Indonesia Books

This book is incredible. First, the photography is excellent, beautifully portraying most of the recipes. The book begins with a complete listing of all of the ingredients used. It is about 6 pages of pertinent information, including pictures for some of the most obscure ingredients. The recipes cover a thorough range of the basic recipes that you may be looking for. I am Indian and am thrilled with the list. Just about every recipe is critical, they appear back-to-back and have several pictures. I will probably cook every recipe in the Indian section. That section alone makes it worth the purchase. However, it covers seven other asian cuisines in a very similar manner. It also offers enticing "melting pot" menus, mixing the cuisines. You will get the recipes you want, that you can make, with a little commentary and exquisite pictures. This is one of the best cook books I have ever seen.

All recipes are well described and illustrated. Everything is clear and easy to understand.

It is soo good !! I tried the eggs curry from Indonesia it is so yummy !! Also the have menu suggestions so that was real helpfull since I do a lot of parties !!!

Picture of Singapore's famous food example spicy satay,laksa,chicken rice...

Collison has done it again. Fast on the heels of the Timor Man Collison puts together a ripping yarn of political intrigue, current regional events and a series of charaacters straight out a amodern wayang kulit. This book will hold your interets and is a great read.

I remember seeing the movie "The Year of Living Dangerously" several years ago. Merdeka Square gave me the chance to really understand what happened. My understanding is that most of this book is solidly based on fact and the personal experiences of the author - this gives the book an air of solid authenticity that is sadly lacking in thrillers written by others who lack direct personal experience in the areas they write about. Collison's experiences as an intelligence agent in Indonesia at this time shine through, making this one of the most compelling reads I have had.

Merdeka Square is the first of Kerry's Indonesia Trilogy (chronologically) and is a sad indictment of both the Australian and Indonesian governemnts of the day. Kerry's characters are larger than life and you will enjoy trying to figure out who is actually being portrayed by whom. Merdeka Square is basically a factual account cleverly inserted into a piece of fiction. Kerry is a former A.S.I.S. operative and has really walked the wire in places considering he is still bound by the Official Secrets Act. Kerry has a unique feel for Indonesia and his "apolitical" narrative makes the events covered by Merdeka Square all the more chilling. Once you have read this book you will have to buy the other two - Jakarta in particular will shock you with its eerie reflection in today's newspapers.

When I was in Australia in 1998 I purchased and read all three books of the Indonesian Trilogy by Kerry Collison. I was so impressed by the books that I have been trying to obtain copies for gifts. The author obviously has inside knowledge of Indonesia and his ability to predict future events, some of which have since taken place, is remarkable.

The books are well written and exciting. I rate them among the very best "secret service" novels that I have read.

At first a little smug, this book turned into a page turner. While I hesitate to say I found it satisfying - what about war and cruelty could make anyone feel this way? - Anthony Cowling's book fulfilled my need to know what happened in detail to those in his situation, which was also my father's situation. On a hunt for knowledge about the period, this book pulled no punches but retained a detached dignity and humour which helped me to keep reading even the most difficult parts. Well written, I am so glad I found it.

Thanks Anthony Cowling for your generosity in putting your memories on paper for hunters like me who are looking for their pasts.

I have always found info on Japanese cruelties & injustice in Asia during WWII missing in most libraries & museums, possibly due to heavy cover-ups by the economically-powerful Japanese, or intentional neglect from the western powers. This candid & enlightening book reflects the survival experience by a young British POW presents unbiased realities in WWII Death Camps, that all Asians (esp. Japanese) should pass on to their younger generations, to learn from the grave mistakes of the past. "Recommended for school libraries....it deals with monstrous human cruelty yet is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit" J. Jackson, Univ. of Victoria, B.C., Canada.

An inspiring & actual experience as written by Tony Cowling, M.I.D., C.D., B. Ed., M.Ed. As a 2nd generation Chinese living in N. America, I now fully appreciate the often taken-for-granted freedom & human rights prevalent here : survival & meaning of life. Dr. A.Forbes,M.D., Dr. R. Phelps,M.D., Lt. Dan Duff, Sgt. Pilot Ron Blackmore all contributes to the touching details of the Semarang Camp in Haruku Is.,Sulawesi,Muna,Maccassar,Java,& Ambon Is. Casualty rate of 80% out of 2071 POW sent! At times humorous, touching reflections from a modest man with great spirit & comradeship, who bestowed hope & endeavor to his other POWs to stay alive amid utter humiliation & incarceration. Foreword by Air Chef Marshal Sir Michael Armitage, KCB,CBE,RAF (RTD),Former Commander of Royal College of Defense Studies,London is authoritative on the incidence. Info (2 appendices)about the beheadings of men in Amahai is now included with the newest 2003 ed, as the publishers were relectant to reveal these cruelties with their previous printings. Recent developments in USA military involvements in Middle East & the emerging influence of China in East & West balance shed new insights to the author in his constant spiritual search of WHY in human nature & history! Highly recommended for all politicians, asians & university students to better understand the real complexities of our world. Does History repeat itself?

