked tiny. Divided by the Wallace Line , Bali ... Read more >

Tags: vomit, lombok, bali, ferry, disaster, more vomit, travel with children


Yogyakarta street urchins

Monday, 7 Jul 2008 | Views [72]

After Bali I was slightly surprised at the general level of poverty on Java. Not extreme poverty but the sheer volume of Becak drivers willing to pedal you around for a pitance spoke volumes. Despite the vibrant market along Marlborough Street, there ... Read more >

Tags: becak, beggars, yogyakarta, children, poverty, dilemma


You type "Bird Flu" and "Symptoms" into Google ...

Monday, 7 Jul 2008 | Views [210]

To walk to the Sultan's Water Palace in Yogyakarta you have to pass through the bird market. As you approach, many of the shops only display bamboo bird cages and it passes through your mind that maybe they have removed all the birds because of the ... Read more >

Tags: bird flu, java, google, indonesia, yogyakarta, doctor, hospital, near miss


Yogjakarta the temples of central Java

Saturday, 5 Jul 2008 | Views [115]

Years ago we spent so much time on the islands between Timor and Lombok that we had no time left for this part of Indonesia so this is the first time we have ever explored central Java. Not surprisingly we have chosen to base ourselves in Yogyakarta, ... Read more >

Tags: yogjakarta, java, prambanan, borobudur, temples, becak


Outrageously scenic

Thursday, 11 Jan 2007 | Views [885]

The day starts with a flash of blue slicing past the coconut palms outside our veranda that overhangs the stream. A distinct ccreeeee-ccreee of the Balinese kingfisher heralds its presence each morning but we only catch glimpses of blue, orange and ... Read more >

Tags: culture, bali, family, adventures, festival, death, ceremony


(More) travel with Children

Sunday, 7 Jan 2007 | Views [555] | Comments [1]

Our boys are now aged 2 and 4 and are, well, quite a handful. At their worst they grow horns or worse, but they often just buzz, like flies, that you can't swot away. Much more demanding than at this time last year. If that sounds harsh then ... Read more >

Tags: travel with children, adventures, family, challenge


Tranquility

Thursday, 4 Jan 2007 | Views [563]

The cool afternoon breeze floats across the rice paddies, the sounds of ducks, frogs and crickets drifting into our room with it. The atmosphere is tranquil and exquisite. Perched on the far corner of a back lane-way a short distance from Ubud, the ... Read more >

Tags: culture, festival, bali, temple, decoration, people, family, children, places to stay


Reflection

Saturday, 30 Dec 2006 | Views [340]

As 2006 draws to a close and with time and personal space uncluttered from the confetti of interruptions that the internet brings, the last week has provided a timely opportunity to pause and consider where life is going. Life is first ... Read more >

Tags: philosophy of travel, poetry, reflection


The other Bali

Thursday, 28 Dec 2006 | Views [535]

Ah, Bali. Tropical, friendly, easy, stunningly beautiful, lush, and interesting, somehow even the crass commercialism of Kuta doesn't dirty the experience. The Balinese know only too well how to alter their environment to best effect, turning the smallest ... Read more >

Tags: bali, gods, island, culture, magic, terrorism, fear, travel with children

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My son Kai and me on a (very) wet Sydney winter's day.

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