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The Big Durian

Named for the prolific, aromatic fruit that is commonly found in the area, Jakarta is a city of well over 10 million people. I moved here in July 2019, eager to start a whole new adventure where I could fulfil my dreams. I was a volunteer with the Australian Volunteers Program – an initiative providedContinue reading “The Big Durian”

Black Sheep | White Dog

TLDR (no seriously it’s super long): I talk about the stigma of mental health and bipolar using my super cool metaphor: “Black Sheep White Dog”. Also, skills to manage mental health are just as important to develop when you are healthy as when you are unhealthy. It’s like managing your physical health…but yes, in yourContinue reading “Black Sheep | White Dog”

Trails of Tasmania

Part 2 Back in Tasmania! My 2019 visit was shorter than the previous one but I filled as much as possible in! While a small city, there is so much to do in Hobart. A spectacular standout is the hike from Fern Gully (I can’t help but think of the movie) to the summit ofContinue reading “Trails of Tasmania”

Bali

Escape from Java The culture of Bali contrasts starkly with the rest of Indonesia. Whereas many in the country follow Muslim, Christian, or Catholic tenets, the residents here are predominantly Hindu. This makes for a colourful island with traditions of its own. It is also known as being a major tourist destination for Australians seekingContinue reading “Bali”

Trails of Tasmania

Part 1 To start off with, Tasmania has the cleanest air in the world. I could go on about cleansing the mind and soul…but really it’s just damn fun to explore the state. Luckily, most of Australia overlooks the island to the south making it much less crowded, especially when comparing Hobart to Sydney. HavingContinue reading “Trails of Tasmania”

Bandung

Where I finally found some coffee It takes around 3 hours by train to travel between Jakarta and Bandung, a city towards the west of Java. It follows a track that escapes the capital, transporting passengers over rice fields, around mountains, and to a city quite different to its eastern counterpart. It is cooler here,Continue reading “Bandung”

Singapore

Great for pouring wine, rain, and poor-ing me After 6 months in Indonesia my visa was due for renewal. This meant we would be sent to Singapore for a day or so to process it. That also meant a mini holiday! I got to spend almost 5 days in Singapore towards the end of December-Continue reading “Singapore”

Pantai Watu Kodok

While life was far from difficult in Jogya, being so close to the ocean was and not visiting it would be an obvious oversight for a bunch of Australians. One of our number pulled a heroic effort and on our last full weekend we travelled the 2 hours south the Pantai Watu Kodok- Watu KodokContinue reading “Pantai Watu Kodok”

Yogyakarta

I’ll try to keep the photos of temples to a minimum Life and Language in Indonesia I needed a chance to challenge myself- to encounter a culture both wholly unfamiliar yet right next door. So I signed up for a year in Jakarta. Prior to coming to Indonesia, I had only ever studied it. IContinue reading “Yogyakarta”

Bogor

A quiet town of 950 000 The city is located directly south of Jakarta, and offers a great distraction from the city. While it may be significantly smaller, one cannot quite escape the traffic and chaos of city life. This overview represents two visits to Bogor- one with my mother as a day trip, andContinue reading “Bogor”