Living and Learning in Bali: Personal Perspectives from the Bali Island School
In collaboration with Bali Island School, NOW! Bali engaged the school students in a writing competition to hear their personal opinions on what life is like on the island. The students were asked to write up to 500 words around the theme “The Lessons that Bali Teaches Me”. The writing task prompted the students to

The Breeding Grounds of the Begawan Foundation
Beginning with a mission to conserve the critically-endangered Bali starling, over the years the Begawan Foundation has itself grown alongside the population of Bali’s endemic bird. Their operations centred in Melinggih Kelod, Payangan, have become breeding grounds, not only for starlings, but for youth education and regenerative farming programs, all of which work in synergy

Mission Paws’ible: For the Love of Dogs
Driven by their love of animals, Mission Paws’ible has been, well, on a mission to change the fate of Bali’s many uncared-for cats and dogs. Taking a holistic approach to their work that engages communities as well as directly caring for these animals, the organisation is slowly building a long-term solution that ensures their welfare.

BASAbali: The Journey to Digitise the Balinese Language
BASABali – a registered foundation in Indonesia and non-profit in USA – are a collective of linguists, anthropologists, students and communicators who are driven by the same mission: to ensure the continuation of the Balinese language. Alissa J. Stern, Founder of BASAbali; and Ni Nyoman Clara Listya Dewi, Head of Communications for BASAbali and a

The Ubud Writers and Readers Festival is an Experience Beyond Books
From 27 to 30 October 2022, the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival (UWRF) will take over Bali’s cultural capital for its 19th year running. There will be 150 storytellers — from writers and poets to activists and musicians — descending upon Ubud over the four days, all of whom will feature on over 50 panels,

Weaving the Ocean: Art Installation Turns Discarded Plastic Ropes into Refined Tapestry
The Coral Triangle Center (CTC), a Bali-based environmental NGO, has unveiled ‘Weaving the Ocean’, an art installation and exhibition by Indonesian artist, Ari Bayuaji, showcased at their Center for Marine Conservation in Sanur. The Coral Triangle Center has always made it its mission to continuously educate people about the oceans, and how to preserve and

A Message from Janet DeNeefe: Founder & Director of Ubud Writers & Readers Festival
Dear Readers, The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how we view and experience literature and community. It has reminded us of the deep value, and essential effect creative programming has on our society. It also challenged thousands of arts organizations like never before. At the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival, we wanted to ensure we continued

Scholars of Sustenance Organises Second Million Meals Paddle Fundraising Event
Food Rescue Foundation, Scholars of Sustenance (SOS) Indonesia, has always been committed to feeding communities in need in Bali and Indonesia through the collection and redistribution of edible surplus food from hospitality partners including hotels, restaurants, bakeries and food manufacturers. In 2021, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, SOS Indonesia managed an astonishing feat of distributing a

Bali 1928: Repatriating Bali’s Musical Memories
You can listen to a full interview with Bali 1928 in Episodes 23 and 24 of The NOW! Bali Podcast: “I haven’t heard this since I was a kid,” said Wayan Beratha upon hearing the scratchy recordings of a Balinese gamelan composition from 1928. The melodic tones of Curik Ngaras (Starlings Kissing) sparked a 70-year

Maja Healing: A Centre for Professional, Holistic Healing and Therapy in Bali
Though relatively under the radar, Maja Healing is one of the island’s most sought-after practices for holistic healing, knowledge sharing and community building. A tranquil oasis set in the quaint Umalas neighbourhood, this not-for-profit centre has been helping clients improve their overall mental, emotional or physical well-being, or indeed recover from a variety of ailments

ARTificial Reef: Teguh Ostenrik’s Underwater Art Installations Reviving Corals in North Bali
At the end of May 2022, ‘Domus Anguillae’, or ‘House of Eels’ was submerged into the sea off the coast of Tejakula, north-east Bali. It marked the 11th coral reef art installation made by artist Teguh Ostenrik, part of the efforts of the Terumbu Rupa Foundation (or Yayaysan Terumbu Rupa). About the ARTificial Reef Project

The Bali Island Paddle: Two Adventurers Set to Stand-Up Paddle Around the Entire Island
Two ocean defenders, Mike Brumby and Lukas Gallu, are set to paddle around the entire Bali coastline on 2 July 2022, in an effort to break records, create awareness and raise funds for the Coral Triangle Center. The Bali coastline is approximately 450km, a remarkable distance not yet including factors such as currents, winds and

Bali Island School Students Built Free Mini-Library for the Community
Wonderful news for the Sanur community as they now have a free mini-library accessible to them courtesy of students from Bali Island School. Officially called the ‘People’s Perpustakaan’, the mini-library was built by twelve students from Grade 6 to Grade 10 of the prestigious school as part of their ‘Service to Action’ programme. This was