Tag Archives: Indonesia

Some years ago, I had an amazing experience. I was in Indonesia on the island of Bali, travelling with my family. We had been exploring the inspiring landscapes and culture of this incredible island, completely spellbound by the unfamiliar. We heard talk about some islands off the coast of Lombok (the next island in the Indonesian chain) known as the …

I turned 40 among strangers on a small Indonesian island––that one known for its population of giant carnivorous lizards, which we name dragons. In the morning, local guides herded little clots of tourists down a narrow path to a fenced enclosure, and from within, we studied groups of dragons: great lumbering beasts, drooling, tongues flickering. No longer framed by the …