
Sungai Watch: The Ayung River Gets a Plastic Clean Up
Bali has its fair share of environmental issues, including increasing water scarcity and waste management, but by far reducing plastic pollution has been at the centre of its environmental goals in the last few years. As the island has remained quiet in recent months, one group has sought to take advantage of the lack of
Being a Balinese Christian : A Question of Faith and Culture
When one thinks of Bali – its culture, its identity and its very image – there is little doubt that many will picture stone temples, canang offerings and colourful ceremonies. BUT, this isn’t everyone’s Bali, there are other communities who very much identify with their island, but instead worship at pews and not at shrines,
Tedung : Bali’s Ceremonial Umbrella
Shining in white, yellow, or even at times embellished with the golden prada print, the Balinese umbrella, known as a tedung, is an essential feature in Balinese Hindu worship. As decorative as they are – often used to culturally adorn entrance ways of restaurants and hotels – tedung are most at home when standing tall
4 Rules for Life, Bali-Style
“Rules for Life” have become popular book titles in the last few years, with psychologists, sociologist and even celebrities sharing their two-cents on what it takes to live a good life. With that, this latest podcast episode shares what the Balinese Hindu ‘rules for life’ are, focusing on the Purusa Arta, the four principle ‘objects
Soto Betawi: A Classic Dish from The Capital
In celebration of Jakarta’s – Indonesia’s capital city – 493rd Birthday, our sister magazine NOW! Jakarta has put together a list of the all time best ‘Betawi’ cuisine. In this week’s Cook & Mix we share with you one of the all-time classics from the capital, Soto Betawi. Betawi is the term given to the

Eggs in Different Baskets: Reducing Bali’s Dependency on Tourism
What the last few years has shown us here in Bali is that too much of the island is dependent on one industry: tourism. Are there other industries that are worth exploring and expanding for Bali’s economic future? According to a study by the Indonesia Institue (Monash University), 80 percent of Bali’s GDP is dependent
Embracing and Celebrating Differences in Bali (& Indonesia)
This episode’s topic is born out of the social unrest surrounding Black Lives Matter (or BLM), and has inspired us to discuss and explore the ideas of embracing and celebrating differences. Whilst BLM is centred around systemic racism in the US, many countries have their own form of ethnic, cultural or religious oppression. In Indonesia,
Creating a Sustainable Tourist Economy in Bali
Bali’s tourism industry is passed its carrying capacity. Environmental-economist Sean Nino shares his solutions and vision on how to effectively manage the island’s resources for a greener, more environmentally-friendly future. For the longest time, Bali has measured the success of its tourism industry based on one metric: tourist arrivals. This means that ‘improvement’ is predicated
Kain Poleng : Bali’s Chequered Cloth of Balance
Wrapped around trees, skirting shrines and bedecking temples, or worn by the Balinese themselves as a sarong (or saput), the kain poleng, or poleng cloth, is symbolic of one of Bali’s most important philosophies. In its most common form, the kain poleng is a black and white chequered cloth, but other versions exist which incorporate
What Will Travelling to Bali be like After Covid-19?
Being stuck at home for so long, the dreams of travelling are keeping many people sane. Something to look forward to. No doubt Bali will be high on the list for many — but what will a visit to Bali look be like, post-Covid crisis? Listen to this article on the NOW! Bali Podcast (Episode 8) Available
Bali Still Safe? 2,291 People Enter Bali from East Java
For those of us who live on the island, it has been blatantly visible that people are beginning to relax on social distancing and staying at home. 2 months of frustration, and the seemingly positive news surrounding Bali’s Covid-19 situation has created the perfect recipe for this. However, we urge to stand fast because outside

Promoting Tourism in Bali, Is There a Right Way? | Episode 5
More tourists is always good, right? Not always. What if they don’t care about the local culture, or have no curiosity for the history? Then numbers don’t mean anything. So, how can we promote Bali to attract people who DO care? In this episode we explore what promoting Bali ‘the right way’ might look like,
Atma Kesasar: Dangers of a Lost Soul
Did you know, it’s possible for one to ‘lose their soul’ in Bali. From unfinished death rites to falling unconscious, souls can lose their connection and wander among us. In Bali, Hinduism takes a different form from its Indian counterpart. One of the clearest distinctions is their interpretation of reincarnation. In India, depending on one’s