Category: Ubud News

HAR’S TREE HOUSES For a real environmental treat, visit Har’s Organic vegetable garden in Junjungan, take a lesson in organic gardening, and stay in one of the tranquil tree houses he has built behind the garden, overlooking the river below. Hartonolo Kodjoyo, a Javanese gardener, was brought here a few years ago with two other […]

February 04 2015REGGAE CHARITY FESTIVAL Ubud reggae man Fredi Marley will play on the same stage as four top Jakarta bands this week at Balirsquos second Reggae Star Festival on the beach near Sanur this Friday We miss Fredi Marley and friends who we havenrsquot seen since Napi Orti the late night venue shifted from Jl Monkey Forest and stopped using live bands Organisers say all profits will go to Yayasan Manik Bumi Foundation for environmental awareness and waste reduction in Bali and Yayasan Sampahdi supporting disabled children The festival starts at 245pm on Friday February 6 on Pantai Padang Galak Kesiman just off Jl By Pass Sanur Tickets and more information Art Point Pregina Phone 0361 284158 Ubud reggae fans never fear Kum and the Ubud 40 band still play at LOL on Jl Monkey Forest every Tuesday night HERONS ON SHOW Those glorious Kokokan herons are back in Petulu Village and having little babies by the hu

January 21 2015CLEARING KIDSrsquo HEADS The world is much more challenging and confusing for children than it was a generation ago Research suggests that the increase in allergens and pollutants may cause ADT and other psychoses and therersquos evidence that wifi and hand phones send signals that may scramble all of us especially those younger not fully developed brains Yet kids often grow up into functioning inspirational adults Amazing really Itrsquos when they donrsquot or when they stumble along the way that parents and teachers need help One of Taksu Sparsquos most respected healers Lela Thomas has recently put aside decades of training in other modalities in favour of the tools of Access Consciousness which she has seen ldquobring dynamic change to peoplersquos lives including my ownrdquo Lela is just back from in China where she saw these tools help children with learning disabilities emotional prob

January 7 2015MAGIC SHOTS Gifted Polish photographer Jan Tyniec has blessed Bali with an exhibition this month his first actual exhibition in Indonesia though he spent two years as artistinresidence at Purnati Centre for the Arts Over the past 12 years the Ubud expat has captured his ldquoBalinese journey in four portfolios rice fields offerings lotus and portraits The Ganesha Gallery exhibition at the Four Seasons Resort in Jimbaran shows the artistrsquos favourites from each portfolio The exhibition is open till January 15 donrsquot miss it SUNDAY BLANCO BBQ With an excellent awardwinning chef in place and creating delicious new menus at its Rondji Restaurant itrsquos all happening at Blanco Museum in Campuhan Sunday brunch and barbeque every Sunday and a Sunday market and live music event once a month normally the first Sunday of the month but the second Sunday this month Ubud is the perfect place for a Sunday bru

December 24 2014SAFE FROM FALLING COCONUTS Id like permission to shout and scream at every person who rides a motorbike without a buckledup helmet But of course this is Bali where showing anger is the mark of an animal not a human so I should just register confusion and express myself politely So I would be delighted if youd pass this simple message to anyone I realise it isnt you dear reader who has a helmet but doesnt wear it or wears it in the manner of a hat Or indeed carries it in his or her hands presumably as some sort of protective glove And in context may I refer to international statistics More than 95 of those who are permanently disabled or killed in road accidents are not wearing seat belts while in cars etc or not CLOSING THE CLIP on their helmet when riding a motorbike Simply put with the helmet on ones head one is perfectly safe from falling coconuts However the helmet leave

December 10 2014THE MUD ON KL One of BaliSpirit Festivals bestloved friends 2009 director Amsalan Doraisingam has combined his talents with BSF 2009 festival performer Mia Palencia to help create the most talkedabout new Asian big stage musical in many years As BSFs founding creative director Amsalan worked with the festival founders to create a totally unique ldquospirit festivalrdquo now considered the model for this kind of event around the world As Director of KL MUD Amsalan has put another outstanding event on the international map while Mia Palencia an extraordinary songstress and musician composed both the music and songs for MUD This musical presents the history of the city from 1857 when the first foreigners landed knee deep in the river mud of KL to prospect for tin KL MUD has become a huge new attraction for the city of Kuala Lumpur attracting thousands of international and Malaysian tourists to this e

November 26 2014UBUD ON GILI T Several favorite Ubud spots have been asked to franchise or open a second store elsewhere ndash Yoga Barn on Gili Trawangan KAFE in Jakarta and Singapore Caf Havana in Australia and wait for it Cuba This year XL Shisha Lounge and Laughing Buddha both opened on Gili Trawangan XL has even exported some of Ubuds live music Laughing Buddha just their great food As I reflect on how good the staffowner relationships are in all of these businesses I realise that Ive spotted one of the ldquosecretsrdquo that other wannabees are searching for Both places ndash and KAFE Yoga Barn and Caf Havana ndash have excellent staff training and support XLs namesake 67rdquo celebrity Dutch footballer Herman XLsized van Wamel closes his businesses completely to give his staff a special holiday each year and they love him I guess Gili T is in for some great role modeling

November 12 2014TURN OFF YOUR TAP As I write this Aceh is experiencing huge floods but Bali has a water shortage with some yearround rivers run dry and farmers saying its the worst for 50 years The old guys say back then everyone was using only river water but the population has more than doubled and many households ndash and all hotels and resorts ndash are draining underground water by sinking bores What can we do and encourage businesses to do Simple things that dry countries know Water the garden with a hose or a bucket not an automatic sprinkler system Reuse grey water a bowl in the sink becomes water for pot plants turn off the tap while you clean your teeth biggest personal waste five minutes max in the shower And teach other travelers and locals from your experience When I built Ibu Jens House eight years ago I suggested an underground water tank in the big hole caused by the foundations on my sloping