FAUVE ISSUE 09

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EsiBe Sabrina in Bali Jalan Petitenget Lio Square Kerobokan 0361 8700 888


www.rachelmantiri.com PHOTOGRAPHY ILLUSTRATION DESIGN


editor’s note Some kind of wonderful resolutions ! There is something really wonderful about a new year that starts. Doing the previous year retrospective make us reconcile our self with our present, and have greater expectations for our future. We feel this sudden urge to change everything, get more organized, start new projects, save more, progress, do more, and be better. New Year, new You ? Why Not ! Then it all starts by buying a new agenda. We take the time to carefully choose it; we have to make sure it answers to our creative and overloading weeks to come. While we fill it, we take the heartfelt pleasure to write down our new hopes, new expectations, where we picture ourselves at the end of this year. We reinvent our goals… and who says goals, says also new resolutions! Cheers ;) xxx Julhenry

“To inspire and to be inspired” FAUVE ADVICE: All Fashion Editorial images, created by an array of photographers and creative teams, printed within Fauve Magazine can also be viewed in their HIGHEST QUALITY online at www.fauvemagazine.com. Visit our website to see past and present shoots.

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HE DOESNT GIVE A SHIT angga pratama

EMAS PUTIH

love me or love me not

TO TAKE CARE OF...

think pink nails lady arvie

“STAND BY YOUR...”

AN ORGANIC FARM SIDE BY SIDE

delicious onion

karma konversations

poetic painter salvita de corte

music love in tents

in the name of fashion

getting metaphysical swathimaa

voluptueuses

gossip bitch

MAKE-UP 101 WITH YEANNE

Copyright © 2012 all right reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, without written permission from FAUVE, opinions expressed in “FAUVE” are the writer’s and not necessarily endorsed by FAUVE. FAUVE is not responsible or liable in any way for the contents (advertising included) 8


CONTRIBUTORS


PROFILE


ANGGA PRATAMA talented guy who doesn’t give a shit !!!

by JULHENRY Annga Pratama is a photographer, visual artist currently living in Bali, aduuuuh! He is a key member of the photographers new generation in indonesia. He has been performing photography by passion (one of the last one using film negatives) He has been a visual artist for years. I sat down with him in my apartment downtown where we shared a smoke and drink, explored how fashion photography art collide in his life.

I heard you were in Europe before to come back to Indonesia, your roots? My roots are siomay Bandung & Gouda cheese. Sunda – Dutch.

Are you going be here for the long haul in fashion photography? Thinking about doing something else but who knows what the future will bring, right?

So what happened in Europe? Any crazy stories? I don’t really believe in marriages but I kinda found my future wife, so that’s pretty crazy.

Did you always want be a photographer? Nope, my I wanted to be a pilot or astronaut.

Who is your team? The A Team?

What’s going on in the world of Angga Pratama right now? Happy happy joy joy.

Do you think your going to be traveling much in the future? I’d like to think so, yes.

Do you do any artistic shoots just for fun to test your creativity? Always. And I learn allot from it.

What’s it like the life of a traveling photographer? Is it as exotic as it sounds? It’s doesn’t really matter what you do, it’s all about Love.

What’s next for you? The airport

How long have you been a photographer? Sennaseppa… How did you get into fashion photography? I’m not sure. Hot girls I guess hehe.

www.anggapratama.com angga@anggapratama.com www.angga13pratama.tumblr.com twitter.com/Angga13Pratama www.facebook.com/photographedbyanggapratama

Why do you love Fashion Photography? I don’t love it to be honest but I do have massive respect for it. What do you look for in a model? The right energy.

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Emas Putih Photography: Angga Pratama Creative Direction: Dhany Indra Model: Helene for FAUVE Agency All clothing: LIMIT Sunglasses: CAST Eyewear Shoes: Model’s own

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SPOTLIGHT

Love Me or Love Me Not valentine dream valentine’s day

BY KATIE Ah. Valentines Day, Cupid’s official day to wreak havoc on some of us. Not to sound like a complete pessimist, but Valentines Day is one of those opportunities, like birthdays, Christmas, ect. where each one of us is given an opportunity to focus on what we have or what we have not. In origin, Valentines Day, is marked for the Roman Catholic priest St. Valentine. One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served in Rome during the third century. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, horrified by the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories all emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic and, most importantly, romantic figure. On a day that is singled out during the year to focus on love, it’s become about requiring the facade of relationship, boyfriend, wifey-dom. Lets be honest, humans are unabashedly retarded when it comes to expressing even a sentiment of what real love is. I’m talking about this kind of “love is all around you” sermonizing, Humanity maintains this selfish kind of love, love that is about what you can get. When does the emotional bartering occur? Nothing is spoken outright, but the subtext is always, “if I give you this, you must give me that.” That’s the way it works. That old line, “Love is a game” is more accurate that we think. We just never take a moment to think about it. Love, what we think it is, is tied up in all sorts of crazy, sick games. It’s just a name we refer to so as to more easily delude ourselves from the reality of what we’re really up to. We, as in society, think we’re fooling everybody. But we’re the fools. So, its not surprising that we’ve managed to totally warp a perfectly lovely holiday into becoming a day that more closely resembles the abused and abandoned love child of Valentines Day whose ended up in rehab a few too many times. This god-forsaken love child has been so high for so long that it now requires copious amounts of substance to get and maintain any kind of “worthwhile” high whatsoever. I’ve never been a huge participant nor defender for the expectation riddled holiday we’ve come to know as Valentines Day. This sort of commercially driven holidays, those that beg for everything to be showered in pink and red ad nauseam. But this year’s upcoming festivities feel slightly different, maybe because I’m being forced to write about it and consider what it means to me.

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What a perfect opportunity to talk about love in all its forms. I needed love before I even knew what it was. Now that I understand something about it, I need it even more. My understanding is that love is as simple. Love is the act of stroking the petal of a flower with care, love is recognizing the colors in nature, in admiring a child play unbridled and un-self-consciously, love is what I feel when I look into the eyes of my dog, Sofia, love is allowing others to be who they are, good and bad, without making judgments about them, love is taking is easy when taking it easy is the last thing on my mind, love is everywhere, in everything. We are in love all day long. Sometimes we choose to not open the gate, not to feel it, or we are so lost in whatever is on our mind, our worries, our fears, and our control, that we forget. All it takes a moment to stop and realize. When this happens, suddenly the leaves are greener and the sun is shining brighter. The world sparkles a bit. But the fun part is that the world is always like that when we don’t have our blinders on. What a day to step back and be reminded of that self-evident truth. Poor old love has just been misconstrued to such a degree and so often that there’s a tendency in our society to think of love as some illusive entity, that is something to be gotten. The false belief or assumption is that love is not intrinsically a part of us, consciously or not. Which unfortunately, makes us desperate for it. Unable to see that all the love we need starts by checking the mind and connecting it to our heart. It’s endless. It’s surplus. It’s infinity. Gents, though I may have lost you in my diatribe on love. I realize that you may not want to admit it your feelings towards these fluffy, new age-y ideas. The simple fact is that this is the only real thing in this corrupt, retarded world of ours. So, in the spirit of Valentine’s Day, I have decided to devote this article to a discovery of new attitudes towards Valentines Day and am letting the love all around wash over me. Lets say it’s one big experiment. So, Valentines Day, a day where we all think about either the person we’re with or the fact that we don’t a special someone in our lives. Lets forget about the crap. And fall in love with our dog all over again, a best friend, my mocha sprinkled cappuccino, Jeff Buckley, the waves and trees, and even the potholes in the road. Because, what’s not to love?


