Alistair G. Speirs
Sustainability in Bali: For you or for the island?
I am on a “sustainability” rampage at the moment and it seriously worries me why everyone else is not! Perhaps it is the word “sustainability” which puts people off. It certainly has so many meanings and is so misunderstood. At its core is the whole concept of “keeping going” which is pretty obvious but it
Caring: An Overused Word in Bali
It’s a lovely simple word isn’t it? Yet it conveys a great deal. People care for their families both emotionally and physically. We tend to “care” for older and younger people, the disabled, the ill, the needy, but also “care” about issues: politics, global warming, sustainability, traffic. Well at least we argue with people over
Being “Well” on a Holiday in Bali
“Well” come to Bali and our “well” ness issue. But what in heaven’s name is “wellness”? My first thoughts are “it’s not being ill” and I’m probably right. Being “well” is, well, a matter of balance rather than a benchmarked physical test to pass. No-one is perfectly healthy in mind, body and spirit simultaneously and
The Strength of Belief in Bali
What do you believe in? Well the great majority in Asian countries still believe in God, but sadly (for me at least) many Western countries have abandoned traditional religions and tried to replace them with a huge variety of spiritual and non-spiritual beliefs and practices to satisfy the human need to explain our existence (meditation,
Diversity in Indonesia
Indonesia has a great national motto:Bhinneka Tunggal Ika – Unity in Diversity. The Founding Fathers of this vast archipelago state certainly got it right, both with this fantastic statement and their much misinterpreted, but actually equally powerful State Ideology, Pancasila, the five guiding principles: 1. Belief in the One and Only God2. Just and Civilized
My Favourite Meal
This month (March 2017) we celebrate food, glorious food! So, in our main stories you will find a lot of really useful information on the best places to eat on the island – and there are A LOT! This is good news for you but perhaps not quite so good news for those who have invested in restaurants
My View on Views
In most countries in the world there is a very clear principal of town and city planning which allows development in specific areas and restricts in others. In some areas no development is allowed at all. In Indonesia, as in many developing countries, there is a combination of poor planning, very poor enforcement and a
The Uniqueness of Bali…Under Threat
Many years ago a very experienced and erudite editor was working for me on a regional travel magazine based in Singapore. His job was to go to Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Sri Lanka to review hotels and write destination stories. What a great job! One day he came to me and said, “Alistair, I just
What is Today’s Bali?
This month, NOW! Publisher Alistair Speirs looks into the state of Bali today and how it compares to what is said online. Is it all true? A quick search of the internet’s 350 million Bali-related sites reveals that there are sharply contrasting views. From sun-drenched beaches to Bali’s rubbish problems, the range of opinions and
Exploring the Island
Welcome to Bali in this wonderful New Year! It’s easy to arrive and have a look around the hotel or villa, and say “yes, this will do fine!” and stay exactly where you are for a week. You can wander from the room to breakfast, from breakfast to pool, from pool to spa, then hit
The Meaning of Control
The Indonesian Government has an admirable plan to increase the prosperity of the people through increased tourism, but as I have warned in this publication (and wherever anyone will listen!) this by itself is simply not enough. As we have seen through the vastly increased arrivals here in Bali over the last ten years, more
Parking and Deliveries, The Headache Continues
For those of you who come from very disciplined countries you may be surprised that deliveries are allowed at any time of day here in Bali, no matter how small or congested the road is. Vans, trucks and huge containers are allowed to go anywhere on the island, to stop outside the shop or restaurant
What does Bali Need? Quality Vs Quantity Part 2
Last month in this magazine, and on our online platforms, I put forward the challenge to the relevant authorities of choosing mass tourism against high value, high quality tourism and was immediately challenged by some good thinking folks who correctly said high value tourism doesn’t always equate with a good flow of income to the
