Tri Hita Karana : Bali Businesses Helping the Environment
The traditional philosophy for life in Bali, Tri Hita Karana, is the “three causes of well-being” or “their reasons for prosperity”. It is a Balinese Hindu lifestyle philosophy that is all about maintaining a harmonious balance between mankind (Pawongan), the environment (Palemahan) and God Almighty (Parahyangan). Not only are local residents expected to abide by
Remembering Bali’s Beloved John Fawcett
In 2017, Bali lost an unsung hero, but his legacy will live on through the lives of his foundation and their patients. Young John Fawcett was an aspiring art teacher; he was a skilful ceramist, a hard worker, but most of all, John was a loving husband and a father of two. His love affair
Bali Sea Salt : Traditionally Farmed Salt Made in Bali
Watch the first episode of ‘Made in Bali’, a mini-documentary series by NOW! Bali, focusing on Bali sea salt and one of its traditional farmers. Bali Sea Salt Farmers Bali sea salt is one of the lesser known produces made on the island. This artisanal salt is not being exported en masse at it continues to be
Freedom in Bali: Too Much Can Be a Bad Idea
Scottish Philosopher John Stuart Mill (1806 – 1873) first proposed the idea of “personal space” in his treatise “On Liberty”. His idea was at the time very far ahead of current thinking whereby he said that everyone has the freedom to do whatever they wish as long as it doesn’t interfere or disturb anyone else,
Bali’s Extraordinary Exotic Reality
Bali will always be an enigma. A juxtaposition between sekala and niskala, the seen and the unseen or the material world and the spiritual. The reason the Balinese are not always present, a little bit of head in the clouds, is because their mind ponders frequently on their next ceremony. Offerings, prayer, dance and dramas,
Bali Beauty – The Real Thing
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder they say, yet go to any traditional Balinese ceremony or head out of the city and beauty is all around you. Temple ceremony days are the best places to see beautiful girls. This is the time when everyone dresses up in their best. Makeup, jewellery, all the
Bali, 40 Years Ago
We have had ten years of NOW! Bali, but I have had 40 years of visiting this magical island. My first steps on Bali were taken in January 1979, exactly forty years ago and it was a very different place. There was no development, no modern hotels, not many restaurants, no bars to speak of,
Suteja Neka : Founder of Neka Museum
“A museum means a lot more than just a tourist object. it is a place where culture is preserved, art is admired, history is appreciated, and local wisdom is promoted. It acts as a teacher, a learning space, a world of information, and an inspiration.” Pande Wayan Suteja Neka (founder of NEKA Art Museum) The
Say Bye Bye to Plastics with The Komitmen: An Interview with Melati Wijsen
Five years ago, the Bali born and bred sisters started a revolution on the island, now they are transforming businesses in Bali and have appeared live on CNN before Anderson Cooper and Kelly Ripa. Melati Wijsen, one of two Wijsen sisters from Bye-Bye Plastic Bag fame, arrived at the semi-vacant restaurant in Pererenan with a cardboard
Men of the Soil, Bali’s Backbone
The people who work Bali’s fields now are no longer young. Their children have all been sent off to school, to get an education, to follow what they see as the way to a better life! But is it? Is there any satisfaction as strong as standing over your newly turned field, or of watching
BASABali : Preserving Balinese in the Digital World
There are all kinds of languages in the world. From verbal to visual communication, we can agree that language is one instrument we have in common. Some of us, however, may have nestled comfortably in one linguistic bubble that we tend to ignore a variety of other languages practised around the globe. Did you know
Is Bali still the “Morning of The World”?
This was the question I was asked to address at the 2018 Ubud Writers and Readers Festival which took place in October. The UWRF is an amazing event which brought together 180 writers, some very famous, others just “emerging”, and thousands of readers from all over the world. In the esteemed company of Balinese intellectual
Future Farmers Indonesia : Saving The Country’s Agrarian Industry
As a predominantly agrarian society, we would think that Indonesia has excelled in self-sufficient food production. Not only owing to the bountiful nature and supportive climate the nation is blessed with but also the available labour force. The reality, however, is Indonesia’s rural agricultural labour continues to decline with 70% of current working farmers aged