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HEALTH by veronica

The smile is the light of your face; it opens many doors and creates positive attitudes that will smooth your way to others. Smiling greatly improves your physical attractiveness and produces a devastating effect in the opposite sex ;)

CLOVE AND CINNAMON: The essential oils of these exotic plants are the most effective natural remedy for toothache or sore teeth. You use two drops (one for each plant) and with the help of a rod or finger scrub the teeth two or three times a day.

The smile helps your immune system; physical and mental suffering decreases. It helps your brain to produce more serotonin and endorphins, providing happiness.

TEA TREE OIL: Ground antiseptic, healing and antibacterial, healing of sores, ulcers, boils and fungi in the oral mucosa. Cab be applied directly or as mouthwash one to three times a day using two drops of essential oil at a time.

But who does not want to have a beautiful smile? To get a beautiful and healthy smile needs some care and continuous attention. For the teeth, we already know that brushing is essential after meals, at least during 3 minutes. Combine it with floss and a mouthwash to finish. Some natural tips are as simple as avoiding eating sweets and sugary drinks and eating a healthy diet rich in vegetables and fruits. If you would like to take care of your smile in a natural way, we can suggest you the following preparations: NATURAL TOOTHPASTE: Mix in half a glass warm water with a tablespoon of sea salt and fine green clay until you get a smooth paste. You can keep it in a sealed glass jar in the fridge and use it as toothpaste daily. To make it more disinfectant, you can make it with infusion of thyme or add 20 drops of Echinacea extract. SAGE: This is an herb with powerful disinfectants properties that activates blood circulation in you gums. You can use the infusion of the leaves boiled for 15 minutes or two drops of essential oil in a glass of water to rinse.

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BLACK TEA: Also for mouth sores, boil some water in a bag of black tea, and when the water is warm, rinse your mouth with the liquid a few minutes. BLUEBERRIES: Chewing Blueberries helps fight the spread of germs and heal mouth. ROSEMARY: Pout dried rosemary in a pint of boiling water and let stand 10 minutes over low heat. Rinse your mouth for 5 minutes every 4 hours until the pain subsides and the swelling. Although proper hygiene, we can suffer from bad breath, and you do not want to miss a long, juicy kiss, right? Here are some nature trails that would extend the duration of the kisses ;) MINT AND FENNEL: Gargle with peppermint and fennel to complement natural mouthwash CELERY: Chew raw celery to freshen breath MILK THISTLE: One of the most important herbal tonics for the liver, helps restore the bile production and digestion, helping to eliminate toxins from the body and digestive tract.


MINT MOUTHWASH: 1/4 cup water in a bowl, add 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda. Mix and dissolve completely and add a drop of mint oil (peppermint). After washing, rinse thoroughly. And nothing better than a bright white smile. Some natural remedies that will help whiten your teeth: APPLE & CELERY: Eating apples or celery sticks green, caring your teeth and gums. STRAWBERRIES: The strawberry pulp helps remove stains. Shreds some strawberries and extend the pulp with toothbrush from the gums to teeth gently. Rinse with warm water with a pinch of baking soda. CINNAMON: Mix two tablespoons of cinnamon powder and some salt. Add water to the mixture until gets a smooth paste. Rub your teeth with it daily, and, gradually, you will see its effects in your smile.

In addition, the intake of foods rich in fiber integral, and those involving a slow chewing, will keep your gums and teeth much whiter. Last but not least, it was time to your lips. Rub with a slice of AVOCAD, adding natural moisture and making them more attractive. And to smooth, cover with a thin layer of honey and leave on for 30 minutes. Remove with a good smacking of tongue! Lip prone to dry, we recommend rub with a soft brush to activate blood circulation and remove any dead cells. To restore the smoothness of your lips, you can make your own night mask, it is very easy : Olive oil + Honey / Mix the ingredients / Spread the mixture on your lips / Leave it all night / Rinse the next day Are you ready to receive many KISSES?

HORSETAIL: This herb is beneficial, especially for nicotine stains. We can rinse daily with its infusion to keep white teeth and nicotine stains away. Of course, ideally you should avoid caffeine and cigarettes.

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profile

ARVIE think pink nails - A new york city style nail parlor

BY KATIE I’m lounging in the luxurious, sunken, vanilla leather sofa massage chair, getting my nails done, I’m using the Ipad that is provided at each nail station, because lets face it, its boring getting your nails done, and the experience is complete with a icy pink lemonade drink. It’s just about the most perfect nail scenario. I arrived at Think Pink Nails down the lovely Batu Belig Road today. Finally something direct from New York. I met with Arvie, a beautiful Indonesian/Chinese/Dutch female from my hometown of Manhattan. Arvie is the owner of the brand new and fabulously New York-ified Think Pink Nails, a high-end nail salon on Jalan Batu Belig. It’s palatial with a serious flair. We had lots to talk about. We joked about the difference between New York and Bali, the swift brutality of the Korean nail technicians in NYC that get the job done in 15 minutes flat. Hey, it’s New York, time is money, 2 Buck Chuck wine hangovers, the pride of being a New Yorker, as well as the Arvie’s 200 pair Manolo Blahnik collection. Where are you from? I was born in Jakarta and then moved to Vancouver, but have been living in New York since 1987 when I first went to Parsons Fashion School. It’s Parsons School of Design on west 13th Street in the Greenwich Village. Home is/was 7th and West 27th. New York City. 7th Avenue and 20th Street in Chelsea, NY NY 10011 to be exact Right away. Boom. Instant connection. Here comes the urge to talk nonstop about our favorite local hangouts. Must stop. Must complete interview. Getting sidetracked already. How would you describe yourself? Tell me about your background? I’m very private, but in New York I was like a different person, because I was a fashion seller. It’s a very strict life. You have to look good all the time and you have to be skinny all the time. It’s restrictive. Now, in Bali, I am really free. I do miss little things like wearing heels everyday. I moved to Bali with husband, two Labradors, and 200 pairs of Manolo Blahnik’s. How did you manage to collect so many? Every month, even if I had to eat mac and cheese or noodle soup everyday, I would buy one pair a month. They just make me feel good. How do you pick yourself up after a long and tiring day? I get a good bottle of wine, not a glass, lets be honest, a sexy pair of panties, choose a Manolo heel and walk about feeling fabulous.

