Hidden Heritage
Preserving Traditional Indonesian Food
Indonesia is a mosaic of thousands of islands, and each island has its own culinary traditions, thus creating a huge mosaic of culinary diversity, possibly unmatched anywhere. And in Indonesia, food is not just the physical consumption of those unique flavours, but a window into the soul of its people. Food offers an immersive experience
Retracing Indonesia’s Past Through Heritage Walks
Kingdoms, colonies, and cultural conquests – all these played a part in shaping the Indonesia we know today. While preserved artefacts and photographs provide a starting point for understanding these influences, there’s a better way to relive history: a heritage walk. Heritage walks are immersive guided tours help visitors make historical and cultural sense of
The Spice Islands of Indonesia: A Brief History Told Through Old Maps
Spices have been a cornerstone of global commerce for thousands of years, shaping the course of human history. From ancient societies to contemporary economies, spices have been instrumental in shaping diverse cultures and culinary traditions worldwide. The Allure of Spices: Why These Maps Exist From ancient times, aromatic plant products have been highly prized for
How Can Indonesia’s Indigenous Wisdom Save the Forest?
The indigenous group of Dayak Iban, West Kalimantan, have a commitment to protect the forest as their source of livelihood. In the midst of the climate crisis and for their efforts to manage and protect their forests sustainably, the community was awarded an Equator Prize 2019 together with 22 other local and indigenous communities across
Into The Heart of The Ancestral Lands of The Punan
Kapuas Hulu regency covers a large area of 29,842sqm (Bali, for example, is just 5,000sqm) with some of the world’s most abundant biodiversity and oldest rainforest. Photos by David Metcalf/NOWJAKARTA “Batu! Batu!”, the man on the bow yelled as our wooden boat ploughed through the turbulent rapids. He was gesturing frantically to the driver to steer us
Makassar: A Living Maritime Heritage of Island Traders
There is a modern port in Makassar, but the harbour of Paotere is where the Portuguese and Dutch sailing ships moored centuries ago. Photos courtesy of David Metcalf/NOWJAKARTA Walking towards a long line of tall traditional pinisi boats in the historic Paotere Harbour in Makassar, I caught whiffs of freshly cut timber. I watched strong, sinewy sailors
Reflections 2019: From Lombok Peresean Stick Fighters to the Dark Tales from Banda Islands
Photos by David Metcalf/NOWJAKARTA Each month, NOW! Jakarta brings you tales of hidden heritage from our travelling duo, writer Stephanie Brookes and photographer David Metcalf. During 2019 they have brought stories back from the Kei Islands, Lombok, the Banda Islands, Seram Island, Kalimantan, Bali, Java and Sumatra. From accounts of meetings with forest-dwelling shamans who
Into the Wilds – West Kalimantan
Photos by David Metcalf/NOWJAKARTA Sitting on a woven mat, I listened as a Dayak Simpang elder explained, “Our history and our story are told through the old songs.” I was in Ketapang Regency, around four hours from Pontianak, the gateway city to West Kalimantan. I sat captivated as he continued, “We moved a long time
Seram Island – Meeting the Nuaulu Tribe
Seram Island in Maluku Province of Indonesia is steeped in tradition. Deep in its mountains and along its coast, several indigenous tribes still hunt with long wooden spears and adhere to their old ways of life. The largest island in the Maluku archipelago, Seram is known affectionately as the Nusa Ina (Mother Island) and is considered the
Suku Sawang Orang Belitung Island
Belitung Island emerges gracefully out of the Java Sea inviting curiosity and exploration. It does not disappoint. It is unquestionably a place of extraordinary and untouched beauty. The beaches are chalky white, and are touted to be some of the most exquisite in South East Asia. Huge granite boulders rise out of the sea, forming
Venturing Into the Wild at Sebangau National Park
I started my trek in the Sabangau National Park, Central Kalimantan under a veil of darkness. The earthy smell of the peat bog forest rose sharply to greet me as I held my torch steady so as not to trip and fall into the organic black water swamp that lay on either side. I was
The Wana Wanderers of Sulawesi
There is only one way to meet the Wana tribe. You must walk into their rugged territory. Arrangements should be made in advance because the Wana are wanderers and their territory is vast. They pack up and move when the village council decides the time is right based on agricultural crop cycles. Because of this,
A Perfect Escape: The Ayung Spa and Lunch Experience
Inspired by the goddess of life and fertility, Dewi Sri, the spa at the Ayung Resort embodies all that Bali represents. Drawing on the vitality of the Ayung River below it and the surrounding tropical forest, the Dewi Sri Spa is a secluded escape for those in need of quiet refreshment and rejuvenation. Now, with
