This is a blog about Indonesia.

I first visited Indonesia in 2004 and fell in love. Like any love, she is alluring, beautiful and often heartbreaking. Thrilling, confusing but never boring.

That first visit encompassed travels in Bali, Lombok, Flores, Kalimantan, Komodo and Rinca. In two months, I crossed paths with not a single other American.

Now I live and write in Indonesia. Things are changing fast, which is one of the reasons I find this place so fascinating. There are more Americans here, and there is more interest from America. Our president did a bit of his growing up here, as any American or Indonesian could tell you. We have a lot more in common, too, and that's much of the motivation for this blog.