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What gave you the idea to start your own salon? I’ve been here 3 years, the first year I was just having a good time. Second year I built a house. Third year I started this salon. I’ve been to so many places, but I missed the massaging chairs from NY. I just wanted to have a nail place. I do my nails every two days. So, I thought I might as well do my own salon. I don’t want my salon to be about me. It’s really about the salon. I decided to use the New York brand because I realized what a strong brand it is in this part of the world and it’s free! It has to be grand and over the top because that’s what people expect from New York. When I tell New Yorkers I live in Bali, they are shocked. How do you bring the New York Style to Bali? How did you fit your own style in with your salon? My style is spunky, never minimalist, which is lifeless and boring. My house and place of work has to be completely different. I like tacky things and campy things but I know when to stop. I’m into the theatrical with my salon, but I use constraint. Arvie’s lined the walls with the red velvet theatre curtain from the legendary Ziegfeld theatre, on West 54th street, which they are tearing down. It gives the room a hint of circus, a hint of theatrical. It’s just a whisper from New York and some of her memories of life there. My business partner would drag my ass to that theatre dressed up as Star Wars characters everytime there was a new Star Wars movie out. This was when we were in our early 20’s. I would go as Princess Lea. We were kids. We loved it. It is such an old, old New York Theatre.


The image of Arvie dressed up as Princess Lea running around with Chubaka brings a smile to my face. Arvie: When I really need it to feel like home, and I’m homesick, I sit in the waxing and massage rooms where I have images of my hometown, NYC. I look into the massage room and she’s got floor to ceiling, wall to wall, photographs of helicopter views of midtown and downtown New York City. Basically what you would see if you stood on top of the tallest buildings in New York. What was it like as a fashion seller in NYC? It was exhausting. You couldn’t ever eat anything. We would go to parties and the husbands and boyfriends would eat, but we would just drink straight vodka because there were no calories in it. You go to restaurants and count the hidden carbs in everything. It was restrictive, but I chose that. I went to Parsons, started with Donna Karan. The door was open right out of school.

evening. I know it doesn’t sound PC or even unsafe, but it’s totally kosher, and like nobody has ever gotten koodies or anything hehe.. I am interviewing doctors here in Indonesia and we are going to be doing big parties with a well trained doctor that specializes in Botox. We’ll be carrying Kiehl’s products very soon, as you know that Kiehl’s started as apothecary on 3rd Avenue in the East Village way back when and it’s a great fit for my salon to carry such great products from them. This is the place, if you are looking for New York Style nail salon, high-end, relaxing place for women and men in Bali. Complete with drying stations facing different photographs of NY, including Grand Central Station, Washington Square Park, even the Temple of Dendur at the Met. New York is everywhere from design to imagery. It’s like being back home in my magical hometown of New York City. www.thinkpinknails.com

the main reason why we had to be super skinny is because we had to fit into a sample size (which is size 0ish) aka free clothes, so if we balloon up we actually have to buy clothes retail (gasp!). Also all the fabulous girls are wearing next season dresses, so in the dead of winter we’re running around in spring dresses, armed with a little sable or chinchilla coat over the shoulders. I was miserable, but I looked fierce. What challenges did you have to overcome to accomplish what you’ve done? Staff training for sure. That’s been the hardest. I had a vision for an in/ out mani/pedi but in Bali it’s just not possible. No one can compare to the pure speed of the New York Korean nail technician. I’ve tried to teach it, but it ain’t happening. What is your personal beauty philosophy? Being well loved. You feel so sexy. What would you say to women who don’t feel beautiful? Start trusting yourself. What do you think is the answer to all of life’s problems? Vodka. A giggle is suppressesd, then out comes… …and 2 Buck Chuck wine! (Maybe for the non Americans we need to do simple explanation that 2 buck Chuck is a cheap wine from Traders Joe on 14th Street that all struggling New Yorkers would get.) They’ve been open 3 months? It’s full everyday. People seem to love it. Tell me about your nail colors? We have all the colors of nail polish that can exist, 600 in fact. We carry all the top brands, OPI, Tom Ford (the only one in Indonesia), Dior, Chanel, and Gel Mani Pedi’s that last forever. You also do waxing treatments? We use a Satin American Product - Hard Wax for sensitive areas, private areas. I have a Brazilian trainer. What do you imagine for the future of the salon? I would like to be the best salon in Bali. People have said, you should expand to Sanur, Jakarta. For now, I want to focus on this place so that when people do leave Bali, their feeling is this salon is the best one they’ve ever experienced. I hear you are going to be doing Botox parties? We used to do this in New York where we had a group of girls and we did this ourselves. We would go to 1 girl’s apartment and each girl would have her own syringe and we would help each other to beautify ourselves while hanging out and sipping cocktails and having a good 25


S TAN D BY YOUR . . . P h o t o g r a p h y : F a ’ E m pe l & A n g g a P r a t a m a A r t D i r e c t i o n & S t y l i n g : F a ’ E m pe l M o de l : A r t h u r b r o t o l a r a s Location: la FAvela

Le o p a r d p r i n t s u i t : I n s t ed W e S m i l e Clothing : Vintage stylist’own S h o es : D o c M a r t e n s s t y l i s t o w n

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All Gar ments: Fr o m1secr et by Yaz 28