The true story of a 17 year old boy captured by the Japanese in Indonesia He survived a horrendous death rate and beat the odds against starvation and brutallity.This book is an inspiration to all. Definitely a must read.

Wow! What a great book! I was hooked right from the prologue. It grabs you by the collar and immerses you into the story immediately. The main characters are fun and real and the ending just screams Karma! Mr. Rizun creates some interesting situations for the characters to get involved in which makes for a fun read. My fingernails are much shorter now after reading this book!

Wow! What a great book! I was hooked right from the prologue. It grabs you by the collar and immerses you into the story immediately. The main characters are fun and real and the ending just screams Karma! Mr. Rizun creates some interesting situations for the characters to get involved in which makes for a fun read. My fingernails are much shorter now after reading this book!

Fans of adventure stories are in for a treat this summer with the release of a novel by writer Richard Rizun. Ora is a tale in the tradition of H.G.Wells and Edgar Rice Burroughs, mixing fast-paced action with plenty of thrills and more than a few grisly deaths. In the end, the hero triumphs, and all is right with the world, but the journey is a precarious one filled with dangers from all sides.
The story begins in the 17th century with the theft of an incredible Chinese treasure by pirates. When the pirates are in danger of being unable to escape safely with their loot, they go ashore on an uncharted island in what is now Indonesia to unload their cargo and then sneak away from some Chinese war ships that are in hot pursuit. But they soon discover they are not alone on the island, which is the home of the world's largest population of Komodo Dragons, or Ora. They succeed in hiding the treasure, but things go downhill from there for everyone but the dragons, who find that sailors make a tasty change from their regular diet.
Flash forward to 2010. Komodo Island is a managed tourist attraction, with the giant beasts being fed regularly so tourists can come and watch them. But Indonesia is being threatened by terrorists who want to take over the government. They think they know where the ancient treasure is, and they forcibly take over Komodo Island to get it.
Add a stolen nuclear bomb, a group of tourists (including three resourceful children), a brave, one-legged tour guide, a tough female scientist who is studying the dragons, and the great lizards themselves, who have not been fed in quite some time and are getting considerably irritated by the lack of room service, and you have a situation ready to explode.
Although much of the tale is somewhat predictable, it's a good, exciting read. But the startling twist at the end should catch you by surprise.
The prose gets a little flowery on occasion, especially near the beginning, and there are a few factual errors. But if you are willing to overlook these very minor flaws, this is a book that will keep you turning the page to see who gets captured, shot or eaten next and how the good guys get out of each increasingly terrifying situation.
While the action can be a bit gory (we are talking about giant, meat-eating carnivores, after all), the descriptions are not over the top, so those who are a bit squeamish should still be able to enjoy it.

"Ora" definitely kept my attention. Hopefully, I never come face-to-face with a Komodo Dragon! This book not only was full of thrills and even some hair-raising moments, it left me with a smile.

Revolt in Paradise is a classic and it is good to see it in print again after a long absence. It is rather hard to classify this book: maybe autobiography, perhaps historical novel, possibly adventure story. On the face of it, it purports to be autobiographical: the story of a British-born American woman's fifteen years in Indonesia in the 1930s and 1940s. Doubt has been cast on its accuracy and indeed the author beings the book by saying, `It is always difficult to be completely honest about oneself'. This does not matter. It's a great story.

The story is divided into three parts. The first part tells of her time in Bali. In 1932 in Hollywood she saw the film Bali,The Last Paradise and shortly after set sail from New York on a cargo ship. She was an artist and made for Bali immediately after arriving in Java. Like all visitors at that time she stayed in the Dutch owned Bali Hotel in Denpasar. She felt, however, that this was not Bali but Holland, part of the colonial masters' country, and determined to leave as quickly as possible and live in a Balinese village. Such a thing was unheard of in those days but she hated the Dutch attitudes. She took off in her car, driving herself, and decided to stop when she ran out of petrol. The car happened to halt outside a Rajah's palace and although she does not mention it I have it on good authority that it was the palace of Bangli.

