amed, bali, hidden gems, indonesia, kuta, munduk, outer space, penyemuteran, sambangan, sekumpul, sidemen, tirta gangga, ubud

Discover Bali’s Hidden Beauty: 7 Lesser-Known Places to Visit

The island of Bali in Indonesia is famous for its beautiful scenery and history. There are many people at popular places like Kuta Beach and Ubud, but there are also a lot of less popular places that are peaceful, beautiful, and offer something different. 7 of Bali’s secret gems 1. Sekumpul Waterfall Sekumpul Waterfall, nestled ...

Viena Abdon

The Sekumpul Waterfall.

Wary of China, Indonesia Builds Up Its Navy and Air Force

Beijing’s rising focus on its Navy and Air Force enhancement has prompted the Indonesian government to revamp its maritime fleet and Air Force. As a result, the country’s military will be better positioned to thwart Chinese incursions into its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which spans over 200-nautical-mile along its maritime border. In the last few ...

Max Lu

Indonesian Navy boats at sea.

Environmental and Cost Concerns Over China-backed Rail Project in Indonesia

China is involved in several rail projects across Asia and Africa, one of which is the rail project in Indonesia. Some of these large-scale rail projects are already in progress and when completed they will enhance the intra-country transport system. However, the reality is not all Chinese rail projects are developing as planned. The much-talked-about ...

Max Lu

The Jakarta railroad viaduct.

Exploring the Mind-Blowing Volcano Dive Sites in Indonesia

As experienced master scuba divers will attest, Indonesia offers some of the best volcano dive sites in the world. Indonesia is one of the most geologically active in the world — in fact, much of the Indonesian archipelago could be described quite simply as one big chain of volcanoes, some still active. Over the decades, ...

Armin Auctor

Scuba diving on a coral reef.

The Mesmerizing Pink Beach of Indonesia

Most of us have never heard of the exotic Pink Beach of Indonesia. And most of us will probably never get to visit it. For a lot of people seeking vacations away from the clutter and grind of city life, a remote beachside resort is preferable. However, not all beaches are the same or offer ...

Raven Montmorency

The Pink Beach of Indonesia.

The Beautiful and Spectacular Cikole Orchid Forest

The spectacular Cikole Orchid Forest in Indonesia is a must-visit destination. Orchids are uncanny but marvelous substitutes for common flowers used on various occasions. Find roses too mainstream? Try gifting a bouquet of orchids. Need flowers to decorate a venue? How about orchids? Need a flower that’s hypoallergenic to send a friend who is allergic ...

Raven Montmorency

The Cikole Orchid Forest.

Dutch Journalist Goes Undercover in West Papua

This Q&A was originally published on November 30, 2015. Dutch journalist and filmmaker Rohan Radheya spent five months undercover to document West Papua’s ongoing struggle for independence from Indonesia’s brutal rule. During Radheya’s time there, the Indonesian president, Joko Widodo, lifted a ban on foreign journalists in the province. That occurred in May, but Radheya says it won’t change anything ...

James Burke

Dutch Journalist Rohan Radheya photographs senior West Papuan OPM commanders at their headquarters inside the jungles of West Papua.

Indonesian Fishermen: Poor, but Happy

The Indonesian Family Life Survey (IFLS) conducted a statistical analysis on the welfare status of fishermen between 2012 and 2015. The IFLS questionnaire also contained an open survey for Indonesian fishermen, asking them how happy they felt five years ago, at present, and to predict five years ahead. The Indonesian ocean is recognized internationally for ...

Raven Montmorency

A beached fishing boat.

South China Sea: Indonesia Declines Chinese Offer to Negotiate

The government of Indonesia has rejected a Chinese call for negotiation with regard to the South China Sea. Jakarta argued that such negotiations were not necessary since China does not have any overlapping claim with Indonesia’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Indonesia-China spat In a letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Beijing reiterated that they have ...

Max Lu

Joko Widodo.