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T op : P r es s Ba n 30


All Gar ments: Th is Is A Lo ve So ng 31


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ALTRUISM

SIDE BY SIDE an ORGANIC FARM

BY VERONICA Volunteers from around the world and local Balinese villagers work hand in hand to improve one community in East area of Bali. Since 2003 Side By Side Organic Farm has helped in creating better life for many families in the poorest communities of this area. Even many changes are happening in Bali, for some parts of the island is a challenge to succeed through this new development. Pamela Tibbs, artisan, writer, and world traveler, was shocked when she visited Tyaniar, the village where her driver, Ketut Sudarsana, had lived and grow. After spending few days in comfortable and touristic resorts, she could not believe that in Bali existed places where conditions of living where so hard, specially for women and children. She decided to spend few days in the village, and by then she could not realize that her one month vacation would become a “more than a decade life trip� in Bali. After the generosity of few friends and social groups, she found the courage to start together with her now partner Ketut a beautiful mission. A sustainable development project that helps local people breaks the cycle of poverty and return to a traditional green way of life. They started with an organic farm to help people feed themselves. Towards the goal of self sufficiency, these farmers are growing chemical free food. They use their small profits from sales in the market to feed and educate their families, preserving their indigenous way of life through empowerment and freedom. The farm co-operative empowers those in need and creates a memorable cultural experience for visitors. Global Concerns Group at United World College in Singapore was the first to organize events to raise awareness. Once the students had raised enough funds to buy land, they left behind all the comforts of urban life and traveled to rural Bali to help their project unfold. With this group started the idea to share with others the daily life routine of a Balinese farm. Globally concerned individuals and groups followed the first volunteers. Side By Side Organic Farm became a working farm with a beautiful eco home stay and an organic restaurant where individuals and families could return to nature, make a difference, and enjoy traditional life in Bali. It has been created a peaceful healthy environment where people from around the world can work together to make a difference in the lives of others. There are different ways to experience by yourself Side By Side Organic Farm, at the same time that you plant your seed on this community. You can just spend a wonderful day having lunch at the farm. They will serve you freshly grown vegetables, fruits, fish and prawns on a buffet style. And you can even pick up your own vegetables and catch your own fish at the pond!

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Pamela and the workers teach a variety of workshops surrounded by the peaceful environment of nature. You can make your personal art doll using your creative skills, or can participate in a jewelry making workshop, using stones, local glass and silver beads. Everyone is invited to learn how to make the traditional daily palm leaf offerings of blessing and giving thanks. Those looking for a different kind of home stay, this is the place. A bed and breakfast for adventurous travelers who would like to sleep surrounded by nature. Nocturnal sounds lullaby you to sleep and the local roosters awaken you to enjoy the beauty of sunrise over Mt. Agung. After a good organic breakfast, you can enjoy nature walks, a climb up a thousand steps to a Hindu temple, or be as simple as walking through the rice fields, where you enjoy the sights of farmers working in the fields. Ketut can show you local plants and tell you how they are used as medicine. Or take a bike ride through the beauty of rice fields to end up enjoying a peaceful sunset over the sea in Candidasa. And if you prefer, you can also join the farmers on their daily activities. As a group (students, friends or family) or just as an individual participants, you can experience the option of staying longer and participate in developing the farm and the facilities. By helping the local farmers return to an organic green way of life, we all take a step towards saving our planet. You would help to lift families out of poverty by promoting self-help, you would help people in need to achieve a sense of dignity.


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delicious onion sometimes, even super models need to cheat...

BY YONI Leaving his native Kuala Lumpur to embark on a new life, Mark Kuan moved to Bali and opened his restaurant-bar, Delicious Onion in 2007. Located in Seminyak, one-off Delicious Onion intentionally differs from its chi chi neighbours; armed with a mantra of “Love, peace, happiness and health to all!” Mark aims to recreate those chilled, good old days of 1980s Bali. From an abandoned warehouse, Mark has created a welcoming, homey yet funky comfort zone, eclectically Asian with recycled woods throughout, including the large, square bar and second hand furniture. Casual comfy cushion seating dominates and there’s a lovely outdoor verandah and garden terrace. Striking art works from local artists adorn the brightlycoloured walls and foot-tapping sounds set the scene. This chill-out space is like entering a family home, the host invariably around to personally welcome diners – a diverse, interesting bunch, ranging from designers and chefs to families and Australian tourists – as friends. “We aim to put good energy into everything,” Mark explains.

shooter, Greek ‘Cocaine’ (with Sambucca, coffee, sugar and lime). If you’re scared of an ‘Arak attack,’ try their safe selection of local Arak drinks. Lunch or dinner, Delicious Onion is always fun, but special ‘themed nights’ include Monday’s Salsa Nights, with Salsa dancing and live Latino band; Saturday, with live acoustic music on the terrace, and Friday’s Delicious Divas, with promotion cocktails, live DJ with disco music and drag show, where you’ll likely see ‘Katy Perry’ or ‘Beyonce’ strut their stuff! “It’s my intent that the food here nourishes your body and soul, conversations and people you meet here inspire and allow you to inspire likewise,” explains Mark. But why ‘Delicious Onion?’ Mark’s likens his transition of self-discovery and shedding of self-doubts and fear like the peeling away of onion layers. The name also pays homage to his mother’s signature dish of Hainan Chicken Rice and Delicious Onion Chutney, now pride of place on the menu.

That philosophy and homey ambience extends to the food. Previously a designer and builder of golf courses, this food aficionado has created a menu with passion, carrying his beloved mothers recipes and home-cooked food he grew up with in Malaysia, as well as dishes inspired from his travels. The result is a yummy range of Malay, Chinese, Singapore, Thai and Balinese local dishes, freshly home-cooked with love, supporting local producers and markets and all remarkably well-priced. These South-east Asian dishes with a twist (all MSG-free) are all about communal food for sharing – especially the Asian ‘Tapaz’ with tapas-style dishes like Chili Clams in Lemon Grass and Rice Wine. Appetizers also extend to Thai Kafir Lime Leaf Chicken and Coconut Dip in wanton cups and Blue Marlin, Coconut and Kafir Lime Leaf Seviche in cones. There’s also Malaysian Chicken Sate and Rice dishes like Malay Chicken Curry or Spicy Basil Minced Pork, Noodles, such as Japanese Kakuni, plus Salads, including Thai Seafood Salad. Save room for legendary status, Home-made Super Double Chocolate Brownies with Coconut Cream and divine house specialty drinks, fresh Pineapple Margaritas or signature

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SPIRITUALITY

karma KONVERSATIONS “Who said that??”—Gossip, Our Guilty Pleasure

by SWATHIMAA

Hello, darlings! Welcome to the dead of winter, a time when we celebrate the most ridiculously wonderful holiday of them all—Valentine’s Day. Here in luscious Bali, of course — a land where even hotel lobby statues stand perpetually frozen in blissful copulation — we don’t need any official reminders to celebrate the power of love. But, it’s helpful to the touristas and, don’t get me wrong, we’re happy for the extra company. But, when two or more gather for pretty much anything, love isn’t the only thing expressed, which brings us to the topic of our little soiree. All though it’s a bit ancillary to love, even the touristy kind, it’s worth its weight in croissants & cappuccino. And so, my dears, let’s turn our hearts and minds to the power of gossip. I’ll go first… At the very heart of it, 99.999% of the time, gossip is our guilty little pleasure. Okay, I want to revise that. Let’s be honest, 100% of the time. Why are we so enamored of gossip? What is the source of this, our guilty-sweet pleasure? Certainly, gossip often turns its head…and ours…towards the new and unusual. Just the other day, while having a coffee with friends at a fine beachfront resto, we overheard some Bermudas & sarong clad bules (it means “one-month-ers”, tourists) nattering on about a bar their expat-friend took them to the night before. It seems it was packed wall-to-wall with lobster-skinned Caucasians and doeeyed, scantily clad, lady-boys. Everyone at the table, of course, expressed their shock. They were laughing and giggling but they were shocked, too. Most of them said they had a great time… but they were also shocked, as they certainly pointed out. As if that wasn’t enough tea for the tillerman, it wasn’t long before the conversation included questions and comments — and more than a few giggles — regarding their accommodating expat friend: how he did know of such a place; did he take everyone there; which lady-boy was he dating (or lady-boys). And, of course, amidst the chortles & snickers, they expressed their shock, too. We play at gossip, yes, like it’s a game or a party favor. That’s the pleasure of it. We don’t need far-off, exotic locations or strange and wonderful people or occurrences to inspire it.

