Meet Bali’s Mushroom Man : I Gede Artha Sudiarsana
I Gede Artha Sudiarsana is a young Balinese entrepreneur; through his self-made mushroom agribusiness, his mission is to inspire other youth to regenerate Indonesia’s agricultural industry. It’s not often you come across a young man who, even before leaving for university, has already planned to go back home. For I Gede Artha Sudiarsana, this was
Solemen Indonesia: Tackling Bali’s Mental Health Crisis
Notable human rights warriors in history proved that going on a hunger strike is one way to stand up for a cause and make a difference. Similarly, when Solemen Indonesia started in 2011, founder Robert Epstone committed to stay barefoot in solidarity with those living in such substandard conditions where footwear is considered a luxury.
February is The Month of Love or Is It?
I have two questions to aks about this. Firstly, why? Who was this person, Saint Valentine, who condemned us to a singular focus on love in February? Was he a great romantic, or perhaps a figure of tragedy who died heartbroken? Secondly, what is this thing called love anyway? Let’s start with Saint Valentine. It
The ‘Right Way’ to Love Bali
“Love is a Many-Splendoured Thing” I’m pretty sure that expression came from a gooey Hollywood movie but it says it – all tongue in cheek! The love that St. Valentine expressed back in the 1st century, was actually one of sacrifice and that’s a very hard thing to do or even to contemplate. But is
It’s Time For The Roaring 20’s Again!
One hundred years ago the world was still celebrating peace in Europe after the devastation of World War One; America was in its first flush of modern lifestyle and invented the speakeasy, filled with dance, sing and happiness, fuelled by the beginning of a huge booze trade. It was the ‘Roaring Twenties’ when anything was
Books for Bali Project : Fostering a Love for Literacy Among Balinese Children
Primarily in cities, schools have integrated digital means of learning, retreating from textbooks and putting ink on paper for both economic and environmental factors. Many children today may not be able to romanticise their quiet moments in a library. In Bali, most public schools are not equipped with libraries or reading corners, however thanks to
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
