After visiting some 80 countries over a span of 15 years, Dr. Kal Muller received a juicy assignment: a book on Bali. That was back in 1976 and on the second day into the work, he decided to wander no more, Indonesia was it. He has never regretted that decision.

In previous pre-Indonesia lives, Kal worked as an interpreter for the US Department of State, waited on tables, was an instructor at a gym, a dealer in traditional tribal art, a model for artists, documentary film maker, photographer, writer and taught French at the University of Arizona. Born in Hungary, he settled in the US until of sufficient age to determine his own destiny, which was essentially to roam the world. Between trips he earned a Ph.D. in French literature.

In 1966 he sailed across the Pacific, ending up in what was then the New Hebrides, now Vanuatu. During the next three years, he stayed with the most traditional tribes there, participating in the land dive on Pentacost Island, the only white man stupid enough to do this. (Speak of mad dogs and Englishmen....) But it did result in an article which he wrote and photographed for the National Geographic. He did two other articles for the same magazine on the New Hebrides, along with a lecture film for the same society.  Later, he spent three years with the Huichol Indians of Mexico, participating in their annual peyote pilgrimages and trying out the hallucinogenic cactus on numerous occasions. (However, he did not inhale.)

During most of his life, Kal’s focus was on traditional societies and he has spent extensive periods of time living with tribal groups who maintain, to varying degrees, their ancestral way of life. He has made several documentary films and published over a dozen books, which he wrote, as well as taking the photos required.  He has also written numerous magazine articles published in Europe, the USA, Mexico and Asia.

Several years ago he wrote the standard guide, Diving Indonesia, which has helped to bring ever-increasing numbers of divers to what is generally considered the best in the world.  Kal has invested in a dive business which operates around the Komodo Island in eastern Indonesia. His other books in the Periplus Series include Irian Jaya, Maluku, Sulawesi, East of Bali, and Kalimantan.  With other editors: Bali and Paradise on the Equator and a ghost-written book about Freeport Indonesia’s operations in Irian Jaya, called Grasberg.  He is currently working as a part time consultant with Freeport, a huge mining company operating in Irian Jaya.

©Kalman Muller