She was accepted as one of the family and given a Balinese name - K'tut Tantri. K'tut is the fourth-born child - the Rajah already had three. In this section she describes what it was like to live with a royal family. She describes the various ceremonies she attended and trips she took. She also tells of run-ins and arguments with the Dutch authorities. They did not approve and schemed to deport her, but never succeeded. Her analysis is not terribly profound - the Balinese are all wonderful and the Dutch are all terrible. She herself is heroic and brilliant at all things. She formed a very close relationship with the Rajah's son Agung Nura. My informant tells me that she formed an even closer relationship with the Rajah himself. Agung Nura was active in the independence movement, which K'tut Tanri later joined.

She found palace life a bit restrictive and unrepresentative of real Bali life and moved out and as she put it, `bought practically the whole of Kuta beach'. Here she put up a hotel in partnership with some Americans. This is a delightful section of the book despite the fact that she fell out with the Americans. The accounts of her relationships with her staff are endearing and clearly affectionate. The first hotel in Kuta seems to have been very popular. It was not a financial success, however, and she ran into difficulties with the Dutch authorities. Europe was at war. Germany invaded Holland and Japan invaded Indonesia - they landed in Bali first. The Dutch did not fire a shot in defence and fled to Java. It was no longer safe. K'tut Tantri left for Surabaya in East Java. The hotel was demolished by looters permitted by the Japanese.

The second section of the book recounts her time in Japanese occupied Java. The Dutch quickly surrendered. She was able to negotiate travel passes with the Japanese and helped the underground resistance movement against the Japanese. She narrates stories of arms smuggling and tales of derring-do. K'tut Tanti always plays a starring role. Finally she was caught and imprisoned for more than two years until almost the end of the war. She was tortured and the descriptions are quite harrowing.

The third and final section of the book describes the long independence struggle and her part in it. After the war the Dutch wanted to come back to Indonesia as overlords. The English helped them and bombed Surabaya, which was unarmed and did not have air-raid shelters, for three consecutive days. The blood of hundreds was shed. Women and children died. It was a turning point for K'tut Tantri and she determined to help the Indonesians again. She broadcast twice nightly in English from secret radio stations run by the guerillas. By this means she brought the struggle to the attention of the World and became known herself as Surabaya Sue. She also helped spread the word in an English language magazine called The Voice of Free Indonesia. She met and wrote a speech for President Sukarno. There were more cloak and dagger escapades until she went to Australia and toured the main cities publicizing Indonesia's case for freedom. Finally six years after the War ended World opinion forced the Dutch to grant Indonesia her independence.

The book ends there; K'tut Tanti drifts back to New York. After all the excitement it is rather an anti-climax and the reader is left dangling wanting to know more. Whether or not it is all true, it's a jolly good read.

Murni
Ubud, Bali

I was surprised to learn about the Dutch atrocities in Indonesia. The Japanese were bad enough and there are plenty accounts of their inhumane treatment of natives in conquered countries. However, what the Dutch did before and after the war was not good. In light of the current times torturing of others is unacceptable. Perps, no matter where they reside, White House included, should never be given a free pass on this behavior. They should all be hunted down and punished for their crimes against humanity. This is a fantastic account of human tragedy that should be brought to light and pursued for accountability.

As a fan of historical fiction, I was greatly pleased to come across this book of historical...history? *grin* This autobiography is well written and compelling. Having lived in Indonesia for a number of years (and having visited Bali), I found it really fascinating. I think anyone would enjoy it, though. It's a great way to familiarize yourself with world history.

Very good book. Tells a fascinating story about the author's life in Indonesia. Brave lady who was willing to risk everything for all she believed in.Vivid picture of Bali and the situation there, and the people and culture.

When I was a very little girl, we lived in Indonesia and were in Japanese concentration camps during WWII.
I was interested in reading this book, because my brother was taken away at 11 and sent to a men's camp all by himself. I wanted to know what he had gone through.
This book will tell you a little of what we all went through in those years. It is written from a young boys view point and that was helpful to keep it less of a heavy read.
I think very few people know how many of us suffered hunger and illness in POW camps under the Japanese. It is history and hopefully we won't have to re-live this.

