Alistair G. Speirs
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
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
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
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
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.
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,
Fitness Fanatics & Health Nuts in Bali
I suppose most people want to be fit, and everyone wants to be healthy but isn’t it amazing that we don’t try very hard to achieve either? We bumble along putting off exercise schedules and programs and delay health checkups as if these were causes of the problems not the solutions. Don’t deny it! Part
Design for Living
I was privileged to be part of a recent seminar on the circular economy which was headed by a Danish architect who talked about how we should design all of our buildings, infrastructure and all of our facilities so deliberately for the purpose for which they are intended so that they actually work! Seems obvious
