For as long as I can remember, writing has been my passion. Growing up in Melbourne Australia, my family was fortunate to travel to neighbouring countries in South East Asia. Thanks to my father’s career success, together with my parents and two sisters, we travelled on all-expense paid trips to Hong Kong, Singapore, China and Indonesia.  

In 1983 I had turned twelve and was on my way to Bali. Perhaps to the locals I was a typical freckled-faced Aussie tourist, but with every day spent beneath the Denpasar sun, I could feel my heart opening in a new and creative way. I wanted to explore the wonderment of Bali with a notepad and pen. I was on mission to dig deeper into its soul and instinctively I wrote about everything stirring my imagination. 

Whilst my parents and sisters enjoyed a ‘brochure like’ holiday soaking up the sun by enjoying 7-Up lemonade and massages on the beach, I took off along Kuta beach and nearby streets in search of understanding the beauty. I discovered this in the people, landscapes, colours, sculptures, food and some aspects of their spirituality.

I had written so many pages about Bali that I began creating topic categories that I shaped into short stories. Over the ensuing years in High School, I shared my love for Indonesia through reading my stories whenever any opportunity presented, declaring I would someday return to Indonesia to write again. Nobody understood my passion for Indonesia but with red and white firmly running through my creative veins, I surely did. “Saya cinta Indonesia”.

Upon completing my University degree in Management Communications and Public Relations in 1993, my desire to return to Indonesia had become overwhelming. I travelled to Singapore with my parents in between completing my degree and formally graduating in 1994. Upon arrival I instantly felt closer in proximity to Indonesia but still nearly 150 kilometres away. I kept thinking about Indonesia. By day two I left my parents in the hotel and headed out on my own adventure. At Dunkin Doughnuts on Orchard Road I met a group of Indonesian business students jamming on their guitars. “Nama saya Mark, dari Australi.” I felt that creative shift in my heart rise again and told them I was a budding song-writer.

My decision to leave Australia was easy. At twenty-three years of age, I arrived in Jakarta with a backpack full of pens, notebooks and with the dream of becoming a successful writer. I immediately felt I was at home.