A decided to read this book after I heard the news that a movie based on it staring Jane Seymour will be filming next year. I read it only to better understand the movie, and was extremely surprised at what an excellent story I found it to be. It is told from the perspective of a little boy, about his struggles and triumphs, and the little things that help him cope with life in a concentration camp run by Japanese. If you think this is your typical "WW II survivor story", guess again. As I was reading I forgot the book was about a concentration camp. It became the story of a ordinary boy and his mother, and their day-to-day life amidst a horrific background. The harsh reality is it is a true story. I hope the movie does it justice. This book is extremely under-rated. It is up to par with Oprah's book club books. Please read it, and I think you will be surprised. If anyone knows how I can contact the author, please let me know.

The story is beyond an ugliness of human nature.How any one dare to challenge "How about Hiroshima ?" The boy is above all these and almost religius. The Japanese Emperor and the Governmentaologized for the undue cruelities inflickted on the internees, but the most interesting thing is that they did no do so to their own people who were victims themselves under the Japanese Military systems.

i am 16 years old and read this book for the first time last year. i truly enjoyed reading the book. i am not into books which have a difficult plot or a lot of long words but anyone can undersatnd this book. i cant imagine what the boy would have went through and had to keep on reminding myself that this actually happened. i definitely do not think that this book is given the credit in which it is worth. reading the book makes you realise what a good life you have compared to what the boy went through. so go out and read the book now. p.s. have a box of tissues ready!!!

I really liked this book. It's packed with action and adventure from the first page to the last. The stories within the story are all facinating. I would highly recommend this book to anyone with a taste for recent historic adventure.

Like Mr. Cannon's other book, All That Glitters, this book is very entertaining and easy to read. His ability to relate a story of adventure and intrigue is outstanding. This book deals with some details of U. S. involvement in Southeast Asia not widely known. It is well told through the use of the escapades of Matt Saber, the main character. These escapades are fictionalized real life situations encountered by the author and his father in that area of Asia. The story of Matt Saber's imprisonment near the end of the book is one instance of the author's own experience. I recommend the book to anyone desiring an entertaining book of action and adventure.

Although Where the Hell is Indonesia Anyway is a work of fiction, it is actually the personal recollections of the author's experiences as a soldier of fortune pilot involved in clandestine operations for the United States government in the wake of World War II. Nathan Cannon, which is a pen name for the son of a famous World War II hero, was living with his dad in the Philippines in the 1940s when Muslim rebels in Indonesia revolted against their Dutch colonial masters. Clandestinely, the United States supported the rebels and Nat Cannon was heavily involved in the delivery of supplies and providing military support to the Indonesian rebels. This an excellent novel about a little-known aspect of American foreign policy.

Sam McGowan, Author - THE CAVE, A Novel of the Vietnam War

A friend recommended this book. I wasn't sure I'd like it -- the title indicates a men's-adventure sort of book. I was very pleasantly surprised by the rich detail, historical information, and all-around readability of this novel. The story was fast-paced and well-written. Turned out to be one of those "read 'til you're finished" books. I strongly suggest you give it a try!

I truly laughed out loud at the clever, dry wit with which this tale is skillfully told. The author's insightful observations and well crafted narrative were a real joy to read. I confidently recommend it to anyone who appreciates the idiosyncracies of culture and travel or who is a fan of a well-turned phrase. It will make you want to go in search of your own adventures.

Thankfully bereft of the artificially upbeat gloss of travel guides, Marta Hoilman breezily presents a three dimensional portrait of expatriate life in Jakarta. Hoilman's Adventures flash rapier wit, lending humor and life to the privations and improvisations that life in Indonesia invoked. From indomitable roaches to glorious side trips, Hoilman briskly shares her adventures. If you want the "inside baseball" on expatriate life in Jakarta, then you have found a must read.

If Elvis were alive today he would write a song about Ms Hoilman's way with words. Can't wait for the next installment.

Sangat menarik! Very interesting! berisi foto foto tua Jakarta dari Abad 17; 18; 19 dan 20.

Sangat bagus dan buku ini boleh dianggap sebagai BUKU ACUAN deh!..

TOP BANGET!

I'm an "amateur" collector of Dutch-Indies photo books, and have a number of photo books mainly in the Dutch language. Aside from the famous Woodbury-Page classic book on the old photographs of Java, this is perhaps the only other substantial English language photo-book on old Batavia in the 19th century.

The book is well organized, according to how an old Batavia resident might view the city. The four parts of the book cover the four major parts of the city Batavia of the 19th Century. These are Downtown Batavia, Molenvliet (Jl. Gajah Mada & Hayam Wuruk), Uptown Batavia (Weltevreden area) and Tanjung Priok.

