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The last few days have been hard. Witnessing the devastation from Valencia’s flooding up close—and the incredible resilience of the community in response. After days of reporting, I find myself at a loss for words. Instead, I’ll let these images (and moments from my reporting) tell the story. See the full report through the link in my bio.

Gracias, terima kasih and thank you for the birthday love! Lucky me, I got to spend it with the amazing Natsai Mandisodza. Celebrated with fireworks, parades, art and agua de Valencia 🍹

October is always a month of cake and celebration in our family, but this year is different. This is a special birthday for my mother @yismartono . It’s her first birthday in a long time without her husband, John McBeth, by her side. He passed away last year. So, instead of the usual festivities, I want to celebrate by sharing a few family photos that show just how remarkable she is. First photo is my mother as a young woman wearing a traditional kebaya and batik. She’s standing next to my grandmother and my aunt. As you can see, I come from a long line of formidable women! Baby photos! The gurgling bundle being tossed in the air is me. The woman captured in mid-laugh is my mother, looking radiant. Not a family photo but important nonetheless. These two photos are of my mother in her early career as a foreign correspondent for Indonesia’s Tempo magazine. She broke barriers in a male-dominated field, reporting from conflict zones. The ad copy below reads: “In that hotel, Yuli Ismartono, a TEMPO journalist, stayed throughout the bombing, reporting on the atmosphere of the war.” This is my favorite photo of my mother and me at our old house in Canggu, Bali. A rare photo of us smiling together and looking relaxed. And finally, a recent photo from this summer at her new home in Sanur. We had just finished a Balinese house blessing ceremony, rice grains still pressed to our foreheads. She’s wearing a crown of palm leaf with a flower tucked at the top. What I love about this picture, is that she is smiling as she starts a new chapter of her life. A very happy birthday to the one and only Mimi! ❤️

Singapore is the spot for friends, family and food! I was able to get a few photos in between family feasts and padel matches 😋

A new chapter for our family in Bali. After many years in Canggu, my mother moved to a new home in Sanur on the east coast of the island. A Balinese ceremony to bless the house. Exploring the new neighborhood. Kite flying on the beach. Turtle hatchlings. Playing lots of padel. And paragliding! What a glorious July reuniting with friends and family here. Truly feels like home.

A late post on our enchanting boat trip to Labuan Bajo and the Komodo National Park. Pink beaches, glorious ocean and volcano views, wildlife and family ❤️