People of Bali
I Made Bandem: Bali’s Effervescent Dance Maestro & International Cultural Ambassador
“To become a good dancer, first you must become a good person,” I Made Bandem said to me. Balinese dance virtuoso and scholar Prof. Dr Bandem radiates charm and youthful enthusiasm as he shares his father’s most valuable advice. “The three cultural pathways to becoming a good person are known as Tri Kaya Parisudha: manacika
Nurturing the Next Generation of Indonesian Coffee Farmers
When the pandemic brought Bali’s tourism industry to a standstill, Mika, 29, left his job in guest services at a resort and returned to his home village of Pajahan in the island’s central-west highlands. After 11 years of working in the tourism sector — which accounts for more than half of Bali’s economy — he
A Reminder: Bali Bomb Survivor
I can vaguely remember the way the policemen blocked the access to Kuta in 2002. There’s been a bombing, they said. Whilst I remember the day, my memory is nothing compared to those directly impacted, or even indirectly, by the events of that fateful day. Once a year, on 12 October, they commemorate the tragedy
Gustra Adnyana: Photography Through the Eyes of a Brahmin
If you are living in Bali, or have often visited the island, you may not know the man, but you are likely to have seen his wonderful photographs of some of the most secret rites and ceremonies of Bali. This photographer’s name is Gustra, or, in its full brahmana name, Ida Bagus Putra Adnyana (64).
On Modernity: Perspectives from Balinese
When it comes to the island’s ‘progress’ and its ‘preservation’, it is the Balinese themselves who must live through the dichotomous balancing between past and future. Whilst many on the outside have their own views, to see the Balinese perspective is paramount, as it is provides a window into their values and priorities. We at
The Arak Farmers of Karangasem
Before bottles of Grey Goose or Dom Pérignon ever reached the island, the libation of choice was always arak. This island moonshine was not just a delicacy, it was a craft. Today, these arak artisans continue to produce using age-old methods, supplying the local arak scene from their humble, home-based distilleries. ‘Arak – Made in
An Island of Acceptance and Harmony
Bali’s identity as a beautiful, tolerant and welcoming island is renowned across the globe, an island that is rich in culture and history where diversity is celebrated. Each year, the island attracts millions of visitors from all corners of the world looking to experience a taste of paradise, this includes many LGBTQ+ travellers. So, in
Being a Balinese Christian : A Question of Faith and Culture
When one thinks of Bali – its culture, its identity and its very image – there is little doubt that many will picture stone temples, canang offerings and colourful ceremonies. BUT, this isn’t everyone’s Bali, there are other communities who very much identify with their island, but instead worship at pews and not at shrines,
The Women of Bali: Overcoming Expectations
Balancing a bucket on her head and another in hand, she carries the first load of water back from the public well. It takes her seven more trips to fill the gebeh for her family to bathe and the terracotta vessels to begin her duties in the kitchen. All by the break of dawn. With
Closing the Distance: People of Bali
In this photo essay, we share the small stories of everyday people in Bali unable to socially distance, dealing with the Covid-19 outbreak in their own way. Not everyone has the luxury of working from home, there are those that must keep businesses open, risking exposure, in order to keep the wolves at the door.
Bali’s Doctors on the Frontline
The people most exposed to Covid-19 are of course the medical workers who come face-to-face with potential carriers of the virus. NOW! Bali speaks to Dr. Nyoman Suparta of Badung Regional General Hospital to see what life on the front line is really like. “You’ve been working from home for two months now? How has
Meet Bali’s Mushroom Man : I Gede Artha Sudiarsana
I Gede Artha Sudiarsana is a young Balinese entrepreneur; through his self-made mushroom agribusiness, his mission is to inspire other youth to regenerate Indonesia’s agricultural industry. It’s not often you come across a young man who, even before leaving for university, has already planned to go back home. For I Gede Artha Sudiarsana, this was
Bali Farmers : Surviving in the Tourism Era
The Balinese believe that there is a great unseen power that results in a good harvest in their rice field. That power comes from Dewi Sri, the Goddess of Fertility. Good harvests and a gratitude towards the Goddess are strong foundations to the Balinese community’s rituals. Today, instead of functioning as a staple supply of
