Like other cultures and traditions across the world, Balinese culture is by no means immune to change. In the West, … More Bali – Traditions Not Standing Still
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Kita Main Cantik Saja Lah!
“Let’s play beautiful only!” Huh??? Indonesian expressions can be downright weird: think ‘masuk angin’ (enter wind) meaning a cold or … More Kita Main Cantik Saja Lah!
Rocking and Rolling with the Dead
I don’t have to tell anyone in the world that Balinese culture is unique. But there are some things that … More Rocking and Rolling with the Dead
What does ‘siap’ mean?
I’m often asked, “Do you speak Indonesian?”and I answer, “Yup, both Indonesian and Balinese.” More often than not, the reaction … More What does ‘siap’ mean?
Baaacot Lo!
You may have heard (or seen in the printed word, particularly social media) the word ‘bacot’ around the place. A … More Baaacot Lo!
The Handsome God of Selonding
As an ethnomusicologist and self-confessed gamelan geek, it’s fascinating to learn about villages in Bali that deify their ancient gamelan … More The Handsome God of Selonding
Rebirthing the ‘Golden Oldies’ – Repatriation of Lost Balinese Music Part II
Last month I had the opportunity to repatriate some rare court gamelan style recordings in Ketewel Village which were recorded … More Rebirthing the ‘Golden Oldies’ – Repatriation of Lost Balinese Music Part II
Rebirthing the ‘Golden Oldies’ – Repatriation of Lost Balinese Music Part I
If you’re not “in the scene”, few people who live in Bali would know that a lot of Balinese gamelan … More Rebirthing the ‘Golden Oldies’ – Repatriation of Lost Balinese Music Part I
Democracy and Equality in Balinese Gamelan Part II
In a Balinese gamelan group, equality and democracy are paramount. To avoid the sticky issues with caste, musicians used to … More Democracy and Equality in Balinese Gamelan Part II
Democracy and Equality in Balinese Gamelan Part I
Bali still has a very traditional society and the late Made Wijaya went so far as to say a ‘medieval’one, … More Democracy and Equality in Balinese Gamelan Part I
Communication Conundrum
It’s no secret that many people in Bali are poor communicators. This is only exemplified in a world where many … More Communication Conundrum
The Balinese Addiction to Water Wrapped in Plastic Part III
In the last two issues I’ve been talking about the environmental disaster in Bali that has been caused by single-use … More The Balinese Addiction to Water Wrapped in Plastic Part III
The Balinese Addiction to Water Wrapped in Plastic Part II
According to a representative from one massive brand of mineral water wrapped in single-use plastic, the idea behind producing packaged … More The Balinese Addiction to Water Wrapped in Plastic Part II
The Balinese Addiction to Water Wrapped in Plastic
Perhaps the hottest topic in the media in Bali today is plastic waste: the beaches, rivers, rice fields, … More The Balinese Addiction to Water Wrapped in Plastic
Gongs in Bali Part IV – What is Special about a Gong to Balinese?
If a gamelan orchestra has a hanging gong in it (not all do), it is almost always the most important … More Gongs in Bali Part IV – What is Special about a Gong to Balinese?
Traditional Thursday
A week ago, Bali’s new governor Wayan Koster issued a governor’s decree stipulating what I have translated as “Traditional Thursday”. … More Traditional Thursday
