Soapbox

Richard Rogers captured our imagination with his wonderful lyrics to this song from the movie ‘South Pacific’ in 1949. Not some enchanted morning, not some enchanted lunch time, no, the magic of love only starts at night. Maybe the magic is somewhat diffused by the latest additions to Bali, motorcycles roaring past and very loud […]

Our May 2019 issue is all about health, spas and wellness (which is different from health apparently) and how to generally look and feel good.  Now while you might not be aware of it, Indonesia (which includes Bali as a province) recently had national elections for all elected positions from city and provincial councils  to […]

It has always struck me that education is very unbalanced in most schools around the world, concentrating more on maths and science, which most people will only use a tiny part of for the rest of their lives, compared to health and nutrition which they need every day of their lives. And on which their […]

In our March 2019 issue you will find heartwarming stories about how some people actually do look after other people less fortunate than themselves. Please read them and think not, “wow , well done them” but “what can I do to help?” Actually it’s easy. Just give some money! What’s not easy is doing the […]

“I really fell in love with Bali the first time I came here”, said one American lady I know, and she has been here a long time now. What’s surprising perhaps is that she doesn’t speak Balinese, nor Indonesian, and isn’t really up to speed on Balinese customs, rituals, beliefs, ceremonies and well, really everything […]

As you will see throughout our January 2019 Issue we are celebrating ten years of publishing NOW! Bali and while I have no wish to be immodest, I have to say we’ve done a good job! But of course I had some experience before launching NOW! Bali having started the first real visitor magazine on the […]

Last month we did a round-up of nightlife options across the island and wow what options there were! There were pubs and cafes, clubs and dance venues, rooftops and beach bars all competing for those determined to make the best of every evening. And I have to say the great majority of them are well […]

“When the night falls, my lonely heart calls” I bet only a few of you are old enough to remember the great old disco hit “I wanna dance with somebody” but I’m sure you understand the context all too well. You’ve been busy all day, you say goodbye to your friends and as the evening approaches you […]

“Hot sausage and mustard, cold jelly and custard, pease pudding and saveloys”, these were the dishes fantasised over by the workhouse boys in the Musical Oliver! Wow, that Victorian English fare doesn’t hold much magic for us nowadays. (And by the way, don’t know what a “Saveloy” is? Actually it’s a highly seasoned red sausage […]

The Asian Games were recently held in Jakarta, the Capital of Indonesia, and Palembang a city in South Sumatra. This is the second largest sporting event in the world after the Olympic Games and is something that Indonesia should be very proud to host. This reminds me of the ideals behind the Olympic games, and […]