Journeys and Detours: Stories Collected
by Arlenea Herdimansyah
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Many travellers will tell you that one of the best ways to get to know a place is through the people who live there. This collection by Binatang Press! invites you to step into a local's eyes and wander a little deeper, discover the unexpected, and experience each place in a more personal way.
These books aren't really about the destination alone. More often, they're about the detour and all the wonderful things you stumble upon along the way. Sometimes, the detour turns out to be a journey of its own.
Ruang Ruang by Binatang Press! and Krack!
Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes of Indonesia’s independent alternative publishing scene? If so, look no further.
Ruang Ruang is part directory, part record of the independent press scene in two of Indonesia’s major creative cities: Jakarta and Yogyakarta. Documented by Binatang Press! and Krack!, printmaking collectives that has spent years immersed in the scene, the pieces feel less like formal essays and more like the kind of conversations you’d have over a cup of coffee.
From mapping the networks that make up Indonesia's publishing industry, to asking whether risograph is a trend or a movement, to reflecting on how art can be a form of political expression, the stories in Ruang Ruang are refreshingly honest and unfiltered. Together, they paint a picture of art as something that comes to life through people, and that the most resonant work is something that is shaped through collaboration rather than created alone.
Whether you’re a creative or simply curious, if you find yourself in Jakarta or Yogyakarta, consider dropping by some of the shops featured in the directory. Come say hello, explore the scene, and become part of the story. Who knows? Maybe the next big movement will start with you.
Selangkah ke Cipete by The 1984
When people hear “South Jakarta,” they might picture the towering skyscrapers and malls of the Sudirman Central Business District, the vibrant nightlife of Senopati, or the bustling Blok M, edgy Gen Zs' holy ground. But just beyond Senayan and Kramat Pela, further south, lies Cipete: a leafy neighborhood brimming with creativity and personality. Selangkah ke Cipete is a window into the neighborhood through the eyes of our sister unit, the creative consultant The 1984, offering readers a glimpse of Cipete through a deeply hyperlocal lens.
Food is a big part of the story, with recommendations ranging from restaurants to gerobakan (street-cart vendors). The selection gives a well-deserved spotlight to local legends that have stood the test of time, while also making room for newer tenants. But Cipete’s streets are more than just places to eat. They are gathering spaces where all sorts of things happen, like a 10K Women's Marathon and the bicycle race Tour de Gang that slips in between the cracks of the locals' houses.
In this book, although Cipete is painted as a trendy district where exciting things happen, it also holds on to the neighborhood's nostalgic, intimate character. Cipete is also home to a thriving creative scene. There are photography studios, coffee shops, pop-up markets and food parks, even a one-of-a-kind listening bar whose location is kept secret to preserve the intimacy of each session. In Cipete, creativity seems to find its way into every corner.
As The 1984’s Smita Basuki puts it: Cipete is eclectic. It’s a collage of different communities, ideas, and creative energies. Whatever you’re looking for, chances are you’ll find it there. And if you don’t quite know what you’re looking for yet, that’s okay too. Keep an open mind, wander around, and let the fun find you instead.
Going South to the North by Felix Dass
True, Going South to the North has just one destination: Darwin. But it's the detours along the way where the real story unfolds. In this book, music journalist Felix Dass recounts his journey with renowned Indonesian pop band White Shoes & The Couples Company as they travel to perform at the 2013 Darwin Festival in Australia's Northern Territory.
Along the way, he takes readers behind the scenes of the band, capturing not only the excitement of the trip but also funny mishaps and shenanigans that come with travelling together. There’s the band member who gets pulled aside for some extra questioning at immigration, another who nearly drowns and is rescued by a fellow bandmate, and, of course, the guitar they accidentally leave behind. These moments may seem like small incidents in the grand scheme of the trip, but together, they give the journey its character.
Sometimes, the best travel stories aren't always about reaching the destination, but about the things that happen on the way there. The mishaps, the laughter, the unexpected turns, and the stories you never could have planned for are the ones you're going to talk about for years to come. Going South to the North is a charming reminder that the detour can be just as memorable as the destination itself.