Public Relations as I think it should be
Continued from Toraja is indeed Melo I - Batutumonga and the Bamboo Forest This is the second of a three-part account of a recent short trip to Tana Toraja. Situated in the highlands of central Sulawesi, it is a land of breathtaking beauty, rugged landscapes and and a unique culture that embraces death, bloody sacrifices... Continue Reading →
This is the first of a three-part account of our group's travel to Tana Toraja. There were eight of us with a 6-year old in tow and we had a fabulous time. There is so much to share about Toraja, the Torajanese's relationship with Death and their strange rituals and the culture there that I've... Continue Reading →
Petungkriyono is a forest reserve about three hours drive south of Pekalongan in Central Java. The distance is not that great but like many other places the road there is narrow and potholed, prolonging the journey that would take about a third of the time if it was serviced by good roads. It's actually adjacent... Continue Reading →
Had a spare day after a business trip to Munich in July so took the train to Dachau, the Nazi's first concentration camp located about 10km outside of the city. It was opened in 1933 by Heinrich Himmler and meant to house political prisoners but quickly became a catch all for everyone the Nazis couldn't tolerate... Continue Reading →
Our office recently went on an outing to Belitung, an island off the east coast of South Sumatra made famous by the film Laska Pelangi. Our first stop was Tanjung Pandang Beach, a recreational stretch that had nothing remarkable except that it faced west and therefore was a place to watch the sunset. So we... Continue Reading →
The Komodo Dragon is one awe-inspiring creature, quite terrifying when you get near. Even when it is ostentatiously asleep you'll never be sure what will happen if it decides to wake up or get pissed off.
How well does Jakarta do when it comes to location branding (a fancy modern word to substitute for reputation of a place)? According to a study by Public Affairs Asia and Ogilvy PR called Location Branding 2012, not that well at all. Out of 16 cities Jakarta came 14, just above Manila. Another dubious distinction... Continue Reading →
How far would a comunications consultancy go to find good people? In the case of Maverick, the place where I work, plenty far. So far that we actually created a new position of Community Curator this year where one of the main tasks of that job is to organize The Recruit. What is The Recruit?... Continue Reading →
Unspun's been in many hotels, even the ones he can't afford. Usually he and a few of his cheapskate friends would go there for tea and ask to see the rooms. The Aman and other resorts and fallen prey to such cheapskatery. But of all the hotels Unspun's seen none has been so captivating and... Continue Reading →
I don't know about you but the story by the ever fascinating Elizabeth Pisani who's traveling in East Indonesia right now makes me feel all queasy - especially where they shove ball bearings, biro parts, human hair and horse hair into their penises - all in the believe that size matters. Men who laugh at... Continue Reading →
Been a long time since Unspun played writer (as opposed to a mere blogger) and Tempo, the English version of the magazine, this week carried his travels and impressions in a 6-page spread from the ancient city of Mrauk U in Myanmar. Here it is: For more photos of Sittwe and Mrau U, go here... Continue Reading →
Unspun 