Margaret Barry, OAM: Empowering Children Through Education
Margaret Barry is the Founder and CEO of Bali Children Foundation (BCF), her efforts through the foundation have helped thousands of children in Bali and other areas of Indonesia. “I started the work in October 2002 after the first Bali Bomb. Witnessing the heroic and successful efforts of volunteers helping the injured, I thought that
Designed to Last: Lessons from Bali’s Tourism History
Bali’s tourism industry seems to constantly be at a challenging crossroads. A perpetual tug-of-war between tradition and modernity, pulling at each other from opposite sides. Though ironically, both are equally necessary. It is rwa bhineda, the Balinese philosophy of duality, at work. Tourism has been growing for a century and despite how much of a
Eco Tourism Bali: Future-Proofing the Island
Eco Tourism Bali is a social organisation on a mission to make Bali a sustainable destination by 2030. Watch or listen to our interview with founders Suzy Hutomo and Rahmi Fajar Harini, available on the NOW! Bali Podcast. In a discussion with Editor Edward Speirs on Bali’s environmental issues, they share their vision for the
Our Publisher Looks Back at Fifteen Years of NOW! Bali
I perhaps should not tell you this, but I didn’t really want to start NOW! Bali. I was perfectly happy publishing two marvellous magazines called Jakarta Java Kini (JJK) and Hello Bali, but my partner at the time had other ideas and took over the company, leaving me with a bit of a dilemma since
Quantum Temple: Leveraging Emerging Technologies to Preserve Balinese Culture
Often considered the antithesis of culture and tradition, when used correctly digital technology can in fact play an important role in its preservation and continuation. In the case of a project called Quantum Temple, blockchain platforms have been utilised to create not only a wider appreciation of Balinese art forms, but also to fund and
Bali Ocean Days Conference on Marine Conservation
19-20 January 2024 will mark the debut event of Bali Ocean Days, a comprehensive conference discussing marine conservation and sustainable development. Taking place at the InterContinental Bali Resort Jimbaran, an international lineup of high-ranking officials, financial institutions, NGOs, academics and sustainable economy stakeholders will gather to share, learn and discuss synergies and long-term projects. Initiated
Arak Bali – How is it Made? | Made in Bali Episode 2
Arak. Bali’s traditional spirit, used in both ceremony and celebration across the island. Many know the name or have savoured its distinct taste, but few are able to explain how arak Bali is made or where it really comes from. In October 2021, NOW! Bali released a mini-documentary titled ‘ARAK – Made in Bali’, the
A Spotlight on Bali’s Eco Heroes
Despite being one of the busiest tourist seasons for the island, the end of the year also happens to be one of the environmentally worst times for Bali. The wet season is like a purge, where the cleansing rains clear out the scattered litter around the island, and send it out to sea, only for
Pande Gong: The Gamelan Makers of Tihingan Village
Clang! Dug! Ting!… Clang! Dug! Ting!… The sounds of metal pounding metal can be heard from a distance. Then a shout, some laughter, followed once again by the clamour of hammers. Clang! Dug! Ting! The cacophony of sounds repeat. These are the rhythms of the pande gong, the makers of Bali’s traditional gamelan. Tihingan Village
Lessons from Japan
Many think of Japan as a high-tech, industrial powerhouse, perhaps waning in the shadow of China’s mega-economy, but nonetheless, still an example of efficiency and innovation. Behind that, diligence, dedication and sheer hard work. And we would not be wrong. Japan has not faded, it has only recently been overshadowed. Outside of the global economy,
Trash Talk: Bali’s Burning Landfills (and How You Can Help)
Landfills across Bali have been engulfed in fire over the last three weeks, as dry heat and no rain have created the perfect storm for flames to rage through the towering trash heaps. This has caused a domino of challenges for Bali, from the direct hazard of fire and its resulting air pollution to the
Wines Made in Bali: Balinese Wineries and Vineyards
When people think of Bali, what comes to mind is probably coconuts and tropical fruits, and probably not grapes. However, the soils of this fertile island accommodate a versatile range of produce and have brought to life a highly successful wine industry, adding a new latitude to the world’s wine offerings. Bali is now home
Island Distilleries: Bali’s Growing Spirits Industry Explores Archipelagic Flavours
In Bali, island distilleries are not an unfamiliar concept. For centuries, the Balinese have been producing arak, a local heritage of Balinese ancestors that dates back to the Majapahit era, though most of these local arak producers are home-based distilleries that utilise time-honoured techniques of distillation. In the past couple of years, however, there has been a rise