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Gossip is easily one of everyone’s favorite pastimes, no matter how old you are, your economic status, or where you hang your hat. And, just so as not to seem hypocritical, I recognize I was gossiping, just now, about those Bermudas & sarong clad tourists. And, I recognize I’m more than implying they were callous and narrow-minded, in effect, born to be made fun of by us, the more-worldly wise. And, while I might argue my story is for educational purposes only and, therefore, I’m not guilty of gossiping, I know it’s not. Darlings, gossip needs and takes justification. We use it to ease our guilt. But, more than that, guilty pleasures are best enjoyed when our listeners join in, too. Misery may love company but it excels when the company is mean-spirited. There are those among us, of course, who feel they’ve loosened the shackles of all guilt from their guilty pleasures by asserting their own humanistic sovereignty, which is a bookish way of saying they’ve sufficiently self-justified doing and saying what they want simply because they feel like doing it and don’t need a reason. My friends, even Christopher Hitchens, God rest his soul (though, don’t tell him I said that), would argue against this. Guilt isn’t religious in origin, even if some religious folk often use and abuse it as such. Where the pleasure comes from in gossiping is easy to see (cue the laugh track). Where the guilt comes from is just as easy to see. It’s whole-heartedly mean-spirited. A timely, semi- tongue-in-cheek aside: Don’t you love the word “mean”? I mean, its plural means “the definition of” and/or “actions taken”; and it means “middling, average, or common”; and, in addition, it means “low, without value or quality”. Okay, back to the point (although I’m pretending you’ll keep this in mind). While, on the surface, it appears to enhance our social status — at least for the moment — it seems pretty ironically obvious that gossip actually defines us as average, common or low. And so, may irony abound, while gossip’s purpose is to diminish the object of its ardor, it actually dims the light,


The perceived value, of the perpetrator. Except, of course, to other gossipistas (yeah, I’m pretty sure I just made up that word), which says more about them than it does the b*st*rds they’re kvetching about. When one of the ladies from the table across from us — I believe her name’s Cheryl — got up to freshen up, another gal turned to Cheryl’s husband and said, “John, we didn’t want to say anything in front of Cheryl (laughs) but we all saw you (laughs) looking at that one girl, boy, (laughs) in the orange dress (giggles)…with no back (giggles)…and those enormous boobs (CHORTLES)…and Bob’s sure he saw you get her, that is, his or, um, ‘its’ phone number!!” To this, John replied, “Yeah, well at least mine looks like a hot chick. Bob’s looked like your brother, Phil.” (more laughter) Well, Cheryl must have forgotten her purse because she came back unexpectedly and said, “Wait! Wait! Who are we talking about?!” And, Bob deadpanned, “My brother, Phil.” (MUCH more laughter) To which Cheryl says, sternly,” I’m sorry, Bob. But, honestly, I don’t like that man at all. He’s rude, obnoxious, and a pain in the *ss. He makes too damn much money for whatever it is he does. And, he certainly doesn’t like YOU.” We paid our check and got up to leave. As we passed the table, a lovely friend of mine said, “Say ‘Hi’ to Phil for us, will you.” Priceless, yeah. Unfortunately, not really. Karmically, gossip is a real bugger. It’s hungry and addictive by nature. It’s virtually selfperpetuating. And, it comes back to you…with interest due. It appears to give some sweet, short-term sustenance but what it does, actually, is feed off you and everyone it can get its below average, grubby little hands on. So, why are we so enamored of gossip? What is the source of this guilty, self-perpetuating, self-damning pleasure? A broken heart…which means I misspoke earlier. It’s not whole-heartedly mean-spirited. It’s broken-heartedly mean-spirited. But, since it’s Valentine’s Day and many of us are intent on emulating some well-positioned (and well-proportioned) Balinese statuary, we’ll leave heartbreak for another day. In the meantime, let’s love our neighbors, friends, families and strangers better than we love ourselves. That’ll leave gossip in the only place it may ever belong…spoken into the mirror.

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PROFILE

SALVITA DE CORTE One city. One woman. One shared experience.

Photo Š Ade Adinata


by Katie

On a recent photoshoot in Jakarta, I decided upon an impromptu interview with the lovely and beguiling artist Salvita. I was immediately drawn to her by her humble attitude towards people, places and things. Most especially desirable was her kind nature that went beyond any expectations I might have had of who she might be. What happened was a totally unexpected friendship in an unexpected place. A kindred spirit to my own and I would guess to many. Salvita is first and foremost an artist. She has an artist’s soul you can be witness to. I found a woman whose creativity extended into a new realm of possibility. Into an area where we are given the freedom to express who we are is the highest ideal. Salvita, it became obvious, didn’t just create art but lives her art as well, as one experience.

I’ve always been intrigued by the idea of getting to know oneself more intimately, looking it as a way of falling in love with oneself...imagine you are in a passionate love relationship with Salvita. How would you describe who you are in these terms? I believe that we should all learn to love ourselves. It enables us to understand how to love someone else. “The most you love yourself, the most you will end up loving the others”. Well, what I love about Salvita is her strong mind, people critism doesn’t influence her so easily and she understands that people have their own thoughts and perceptions on things. She’s quiet and private, this comes across the wrong way a lot of the times haha, but once you get to know her she’s silly and loves to laugh. People know you as this wonderfully delicious character in images, your versatility in modeling has always led me to ideas of what you might be like as a person...can you tell me something people wouldn’t suspect about you or would be surprised by? Well, as a model there are always different character you are expected to portray in a picture. I guess some people would think that as a model I would be less shy in person and more open to people I don’t know but I’m actually pretty reserved and private, once I get to someone however (after a day or two or a couple of drinks hahaha) I loosen up quite a bit :) Few people may know this, but you are an artist, a painter, what is it that motivates you to paint? People, My environment, Emotions, Feelings. The idea of creating something and expressing emotions through art :) I can’t think of any better outlet, for me, to express my feelings. How would you describe your painting style? I paint a lot of portraits. A lot of the women in my paintings look sad and seductive in a way. Right now I’m still in that stage where I’m experimenting with styles and different mediums. When did you first realize you wanted to paint? Is it something you always did as a child? I grew up with both of my parents being very creative people. My dad was a painter and my mum does almost everything in the art department. So I was always surrounded by art. I’ve always loved to paint, I remember my mum dedicating a huge wall to my scribbles and drawings when I was small. I loved it! For some reason when I was in school I always thought I was really bad at it, it wasn’t until after high school where I felt free to create anything I wanted, and that freedom has actually taught me a lot about my own capabilities in terms of painting.

