Exploring the Island
Welcome to Bali in this wonderful New Year! It’s easy to arrive and have a look around the hotel or villa, and say “yes, this will do fine!” and stay exactly where you are for a week. You can wander from the room to breakfast, from breakfast to pool, from pool to spa, then hit
The Meaning of Control
The Indonesian Government has an admirable plan to increase the prosperity of the people through increased tourism, but as I have warned in this publication (and wherever anyone will listen!) this by itself is simply not enough. As we have seen through the vastly increased arrivals here in Bali over the last ten years, more
The Festive Season
Welcome to Bali in what could be a glorious sunny month leading to Christmas and New Year, or it may be a dismal rainy month for which I am very sorry. Sadly it’s out of my control! The “monsoon” has been a feature of this part of the world since forever! However even if it
Parking and Deliveries, The Headache Continues
For those of you who come from very disciplined countries you may be surprised that deliveries are allowed at any time of day here in Bali, no matter how small or congested the road is. Vans, trucks and huge containers are allowed to go anywhere on the island, to stop outside the shop or restaurant
ACCIDENTS AND REGULATIONS
Sadly there has been another death in a rafting accident on the island which turned a holiday full of joy into a nightmare for the family and friends of the poor tourist who died. But did it have to be this way? Could it have been prevented? From what we hear, the answer is “yes”.
Surfing Bali
That title is a bit misleading . It’s really “ googling “ Bali in case you are getting your board ready ! When did surfing the web turn into a monopoly? Anyway what do you get when you google Bali? 313,000,000 possible websites. That is a very large number for a small island of only
Bali’s Secret Places
When I first came to Bali back in 1979, “Real Bali” stretched from North to South and East to West. Poppies Lane in Kuta was a sandy path leading you through cow pastures and palm trees to a quiet Kuta beach. Now it is motorcycle madness. Ubud was a distant, mystical village, somewhere to be
What does Bali Need? Quality Vs Quantity Part 2
Last month in this magazine, and on our online platforms, I put forward the challenge to the relevant authorities of choosing mass tourism against high value, high quality tourism and was immediately challenged by some good thinking folks who correctly said high value tourism doesn’t always equate with a good flow of income to the
If Music Be The Food of Love, Play On!
A long deceased playwright called William wrote that a long time ago in his comedic play Twelfth Night. But what does it mean ? I think it is saying that music makes love better, it feeds it , and builds it up so keep the music playing and love will blossom and soar! What a
Quality or Quantitiy?
It’s high season here in Bali and that means people, lots of them, and people means cars, and buses, and motorbikes. Do we really want them? Is the Bali infrastructure ready for them? Sadly the answer is a resounding, total ‘NO’. Why are they coming then? Well of course it’s everybody’s right to have a
OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
What is it about the joy of discovery that thrills us so? Why do we get excited to reach the top of a mountain, the bottom of the sea, the depths of the forest, the middle of the plains? I guess it goes back to our original, almost forgotten, bond with nature. Our primeval being
An Evolving Culture
One of the things that makes Balinese culture so sustainable is its flexibility and adaptability. It is not a rigid culture, intent Ghormenghast style, on preserving rituals in stone at all costs, but allows change to permeate and move forward. This is reflected in Balinese dance, dress and architecture which I can see and (to some
Under the Keris (Part 2) : The Man’s Many Advantages
When people write on Balinese love, they like to underline the romantic side, often seen from the male’s perspective. People are said to elope out of love, to bypass the parents’ unwillingness to accept the union. This occurs of course, but there are also instances when parents force lovers to break their bond – which,
