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riohelmi.bsky.social
Indonesian photographer and writer based in bali for half a century, working in regional and international media etc for more than 40 years, Buddhist teacher. www.riohelmi.com / medium.com@riohelmi / insta @riohelmi + riohelmi_documentary (X refugee!)
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I am sure he spoke for a lot of Americans. www.threads.net/@liziegirl47...

It is rude beyond measure for any host to shout at and berate an invited guest in their home, let alone one country's leader to another. It's simply 101 civilization. www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/2/ www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/2/...

View on one of my morning walks near home in Bali

This is the scariest international impact of the mindless MAGA budget slashing. But it will definitely benefit the dictators club. #putinspuppet

It becomes increasingly clear that Europe must unite,become a world power together, ASAP. Forget the transatlantic diplomatic bridge, don't even try to pander to this very dangerous man. Europe, whatever is left of Nato, must rally around and push back on Russia. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

GENGHIS KHAN - 1995: a Mongolian family o in Ulan Bataar show their daughter a monument to Genghis Khan in the main square. I was on assignment to cover the Dalai Lama's first visit to Mongolia, shortly after the communist regime fell. Mongolians were rediscovering pride in their history.

This is sad! In an era when Human Rights Watch and other similar mission organizations are more desperately needed than ever, losing seasoned leaders like her is not what we need.

The "Indonesia Gelap" (Dark Indonesia) protest movement against 13 points od contention continues against www.thejakartapost.com/indonesia/20...

Yes! Europe needs to rally around Poland on this. Forget America for the next 4 yrs. Get over Vance & Munich. Act together NOW.

Indonesia's President has reshuffled his cabinet, appointing among others an award winning scientist and vice rector of prestigious ITB, Prof Brian Yuliarto as minister of higher education, science and technology. Good to see someone qualified in the job.

Wanting some relief from the tragic, hateful absurdity of US politics, I replayed an old movie, The Freedom Writers, based on a true story - an uplifting story of transformation within the crushing confines of a broken system. But coming back to today's rebreaking of lives it made me sadder.

My blog post on patreon about my 4 day blast through Singapore - book launch, exhibitions, meetings, lunches and more www.patreon.com/posts/122536...

No Vance. From stupid, wilfully ignorant speech like yours when the tongue wags but the brain lags.

This century's hideous replay of the Third Reich has hit critical mass. Once again a deluded clown has morphed into a hideous, sick monster feeding off the darkness of ignorance.

As a non-American, I watch appalled as the USA sabotages itself on many fronts, some impacting the world. Confirming RFK, complete disgrace to whatever is left of the Kennedy legacy, as secretary of health is one. The Kennedy legacy besmirched further: Trump takes over The Kennedy Center. What?

I thought I had a good grasp of English. But I didn't know that flock of them was called "a murder of crows". Sheesh that's dark.

Leaving home at dawn to catch early flight to Singapore, I look up and wish I had time to go out and shoot this somewhere with a view! #bali

Camel train, Rajasthan 1988. I scanned this from a kodachrome 64 slide I shot. I had climbed the highest hill around with all my gear - two F4s (new then), 4 lenses, film and a tripod. Phew, I was a lot fitter 36 years ago. Then I waited....

Ulun Danu Batur temple in Kintamani, from the air with Mt Batur in the background one moody morning. #aerialphotography #bali #blackandwhite

from @riohelmi_doicumentary: MT AGUNG AND LENTICULAR CLOUDS this morning. The sky was shifting and changing so quickly, different moods within 5 minutes of each other. #monochrome #blackandwhite

My "Ramblings" blog post on Patreon (open to public). Ramblings is a simple running commentary on things I encounter in Bali and elsewhere, whether on two wheels or more. This one is called: "1st Solar Month & Lunar New Year!" www.patreon.com/posts/121164...

Look who showed when I was having breakfast on the terrace! A Greater Coucal, here drying its wings on a sunny morning during the rainy season. Didn't have my camera on me, shot with my mobile. #greatercoucal #bali

When correlation and causation get awfully close...

Laut bisa dikapling... www.tempo.co/hukum/boyami...

Gong Xi, Gong Xi! Behind the scenes - takes a lot of work to keep a temple clean during Chinese New Year celebrations! CNY in north Bali www.instagram.com/p/DFbhmG5zIW...

Erasing history.... America slides - no, sorry - plunges head first into a fascist era. www.bbc.com/news/article...

Indonesia's minister of forestry says logged out areas in protected forests should be used for food production, says it could produce 3.5 million tons of rice (Indonesia imports as much). He said could combine forest and food production. ??How to combine rice fields with forest? No reforestation???

Personally, though I felt that there were a lot of lows associated with the inauguration, the most appalling was Trump demanding an apology from the Bishop for asking him to have mercy. Ladies and gentleman, (yep that's all): the new President of the United States of America.

An interesting piece by my Balinese friend Sugi Lanus, a graduate of Udayana University’s Bali Literature Department, renown cultural thinker, and prolific writer on contemporary issues affecting the island. www.patreon.com/posts/weakne... (post open to public)

medium.com/@riohelmi/be...

Mt Agung This morning from somewhere down a tiny, steep village road near Abang. Was in the car (bike waiting for parts from Germany). Was terrified a truck would come down the road! But it was worth it. (I only got one chance with the bird!) #bali

Vale David Lynch. You put your heart into it all. And what a heart... Let's just say that many of us are grateful for your work, even when it made us squirm. You put your heart into it all. And what a heart...

AT THE HEART of every extended Balinese community is the traditional market. Early in the morning housewives, vendors, suppliers, browsers come together. Coffee & gossip, vendors and buyers greet each other, exchange news, and bargain with words, gestures and facial expressions. It's always lively!

We are going to see more of these bombshells lightly tossed into the political media salad with a heavy dressing of economic justification. Forestry minister????? 🤑