What are some of the biggest challenges for you when it comes to your art? I think that you can’t really judge art, like beauty is in the eye of the beholder but when it comes to my own paintings sometimes I catch myself criticizing and judging my work and I become overly “worried” about other peoples view on it. So I’ve been trying to not think about it as much and not worrying about what people might think of it. I have a similar feeling when it comes to anything creative. Not allowing the internal “editor” to step in and take over a process that can only work and function as a free flow. Any up and coming exhibitions? I just did an exhibit in Jakarta at Dia.Lo.Gue for a Volcom and SOS charity event to raise awareness, through art, of the endangerment of Orangutans in Sumatra. It was great event and it really taught me a lot in terms of the endangerment and also my own art. What inspired your recent sketches? it differs from your usual artworks. These are quick scribbles that I did while I was in India. I say quick as most of them are live drawings of people, once they notice me staring and possibly drawing them, most get uncomfortable and would move away-I don’t blame them. When traveling to a new place you don’t only get inspired by your surroundings but also by the people and their daily routines. I love watching them-weather it’s an old man sitting down watching everyone else being busy with their daily live or a busy market stand-its always interesting to watch their interactions, facial expression and behaviors. Five words or less to describe your self. Haha I’m not fond of this one … hmmm 5 words? Organic, indecisive, humble, shy, creative, oh and a hopeless dancer apparently! I’m excited to see your newest exhibition. I kind of got the inside scoop which is only generating more interest! Hope you find all the inspiration in Jakarta.

www.salimgallerybali.com info@salimgallerybali.com

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POETIC PAINTER by SALVITA DE CORTE

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MUSIC

LOVE IN TENTS A GOOD TIME !!! Intensely run by THIS IS A LOVE SONG, concept store and clothing, LOVE in TENTS is a local movement supporting various acts from across the globe. Mix a few late nights with friends, one potent New Zealand accent and a very appropriate gesture and you’ll have the very intense core that started Love In Tents, pun intended. The term stuck and the little tent symbols were quickly acted out every time we were having too much fun. When this caught on to the random guy standing next to you by the bar, and the girl on the dance floor with her group of friends, you know you have something that everyone can relate to.

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Now in the form of an events management company, Love in Tents bottles up your favorite night out, only to serve it back to you through events that pushes the boundaries each month. We hop from club to club, night to night, genre to genre, and audience to audience, spreading our love one intense moment at a time. Let’s rave to Le Castle Vania, dance to Katy Perry and bust your heart out on the mic to Cher, all in one night. One thing is for sure; we’ll keep you on your toes… www.loveintents.com


UP AND COMING SHINDIGS: 10.02.12 - Van She Tech (Modular) 17.03.12 - WE ARE TURNING ONE! with ADIT RNRM / KINKEE MINK / WHOOP THEM FUNK at Maria Magdalena 27.04.12 - Cassian Modular AustraliaThe Woo Bar Bali 28.04.12 - Cassian Modular AustraliaMaja House Bandung 15.06.12 - LIT X NGTV (Select Music Australia) at Hu’u Bar 16.06.12 - NGTV (Select Music Australia) at Maja House Bandung

Keep your eyes peeled there is more to come.... www.loveintents.com

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anti fashion

In the name of fashion... attitude but unaware of the banana skin

by THARR GYI

Overture Fashion is never really my thing. I don’t follow any particular fashion trend and I don’t get stressed over what to and not to wear. But I must admit I enjoy clothes shopping and I do that often. I believe that our first impressions of others are still based on appearance and it does to an extent define who we are. I consider myself to be a dress code-abiding citizen and I like dressing up when occasion arises. I am far from being able to discuss fashion trends in depth but I know what’s going on in a general sense on the fashion scene. So you, the reader, may now be wondering what gives me the right to write about “Fashion” – well, I am writing about fashion… but the lack of it really and some unfashionable things that come disguised in the name of fashion. Bali attracts many interesting people with big dreams. They come from many different parts of the world to either kick-start their careers or simply relive their former glory days in peace. During my four years of existence on the island, I have met and become known to certain number of people though I have yet to strike up a considerably stable and genuinely meaningful friendship with anyone. I know people and I could call them anytime if I ever need “a crowd” as many are very good at “crowding” but when you really are in need, consider them “missing”. Just like fashion trends, they come and go; never stay for too long but eventually they will make a comeback when you least expecting it. Fashion Fiestas I have curiously checked in and pre-maturely checked out of

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the so-called Bali party scene for I cannot stand ‘repetition’. Clubbing, as some local socialites and party staples call it but when there is usually never more than three places to go to, it is hardly clubbing, is it? While there may be only a few legitimate hangouts to shake your bootie at, there are countlessly many Djs on the island. In addition to prominent ones that they bring from outside on occasion, Bali may one day face a scarcity of drinking water but never a shortage of homegrown DJs. If you have run out of tricks, business ideas or when everything else fails just become a DJ. This last bullet should kill. Some well-connected folks dragged me a few times to glitzy VIP parties, only at the door to be denied entry by ladies in high heels for either not being invited or not RSVP’ing on Facebook. Big deal, right? Funny thing is that I would always get in anyway in the end. It’s just that certain stylish people employed for door-related issues simply cannot resist showing their surgically whitened teeth. They would scan me up and down with their eyes, looking particularly annoyed that they could not find my name on the list. Then they would start whispering to each other as though something serious was going on. Finally they would come up with the verdict; the cover charge that comes with one drink. As if I would stay up all night dancing my tush off without buying any drink. Too much for not RSVP’ing eh? So do those who are invited and RSVP, thus on the list as VIP get VIP treatment? Nah… everyone has to buy their own drinks anyway, unless they want to hold on to their first free drink for hours till it evaporates. Perhaps the high heels these PR girls wear elevate them high enough to see the lights coming from a crane of a nearby construction site but they surely ain’t coming from the Chrysler building. Can we stop pretending that we are in New York? I understand it’s the protocol but I can do it with


a little less attitude to be honest especially when anyone who pays can get in anyway. The same thing happens at certain restaurants and hotels with fashionable facades. Efforts are made to hire staff and put them in sexy uniforms, many of them first-time expatriates; young, arrogant and clueless. Their original assignment is to assist and give service to customers but they are all busy being pretty and pretentious or randomly throwing attitude. Fixtures & Fashionistas Not only at product launches and fashion parties also at pubs and clubs, there are usually two groups among the attendees, the overdressed and the underdressed. You can easily guess which group outweighs which. I’m appalled at the way some people take “casual” to a whole new level. Sure, we are on an island. We go for clothes that breathe well and are comfortable. But it’s 10 pm and you are in a fancy joint rocking the night wearing surfing shorts. You have surfed the waves all day long and watched the sun go down. Can you not take them off and change into something more appropriate? At least show some respect to those who make efforts and come dressed up to the nine.

