The Future of Bali : Challenges of Over Tourism
Many times voted ‘The Best Island in The World’ Bali has a serious historical reputation to live up to, but at the same time has been recently vilified and castigated across the world first for over development and latterly, waste management, or should I say lack of it! So these mixed messages aptly describe the
NOW! Bali Guide to Travelling Sustainably
If you love Bali, then as a visitor or even as a resident you can do your part to keep this island beautiful for years and years to come. Here’s our tips on how you can help! Bali is a paradise island, enjoyed by visitors from around the world for its pristine landscapes, from terraced
In Our Memory: ROLE Foundation Founder Mike O’Leary Passes Away
It is with a heavy heart we share the news of Mike O’Leary’s passing on the 26th November 2019. A central part of the local community, Mike O’Leary was the founder of R.O.L.E Foundation and BaliWISE, a man who loved the environment and Bali and spent his years doing what he could to support and
The ‘Golden Rule’ Applies to Everything
No it’s not a new technology regulation, the Golden Rule is something given to us by Jesus Christ and at this time as we approach the celebration of His birth, it is appropriate to see just how applicable this rule is to literally everything we do, in business, in our families, in our sport, in
Bali Farmers : Surviving in the Tourism Era
The Balinese believe that there is a great unseen power that results in a good harvest in their rice field. That power comes from Dewi Sri, the Goddess of Fertility. Good harvests and a gratitude towards the Goddess are strong foundations to the Balinese community’s rituals. Today, instead of functioning as a staple supply of
What to Remember During Bali’s ‘Festive Season’
Many years ago in Europe, but it was probably the same all over the world, festivals were very much centred on religious celebrations. Many of them were agriculturally based too like ‘Thanksgiving’ for a good harvest (or sometimes a human sacrifice because the harvest was bad!), and were usually at very fixed points of the
Going Zero-Waste in Bali
Are you looking to reduce your ecological footprint? Stop your current habit of waste? With the help of these bulk food stores in Bali, you’ll certainly be on your way… A while back, an Indomie wrapper from 19 years ago was found washed up on a beach in East Java; plastic bags were spotted in
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
The Race For Water : A Global Odyssey Campaigning To Save Our Oceans
Almost a decade ago, Swiss entrepreneur Marco Simeoni created the Race for Water Foundation dedicated to the preservation of water and in specific our oceans. On his journey, he has encountered the increasing magnitude of the plastic pollution catastrophe on ecosystems while offering pragmatic and useful alternatives to avoid the entry of plastic waste into
The Mountain Mamas
Up on a Tabanan mountain, a group of local women are offering a solution to re-use and reduce waste not only in their home village of Wanagiri Kauh, but everywhere in Bali. Whether you are in Kuta or rural Singaraja, it is not uncommon to see plastic bags in places they don’t belong – stuck
