Here you will find articles that I've written and that have formerly appeared in the (now defunct) Indonesian Observer, The Jakarta Post, the Japanese Daily Mainichi Shimbun and the weekly news magazine Tempo English. Most are comments to various issues from politics, the economy, society to religion in Indonesia that encompass a period of over a decade that saw the toppling of an authoritarian regime and the mushrooming of shopping malls. There have been many changes to be sure, and lately the increasing preoccupation with religion together with the tensions and debates that never fail to dog this emotionally charged issue. However, despite the challenges of democracy and reforms, overall most things have remained the same - namely the complexity and nature of our problems and our quirkiness as Indonesians. I also welcome contributions from Avocado readers. - desi anwar