husbands for they are low-maintenance. They are out at sea all day and they return with extra muscles and plenty of tan. No expensive clothes are necessary. If there’s an occasion to dress up, just get them a wife beater and throw a Billabong cap on. They are good to go. Finale Come on! How can we take this all too seriously? Let’s face it. Bali is not New York, Paris or even remotely Jakarta. In truth, it’s pointless to be adhering to the rules of fashion. With one smartly dressed person there are always sixty slobs in their orange Crocs on their way to loser ville. And that’s what makes the Bali fashion scene interesting because really, anything goes. Some folks are trying their best to bring this St. Tropez atmosphere or Ibiza vibe to our unique little island. There’s obviously effort but with that come attitude and snobbery sometimes. While I appreciate the former, the latter needs to be dropped a notch. Because frankly, “Look around you!”

Yes, it is indeed an insult to fashion devotees who consistently strive to stand out in the crowd. Bali does have a handful of them and don’t they always look fabulous; be it in their skinny jeans, leather jacket or cropped blazer sweating profusely in 32 degrees Celsius. Leggy girls in sexy cocktail dresses and their shag-me pumps; Lord knows it ain’t easy walking the bumpy roads of Bali in them. I do give them credit for being always in sync with fashion, rain or shine. But they are also the ones who never remember your name or recognize your face regardless of how many times you have been introduced to. They are just too cool to care, I reckon. It’s also so often that I cross path with sunshine lovers, otherwise known as ‘the baked people of Bali’. With their overly tanned skin, resembling the color of roasted Peking duck, a color identified as charred-mahogany, they are regulars at fancy parties at famous beachfront joints. Words fail to describe how they look in their head-to-toe white ensemble when the party theme is white. Also, let us not forget those who love all things black and earthy; the leftover hippies from the 60’s. Clothes are clearly unimportant to them. Some show up at events looking like extras from the set of “Les Miserables”. Some have more tattoos on their bodies than Maori warriors. For me, they are truly fascinating to watch. Though I have yet to gather up courage, sit them down and ask them about what it’s like to be hippie in 2013. Two things I’ve learned by just looking at them; hard partying is not a lifestyle and extreme sun tanning can play a damaging role on delicate human skin. We very well know surfer boys with chiseled bodies obviously don’t need shirts because their eye-candy status will be shrunk once they are covered. All they need is a modern-day loincloth also known as “The Bermudas”. Don’t ask me why but they are allowed to be vain. They can walk around town in as little clothing as possible because Bali beaches will be boring without their presence. And I bet they make such great

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PROFILE

SWATHIMAA getting metaphysical with Spiritual teacher & Creator of SHIVALOKA Soul Jewelry BY KATIE Our in depth discussion on Spirituality as a way of relating with ourselves within the constraints and challenges of our humanity, learning to discover and witness our “true self” and how that takes us to a deeper level of “being-ness” with ourselves and others. We journey through the berth of spiritual understanding today and the spiritual truths of our time. Can you tell me a little about your background? I was born in Berlin, attended international schools in Syria and Germany. I spent a long time in LA. However, my life has been in Asia more than 10 years. I lived in Penukonda, Southern India for 5 years, studying with one of the most remarkable, enlightened masters of our time. His name is Sri Kaleshwar. Meeting him was the greatest blessing of my life. Spirituality for me, up until maybe a year ago, was a non-factor in my life. I suppose you could say my connection to my own spirituality was severed. For me, it wasn’t so easy to draw a bridge. And yet, here you are today, exploring it. I believe for many the search for spirituality starts with the desire to know about yourself and/or the need to heal yourself. My journey started at a young age; I was only 11 years old and I wanted to know who I am, why I was here. Nobody could answer that but I knew I needed guidance. So, I spent a lot time in libraries reading books on psychology, philosophy, various religions, met visiting buddhist monks, talked with priests but none could explain the process of revealing that truth to myself. They all made it sound like it was a mystical, abstract, almost unattainable quest, realized by only a chosen few. I refused to believe that. It just didn’t feel true. During this time of my awakening, I also started having unexpected, spontaneous experiences, supernatural experiences, like lucid out-ofbody experiences, I started seeing spirits and other things. It scared me at first as I didn’t know what was happening to me or why but somehow my perception of what we call ‘reality’ had expanded. I wasn’t doing drugs or anything. I wasn’t making this up in my head, I had proof. Now, it was an undeniable truth to me that there was something ‘more’ in us, and I was determined to find out what that is. I had a similar feeling growing up. This sense that there was more to the world I was encased in. I found out what I was really looking for was a way to relate to myself. Exactly my point. Having a relationship with yourself means becoming conscious of who you are and what you are not. Especially as a young person you are so easily influenced by family, society and what other people think you should do. You blindly trust they know what they are talking about and follow this ‘outer’ guidance until this deception grows so painful that you invite change. Ultimately, the best guidance system is our inner guide. That’s why it’s so important to encourage children early on to find their own voice, follow their heart and be their own person independent of parental expectations.

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People are starting to talk about all the issues today, regarding the distractions and busy-ness of life, the virtues that we value which seem skewed when drawn in parallel to what spirituality really means, which is to me ‘to just be’ is enough. And society and culture resist this idea madly. Yes, people are becoming keenly aware that a balance between the material and spiritual, inner world is necessary. But most people don’t trust yet that being ‘spiritual’ is something they can maintain or ‘be’ in the ‘real’ world. That’s why spirituality is still kind of treated like a tourism. Ubud is a perfect example. People come here to get away from the distractions and busy-ness and to dedicate time to change, to have the space to find clarity, healing and direction to navigate their life authentically, and to just be, like you said. But we need to maintain that sacred space in our everyday lives if we want to consciously co-creating our reality. Segueing into Sexuality…. I had a plasticized version of what I thought sexuality was. Maybe it was using sex as a bargaining chip or as a means to get other needs met, but not really exploring it inside myself but what I could get from expressing sexuality outside of myself. Enjoying love and sex at the same time I find to be quite a complicated internal process. Yes, that’s a great topic. You’re a model, let’s take fashion and advertising as an example. They use young, attractive women bearing a lot of skin and basically screaming “sex!” with that post-coital look in their eyes to spark desire and get people to buy. Men buy because they want to have sex with that woman, women buy because they want to be that woman. Sexuality is used as manipulation to get what you want. Young women are taught these subliminal messages and then find success in implementing them. So, now they got the guy they want, using their sexual power, and sex becomes a form of pleasing and control. Has little to do with love, doesn’t it? Someone wrote, “Underneath the sense of abandonment lies the sense of invasion”. That need to please, but also that fear of invasion by the person your with. How can there not be fear, if your sexuality is not motivated by love? Sexuality from a spiritual perspective means two people, two souls are merging with each other and if they’re hearts are open, they can experience pure divine energy time and communicate on a very deep level. It’s an incredibly powerful experience. I think more than anything, women are scared and confused about their power. Having taken a spiritual path with your teacher, Sri Kaleshwar, in India, what is a lesson you can impart on how relationship, love and suffering unite? Well, staying on the subject of women and their power, what women don’t know is that their sexuality and the ability to give birth is what makes women 8 times more powerful than men. If a woman meditates for 1 hour, it takes a man one day of meditation to build


