Family Matters

Everyone gets a holiday ... except mothers?

The trip was supposed to be a break for everyone in my extended family. So why was my mother-in-law up in the wee hours?

Wellness

She’s not fine: What years of dismissing women’s pain cost

For 15 years, everyone told me the pain I felt every month was normal. Turns out, it wasn’t.

Currently Obsessed

Two girls, two worlds, but one message from Indonesian cinema

One grew up in 1960s Surabaya, the other was born on Mars; both have something to teach us about facing an uncertain world with open arms.

Weekend Five

5 shows not from Hollywood that you can relate to

From Seoul to Mumbai, these five Asian titles capture everyday emotions that feel closer to home than most Hollywood shows.

Currently Obsessed

‘Enough’: The greenest choice in a world of more

I've spent years studying the climate crisis. It took my mother's permanent marker on a 25-year-old fridge to show me what I was missing.

Warm Takes

When a gift is never just a gift

We exchange gifts thinking it's a showcase of care. But somewhere between the ribbon and the Instagram story, it can become a form of debt.

Warm Takes

Performing hunger: Notes from behind the café curtain

Is restraint without intent inherently noble in the eyes of the divine, or are we just hungry for the optics?

Warm Takes

Sorry for eating: The month of restraint and our urge to control

Ramadan asks us to practice restraint. But somewhere along the way, we started asking everyone else to practice it too.

Style

Beyond performative: Is he a threat or just a man with a mirror?

Self-expression is about breaking boundaries. Maybe judge him by his character, not his closet.

Warm Takes

A pick-me girl: The woman who wasn’t like other girls

How do you learn to pick yourself when you’ve spent your whole life performing for someone else’s approval?

Warm Takes

The hidden burnout behind self-care

From early morning routines to endless wellness trends, the pressure to recover properly may be exhausting us even more.

Currently Obsessed

I'm a grown-up who found a new music obsession: J-pop boy bands

Turns out, you are never too 'mature' to be a stan.

Warm Takes

Growing in love, shrinking in self

When your relationship reshapes your habits, preferences and identity, how do you know whether you’re growing together or if you’re just disappearing?

Warm Takes

From damsel to baddie: A survival plan for apocalypse

After a birthday hike up Mount Gede, I realized I’d be the first to die in the apocalypse. So I started planning.

Weekend Five

Five exciting Indonesian musicians to jack into in 2026

Looking to refresh your playlist this year? Here are five promising music artists whose recent work feels bold, honest and worth lending your ear.