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Bali Bomb Cleric Freed From Jail

Nice to know this f***’er is only a few kilometers from me. Absurd decision-making. Absolutely absurd. From the BBC: “A Muslim cleric convicted over the 2002 nightclub bombings on Indonesian island Bali, which killed 202 people, has been released from prison in Jakarta. Abu Bakar Ba’asyir was found guilty in March 2005 of conspiracy in connection with the bomb plot, but he was cleared of more serious charges. Security experts say the cleric is a founding member of a regionalRead more
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Winding Down

You may have noticed a bit of lag in my communication lately. These past two months have been among the busiest and most hectic of the 47 months since arriving in Indonesia. I haven’t been on a regular schedule at the gym in almost 8 weeks (been told by half-dozen people that I’m “shrinking” – ahh Indonesian charm!), I’ve had to turn down my friends’ invitations on almost a daily basis, and even Novita hasn’t had much time to beRead more
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Elysian Fields

Lembang, above Bandung (Central Java) The raw, earthy smells of land and vegetation brought me back to another place and another time which was simple yet alive. Here, it is easy to understand that Java is in fact ‘the most fertile island in the world’.Read more
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Yogyakarta (Jogja) Earthquake

I appreciate everyone’s concern in regards to the Yogyakarta earthquake. Fortunately, we’re all safe and sound, but thousands have perished in this terrible crisis. Due to the earthquake occurring in the early morning, many more people were still indoors than would have been later in the day – causing many more deaths. I feel as if Indonesia simply cannot get a rest from crisis these past few years. In only the 4 years I’ve been here the country has beenRead more

Emergence

I’ve passed this beautiful stand of trees a number of times but always without a camera. A lesson I’ve learned: if you continue to think about a place after having left, make sure you bring your camera next time. Lembang, Bandung – 3 hours from my home near the volcano of Tangkuban Perahu. This gorgeous stand of trees is only minutes from the crater.Read more