When I first arrived in Indonesia at 19, people here told me I could buy little black monkeys that would follow me everywhere on my shoulder. So naturally I wanted one! Well, they were all out that day, but they brought out a slow loris. Well I couldn't leave him there in the cage!!!! I bought him for $20 dollars and took him home. I named him beng-beng. He lived for 3 months before he crawled out the window one night and was found dead in the Jakartan neighborhood I lived in 2 weeks later. I cried, but it hit me the worst 6 months later when I found out that the slow loris is an endangered species! I was ridden with guilt and still feel horrible whenever I think about it but I'm trying to make up for that mistake.
Ani Difranco
This is the woman I eat, sleep, and breathe. She is an amazing musician and poet with an amazing story. She is what I listen to as I rip through traffic in Jakarta on blades. She is what I will listen to when I travel from Merak to Bali. This woman IS inspiration. I had been listening to her songs "Animal" and "All a This" a lot when I first had the idea to rollerblade to Bali from Merak.
Lois Stevenson
This is my mother. I used to call her each time I made a proposal for a commercial project and I'd say "Do you know how much money I could make!" and she'd say to me "Never focus too much about how much money you can make. Instead focus more on the benefit you can give to others."
Osama M. Hijji
When I was in Egypt I met this man. He had been fighting the Mubarak Regime for 11 years. He had been jailed 3 times for his activism. When the riots broke out I watched in awe at the power of regular everyday people. I felt ashamed at how I have done nothing with my life so far. He had the power to shame me into doing something, even though it is nothing like what he has done and is doing for Egypt.
Jason Daniels
This is one on my best friends and a good example of an environmentally conscious individual. He walks everywhere and only takes a taxis when necessary. I used to tell him to buy a motorcycle and he'd always refuse, saying "I can walk!". Maybe that's why they called his TV Program "Walk the Talk"!
Dodot Taqwa
This guy is the director that worked on my first episode of "Belajar Indonesia" on Trans TV. It was not only the MOST FUN episode I'd even done, but it was also an opportunity to meet someone exceptional. He was the first one I discussed my plans for inline skating to Bali with, and it was HE who gave me the idea to plant trees in each city that I visited along the way!