The photographs are page-size and each is accompanied by interesting historical facts, information and quotes from other sources regarding the location in question.

The book is truly a masterpiece and worth every penny.

(Note: I do not know the author, but wish he would do an equivalent treatment of the city of Bandoeng).

For those of us who love books--the sensuous heft of their weight, the feel of the paper, the sheen of a beautifully printed page--this book is a treasure. It's a treasure for more than its physical being: it's a treasure in the way it is written. The text takes the reader on a "time capsule" tour of Old Batavia, making clear sense of the topography and the sociology of this city now lost to modern Djakarta. This was an expensive book, but I don't regret a penny of the purchase price.

from the perspective of an ecologist interested in komodo monitors thsi book provides both interesting stories and a comprehensive scientific overview of the species. if you are interested in komodo monitors or you plan on doing research involving the lizards, auffenberg's book is the bible you need to read. auffenberg's study is especially good at

(1) describing the macro- and microhabitats of the komodo monitor
(2) habitat usage by monitors
(3) cataloguing the prey eaten by monitors and foraging patterns
(4) general behavior and communication between monitors
and (4) quantifying competition between monitors and other predators and cannibalism of young lizards by older adults.

auffenberg's study provides qualitative data that is ultimately not supported quantitatively on:

(1) reproductive behavior
(2) cognition and intelligence
(3) home range and migration/emigration patterns between populations
(4) habitat preference (as opposed to WHAT habitats they choose, WHY they choose each and WHICH do they prefer first)
(5) community ecology involving monitors

many of the issues with auffenberg's book are purely scientific in nature - while his study provides a solid foundation for hypothesis generation and future research, it does not give quantitative answers to many questions behavioral ecologists have. because it was the first major study done on komodo monitors, in fact one of the first major behavioral studies done on any lizard, many questions are unanswered or left unaddressed. auffenberg's later publications show an improvement in methodology (1988, 1991), but nevertheless "the behavioral ecology of the komodo monitor" is a priceless resource for any person conducting research on komodo monitors. any publication that deals with komodo monitors is sure to cite "auffenberg (1981)."

from a lay perspective, auffenberg's book is an enjoyable, if sometimes dry, read. auffenberg's passion for these animals shows through his scientific writing, which is clear and straightforward. auffenberg doesn't often use scientific jargon when compared to other scientists, but he still requires patience while reading (especially his sections on skull kinetics).

i personally love auffenberg's book because i feel that while presenting very ground-breaking, interesting, and still useful information on one of the most interesting organisms on the planet, he captures a psuedo-scientific charm about komodo monitors that can almost be described as cultural. his writing is aware of its shortcomings but at the same time captures a wordless quality about an organism so different that science can only begin to describe it. perhaps this is my bias as a scientist, but i found auffenberg's book very inspiring for both science and elsewhere.

if you are interested in learning more about komodo monitors you should look at "komodo dragons: biology and conservation," which is a smithstonian press publication. auffenberg's study was conducted during a period in ecolog that has been replaced more than once by developing trends in the field. while modern ecology certainly has its flaws, it is much more holistic and multidisciplinary. "komodo dragons" (2002) includes much more information on higher end cognition, metapopulation dynamics, and conservation biology. there are many different indonesian ecologists who conduct research on komodo monitors presently, but the majority of the modern publications accessible to nonindonesians are published by claudio ciofi and tim jessop.

This book is not a novel. It is a detailed description of almost all aspects of the Ora (the Komodo inhabitant's name for the Komodo monitor), not permitting the some anatomical details of the monitor. As the title implies, the Ora's behavior is magnified greatly. The book is a leading authority on the behavioral aspects of the book. Morphology, grow analysis, predator-prey coactions, and ecology information is also included and is very complete and well recorded (as is everything in the book). This is a must have for any person interested in this lizard, but is serious reading.

Perhaps biased by a fascination for really large lizards, I was enthralled by this book. Walter Auffenberg, wife, kids, and various others spent almost a year on Komodo Island in 1970 doing the first comprehensive study of Komodo Dragons. The depth is awesome, everything from detailed morphology to studies of prey species to inventories of flora. Mixed in with the tables and charts are wonderful accounts of sharing a photo blind with an 8-foot lizard looking for shade, and how to measure a Dragon's maximum speed (chase him with a motorcycle). Sixty dollars and well worth it