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
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.
Friends of Menjangan : Protecting Paradise
If it wasn’t for tourism, West Bali would have remained a wild and untouched terrain. However, due to the beauty of Menjangan Island, a small island located 5 miles off Bali’s northwest coast, and the magnificent marine life that surrounds it, the once secluded district now attracts a good stream of visitors. But not without
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,
Behind Bali’s Sea Turtle Society
Indonesia is an archipelago blessed with a variety of natural wonders and exotic wildlife. There are a total of seven sea turtle species in the world, six of which grace the Indonesian waters! Although not widely recognised in the tourist spectacle, the world-famous Kuta Beach is a actually a nesting site for Olive Ridley Turtles,
