Gayah

Gayah: Bali’s Intricate Meat Offerings

Simultaneously unsightly and visually impressive, gayah are intricately-prepared offerings fashioned out of the meat, skin and parts of butchered pigs. Bali’s humid and tropical heat is certainly not the ideal condition for animal remains to be sweltering under the sun, but during major ceremonies, like funerals or odalan temple anniversaries, these gayah are necessary among the eclectic

Experience the Ultimate Island Detox at Karma Kandara

With treatment rooms that peer over the Uluwatu cliffs and out to the Indian Ocean, a massage experience doesn’t get more dramatic than at the award-winning Karma Spa. Beyond the spa’s impressive views, its fusion of traditional treatments and modern, biohacking therapies ensures that every guest leaves feeling wholly invigorated. Part of the luxurious experiences

Marak and Ark: Bali Welcomes Two New Premium Arak Brands

Adding to the impressive list of Bali-made spirits, the recently launched Marak and Ark bring a new take on the island’s traditional spirit of arak. Brought to the market by Indoestri Teluk Saba, the two brands aim to support arak farmers in Karangasem whilst elevating the name and reputation of this culturally-significant, artisanal alcoholic beverage.

Setra Ari-ari: The Placenta Graveyard

A unique custom takes place in one of Bali’s mountain villages, whereby the placentas of newborn babies are placed inside coconuts and hung on trees. Setra Ari-ari, or the placenta graveyard, is certainly one of Kintamani’s more obscure destinations. Bayung Gede village is neatly tucked into one of the gaping valleys of Kintamani. It is

Undagi Tapel: The Mask Carvers of Bali

Mask carvers are one of Bali’s most important artisans. Through their delicate creations, these skilled craftsmen give life to the characters on Bali’s ritual dance stage. Of course, on the island of the gods, a mask is more than just a mask: it is a sacred object, a medium, and a tool of transformation. Masks

Kerauhan: Trance and Possession in Bali

During a Balinese ceremony or performance, it’s not uncommon to see someone fall into a trace. This is known as kerauhan, during which it is believed that a spirit is now in control of someone’s mind and body. This may be hard to fathom for many people, but upon seeing the self-stabbing act of ngurek,

The Seaweed Farmers of Nusa Lembongan

Across the Badung Strait lies three special islands off the coast of mainland Bali. The now famous Nusa Penida, a large and rugged isle that has become a mainstream day-tripper destination, and the two smaller islands of Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan. Between Lembongan and Ceningan, a unique aspect of local life is found, in

Begawan Biji Restaurant Brings the Table to the Farm in North Ubud

Deep in the Payangan countryside, 20 minutes north of central Ubud, an escapist’s dining destination stands at the edge of rice fields. Reimagining the classic farm-to-table experience, Begawan Biji instead invites guests to take a seat by the farmlands themselves, to relish in a modern take on Indonesian and Asian flavours in a stunning and

Pura Meduwe Karang: Life Immortalised in Stone

The black volcanic and red earth bricks dominate much of the temple architecture of South Bali, and as beautiful as they may be, they are no match for the truly ornate temples of North Bali. The ‘pura’ of Buleleng Regency are almost Gothic in their aesthetic, featuring intricately carved walls, reliefs and statues that protrude

Hatten-Winery-Sanur

Hatten Wines: How to Bring Bali’s Viniculture into the 21st century 

Founded in 1994 by Ida Bagus Rai Budarsa, Hatten Wines is Bali’s first wine company and produces wines from locally-grown grapes. Gus Rai wanted to offer visitors a taste of Bali, a wine that reflected the island’s tropical terroir. Having just celebrated their 30th anniversary in August 2024, it’s an apt moment to reflect on how far

Pura Maospahit: A Remnant of the Majapahit Empire in Denpasar

Found in the area of Pemecutan, Denpasar, Pura Maospahit is an ancient temple compound that dates back to the early days when the Majapahit Empire first established itself in Bali. Denpasar has long been a significant region in Bali. Ancient inscriptions, such as the Blanjong inscription in Sanur (913 AD), hint at an organised civilisation living

Now Bali
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER TO GET THE LATEST UPDATES. SUBSCRIBE