Bali’s Traffic Woes
I didn’t want to write about traffic again but after the last few days of chaos on the roads of Bali, I have to! Traffic jams spoil holidays and that’s what 6 million people come here for, a holiday, to relax and enjoy their precious free time. But that simply does not involve sitting for
On Bali’s Beaten, Bashed and Battered Paths
There was a time, not that long ago, when it was really possible to get lost in Bali. To wander down unmarked roads and lanes and sit quietly under banyan trees in unnamed villages. There was nature in Kuta and fields in Seminyak, there wasn’t a single building in Nusa Dua nor a villa on
Three Causes of Well-Being in Bali
Welcome to Bali where there are many traditions and cultural beliefs. One that I greatly admire and respect is TRI HITA KARANA which translates as “ Three causes of well-being”. No, they are not power, money and love! they are much more meaningful than that. They are: harmony with God, harmony among people and harmony
The Dilemma of Sustainability
Sustainability is the hot word of the moment. Encompassing environmental friendliness, economic viability, community sensitivity and ethnical employment. It is a huge and complicated subject. But it’s not just hot, it’s important. Almost everything, no, actually everything needs to be sustainable. While most of us think of sustainability as an environmental issue and absolutely abhor
Why is Waste Wasting So Much of our Time?
The two current obsessions of Bali are linked (symbolically at least). The digital/ social media frenzy, symbolised by www, and the garbage or plastic fixation symbolised by wwww (waste, water and waste water). Maybe the solution is to match them together to create ‘thewastewaterworldwideweb’ project ? Certainly we need to find a solution quickly because
From Sea to Shining Sea
British Poet John Masefield wrote his famous poem ‘Sea Fever’ in 1902 which so beautifully expresses our fascination with the sea. The second verse sums it up well: “I must down to the sea again, for the call of the running rideIs a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied” We
A Love for Art – Is There a ‘Right’ Way?
I love art, but I can’t really define it for you since it takes so many forms. But if we stick to the main categories of painting and sculpture, of literature and poetry, of song and dance, we already have wonderful ways that the human race can define itself and its existence here on earth.
Art, Artisans, Skill and Inspiration
The art world is one that is very hard to understand, and I think those that control it want it to be that way! Which artist fetches the top dollar for their work? And why? It doesn’t always seem to be about what we (amateurs!) call quality, in fact some of the absolutely hot, top-grossing
Staying Fit for Life
Fitness and health aren’t the same thing – but they are closely related. You can be healthy without being fit, but you can’t be fit without being healthy! There are a lot of people who, for the moment are healthy but don’t do exercise, but this won’t last long. The heart needs to be exercised,
Design for Living
I was privileged to be part of a recent seminar on the circular economy which was headed by a Danish architect who talked about how we should design all of our buildings, infrastructure and all of our facilities so deliberately for the purpose for which they are intended so that they actually work! Seems obvious
Getting Well and Staying Well
The funny thing about the human body is that it may or may not tell you when something is wrong with it. We twist an ankle, “Oww”, we know it immediately, we have a cold “Aachoo” easy to spot. But for something more serious that you really want and need some warning on, nothing !
Democracy in Action in Indonesia
Welcome to crunch month, when the country decides who will lead it for the next five years. The debates are over, the pollsters are making money – sorry – predictions and forecasts, everyone has become an expert on government, on the economy, the leaders, the powers behind the thrones, the spouses behind the powers, the
40 Years in Bali (Part 1) : First Contact
Ten Years of NOW! Bali but Forty Years of Memories Part I (this is extracted from the speech given by NOW! Bali Founder, Alistair Speirs to the assembled tourism industry at the NOW! Tenth Anniversary Dinner on 13th February 2019 at The Renaissance Bali Uluwatu Resort and Spa) NOW! Bali has survived and thrived for
