Rash: An Eminently Readable Bali Memoir
Who hasn’t fantasised about chucking in the rat race to live the dream on a tropical island? Well, writer Lisa Kusel, whose memoir Rash came...
Category: Places
Seven Reasons to Visit Nusa Penida
Remiss, I know, but after over three years living on Bali – and at least five years thinking about getting to Nusa Penida – I...
I Think We Just Hit Peak Bali
Our gardener comes from a long, long line of balian, or magical healers. He’s a lovely guy. We know him as Pak Kiko, or “Kiko’s...
My Teen Can Literally Sleep Through an Earthquake
Earthquakes, like venomous snakes and everything breaking all the time, are one of those Bali facts of life. As with snakes and broken objects, I...
Where Should I Stay in Ubud?
At least once a month somebody asks me, “Where should I stay in Ubud?” To which my answer is, generally, “What’s your budget?” As someone...
Indonesia Travel Tips
With anything from 13,466 to 18,306 islands, depending who you ask, sprawling over 5,000 kilometres across the equator, Indonesia isn’t the easiest place to navigate...
CSI: Food
I have undergone some unpleasant eating experiences in my time. Decades have passed since I repressed my gag reflex to swallow rancid, sandy goat fat...
The Best Books About Indonesia
When it comes to books, I’m old school. I like to read books about a destination rather than Googling and, in fact, I still vastly...
Eight Reasons to Visit Java
The most many visitors to Indonesia see of Java is Jakarta airport. But, while Indonesia’s gridlocked capital is a tough city to love, and hectic...
Tinder in Middle Age Is Not the Merry Bagatelle It Is at 23, Y’All
Using Tinder while middle-aged has its pros and cons. Perhaps the most, ahem, solid positive is, as a lady of my acquaintance observed, “The cock...