The seventeenth of August is a big deal in Indonesia. For weeks prior to this date, people are busy decorating their homes with red and white, repainting gates and street signs, and practicing dances to perform on this special day. August seventeenth is Hari Kemerdekaan Indonesia, or Indonesian Independence Day. It celebrates the anniversary of … More Indonesian Independence Day: Seventy-oneth Anniversary
“Assalamualaikum!” Peace be upon you! I call out the traditional Muslim greeting from outside the front gate of a neighbor’s house. “Walaikumsalam!” And peace be upon you! A man’s voice responds from inside. His head pokes into the ruang tamu–the front receiving room for guests–and he smiles in surprise. “Oi! Ada Miss Kelly!” Even … More “How did you freaking get here?”: A surprise homecoming in Pangkal Pinang
Ah, home sweet hotel home! It’s the end of Day Two being back in Indonesia and everything feels… so… normal. Stepping off the airplane armed with knowledge of bahasa Indonesia, cultural norms, and correct prices is making all the difference. Last year, I marveled at the incredible heat and madness of the traffic during the … More The Jetlag Chronicles: First 48 Hours
So it has come to this: I am back in O’Hare’s Terminal K, sitting in the food court. Bags are packed, the plane is on time, and the Next Adventure is officially underway. Things are going well, except a singular thought consumes my mind: “She’s leeeeaving, on a jet plane… Who knows when she’ll be … More She’s leaving, on a jet plane…
Where in the world is Kelly? 