Travel
Thoughts on my travel experiences.
Abraham Heschel: Two Ways of Seeing the World
Abraham Heschel writes that there are two faculties, two ways of seeing the world. One is with questions, the other with silence.
Wonder and Fear: Thinking Two Thoughts at Once
The art of thinking two thoughts at once. In the wonders of living, experiences that seemingly contradict each other can co-exist.
Stony Island Arts Bank: Chicago Highlight
The Stony Island Arts Bank is a gem in the South Side of Chicago. It houses a wealth of historical and cultural resources on Black lives in America.
Cruisin’ Through Gili Trawangan
Riding the Cidomo in Gili Trawangan, Indonesia.
What To Do in Gili Trawangan
What to do in Gili Trawangan, a tranquil little island, an ideal place for a personal retreat. Everything is cheap!
Mosquitoes
Image source here. Of all creatures living on this earth, none is more deserving of hatred than mosquitoes. With their buzzing in your ear and biting into your vein, no wonder a small feeling of victory follows when you’ve successfully slapped them dead: you...
Indonesia: Bali’s Cohesiveness
There are many ways to be a tourist. For example, one can remain in one’s own vacation bubble, as is necessary sometimes for recovery and rest from daily toils, or one can break through and be immersed in the world and culture on site. I tend to like cultural...
Indonesia: Tour de Bali
Breathtaking sights merged with a culture that is so rich and pervasive. That's Bali, a Hindu island in central Indonesia east of Java. Famous to international tourists and travelers, it took a huge hit when the first bombing happened in 2002, and again after the...
Indonesia: Its Underappreciated Talents
Two Sundays ago my mom took me to a place in Jakarta that I had never visited before, even though I was born and raised in the city. Located in the recreational complex in North Jakarta (Ancol) where you would find amusement parks, marinas, Sea World, etc., Pasar...
Indonesia: Jakarta’s Facelifts
Or, The Thrill of Being in a Developing Country Each time I go home, I have to reacquaint myself to Jakarta because it’s always a different city that I come home to. My 3+ years absence makes this process much more noticeable, since a lot has happened during that...
Indonesia: A Familiar Rabbit Hole
Coming from the US to Indonesia feels a little bit like being Alice in Wonderland for me – the world seems to shrink in size. Cars are smaller, roads narrower, furniture and doors more compact, etc., and people stand and drive much closer to each other. And in case...
Indonesia: The Prelude
In about 15 hours, I'll be taking off to Hongkong and Shenzhen for the first four days, and Indonesia (Jakarta and Bali) for the rest of this 22-day trip. They're all familiar territory, except for Shenzhen, but it just has been a while. The last time I went home over...