Indonesia
-
Talk to the Ants
HECTOR’S DIARY In the Bali Advertiser May 24, 2017 JEWEL Topsfield, the Australian Fairfax newspaper group’s Indonesian correspondent, wrote a lovely piece recently after an extended interview she had with Prabowo Subianto, who probably likes to think of himself as president-in-waiting. We’ll have to wait until 2019 to find out, but in the meantime Continue reading
-
A Dog’s Life
HECTOR’S DIARY His regular diet of worms and other non-religious fare The Cage, Bali May 13, 2017 THERE was a revolting instance of animal cruelty in Denpasar this week, which thanks to quick-thinking and wonderfully caring local people swiftly swamped the social media, where it attracted an immediate chorus of shock and shame. The Continue reading
-
A Ridiculous Travesty
Bali, May 9, 2017 THERE are several things that can be said about the two-year jail sentence meted out to Jakarta governor Basuki Tjahaya Purnama (Ahok) for his astoundingly correct but politically incautious observation that matters of religion are often subject to varying interpretations. One is that no one sentient would argue with his point. Continue reading
-
Capital Capers
HECTOR’S DIARY His diet of worms and other non-religious experiences The Cage, Bali Apr. 22, 2017 IT’S a shame that Basuki Tjahaya Purnama (Ahok) lost Wednesday’s ballot for mayor of Jakarta. He has shown a commitment to civic service that’s rare anywhere, but rarer still in Indonesia, where winning office is so often a licence Continue reading
-
Lights Out!
HECTOR’S DIARY His diet of worms and other non-religious experiences Bali, Saturday, Mar. 25, 2017 IT’S Nyepi on Tuesday, Bali’s Silent Day. It is celebrated on the first new moon in March, which this year is on Mar. 28, at the same time as Indian Hindus mark their festival of Ugadi. It ushers in the Continue reading
-
Law v Lore
HECTOR’S DIARY His diet of worms and other delicacies Bali, Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017 THERE’S a great deal of misinformation about on the issue of Sharia law, particularly in western countries. So when Ubud identity Darsih Gede passed along a handy brief from a long-time friend, an American woman married to an Indonesian Muslim, Continue reading
-
Another Round
HECTOR’S DIARY His diet of worms and other tasty morsels Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017 THE Bali authorities have accepted a proposal from the Japanese city of Kumamoto to help with rabies eradication, a duty they’ve managed to evade for nine years now despite help from local animal welfare charities, foreign governments and the United Nations. Two Continue reading
8º of latitude 