the same of amount of energy in their soul. It’s true. Women have an extra “chakra” or energy center, called the Womb chakra that men don’t have. It’s the most powerful chakra of them all, a pure place of creation power. But it’s also the place where we hold our karmas and illusions. Sexual energy which we refer to as ‘Kama’ energy, is also the power behind our desires, it’s strong attachment energy. Our desires are often inspired by our illusions, and therefore can lead us on a path that turns to suffering. In other words, if we don’t get what we want, we suffer to the point of heartbreak. If women knew how to use, strengthen and purify their womb chakra, how to use their sexuality and how to use the union time with their partner, they could heal their negative karmas and heartbreak, heal their partners and relationships, even give birth to enlightened children. I’m not exaggerating. Women could be of great service to humanity. This is a secret, ancient spiritual teaching my teacher revealed some years back from ancient palm leaf books. We call it the ‘Holy Womb Chakra process’, I also teach this in seminars and retreats. How do we change in relationships? First of all, in relationships, everyone needs to take responsibility for their own blocks. Blocks are habitual, energetic patterns i.e. unworthiness, fear, anger, selfishness, anxiety, impatience etc. You can’t change the other person, that is not your job. Everyone has blocks, and every person has to learn to handle them on their own. The relationships shouldn’t become the battleground of your blocks. When they come up, it’s better to walk away and be silent and deal with the pressure of your blocks in private, then to express them to your partner. I know that’s not easy, but it’s the best way. If you have honesty and good, open communication in your relationship, you can later express your internal struggles without emotion and drama. If you respect each other’s private time and support one another lovingly and patiently, both you and the relationship can grow together, without growing apart. How do we begin to relate to each other and ourselves in a healthier way? Intention is the key. Most people are in relationships because of their expectation of what they want out of it. People don’t think so much on what they want to give to the relationship. So you have selfish people that are more committed to their blocks and desires than to the love and happiness of the other person. That just doesn’t work. The ideal partnership is when you think more on the other person than yourself, giving them what makes them happy, giving them peace, letting them truly be at ‘home’ with you. And the other person having that same commitment to you. If the intention in a relationship is to serve, then the dynamics change. Then it’s not about trying to control or manipulate or worrying if they still love you. If you can seal that commitment you don’t have to act out of a place of fear. How do we learn to cope with or accept our so-called, “bad” qualities? Well, acceptance is the first step. Embracing yourself, and knowing, you are not your blocks. I think one reason we hold on to them so tightly is that we fear a loss of identity. If I’m not my blocks then who am I? If I’m not jealous, angry, afraid, judgmental, etc then who am I? We can’t imagine to just be love, peace and truth, it seems too hard. Too hard?! It’s too hard to be any other way. So the real question is, how do I change and release my blocks? In my experience, the most effective, lasting way is to energetically transform and diffuse them. In our tradition, we do that with the repetition of sacred sound vibrations, specific mantra meditation processes that are designed to purify these blocks. It’s quite amazing how quickly people can heal and change in a beautiful way. What is the essential question we need to ask ourselves? “Who am I? What am I here to do? What is my purpose? “

How did you find a guru, a teacher, who could guide you on your spiritual path? When I was still living in LA, I became increasingly aware that I wasn’t living my highest purpose. The high life and parties became a distraction to the pain of not living my truth. I felt empty and unfulfilled. I knew spirituality was my calling, but had no idea how to sustain that or even start that. I was 24 and felt really lost. So, I made a deal with God and I offered something in exchange for being guided to my true path. Six months later, I found myself at the gates to an ashram in Southern India. Now, I didn’t consider myself exactly an ashram chick but upon entering the grounds, I instantly knew I was home. I was HOME! I finally had found what I had been looking for my entire life. The search was over. I had no idea who this guru was or what they were teaching there, but the deal was fulfilled. I had arrived. How did you begin teaching? My teacher, Sri Kaleshwar, gave me a little push. I was so inspired yet so terrified in the beginning. He sent me out from the ashram “to heal & teach as many people as possible” after my first year of studying with him. I had never healed someone and was terrified of speaking in front of people, let alone teaching the highest spiritual knowledge. I was a blond, 26-year old woman. Who would listen to me or come to me for healing? Well, my fears proved themselves wrong. It was the most natural, intuitive thing to me, once I actually did it. And many came and got healed. It was amazing to experience the energy during the healings, it was really miraculous what happened. I’m so grateful. How did your jewelry line, Shivaloka, intersect with your spiritual journey that began in India? Our teachings are based on meditation with mantras, sacred formulas. We use malas (prayer rosaries) to count the repetition of mantras. I had a spiritual center in Hong Kong, and needed malas for my students to start their meditation practice. We used malas strung with Rudraksha seeds. In India it’s revered as a holy bead and is worn by saints and sadhus since ancient times. One of the knowledge systems I learned from my teacher in India was on natural and supernatural power objects. Rudraksham are considered natural power objects and he taught me the secret process to unlock and activate the full power of these Rudraksham. That’s why SHIVALOKA is real soul jewelry. You can’t find this kind of empowered sacred jewelry anywhere. You can feel the difference. How do you do mantras with Mala beads? Traditionally, a mala has 108 beads, with a 109th bead called the guru bead as the pendant. You don’t count that, and you never cross over that bead. You start at one end of the mala holding the first bead between your thumb and middle finger. You never use your index finger. Then you start mentally repeating the mantra. When you’re done you move your fingers to the next bead and repeat the mantra again, and so on. 108 repetitions is the minimum required dosage to creating change and healing. Correct pronunciation of the mantra is also very important to make sure you receive the full benefit of your practice. How did the idea of Shivaloka come to you? I was in Bali on a silent retreat and the vision came to me as I was meditating. I thought, wouldn’t it be great to create mala beads so beautiful and powerful that everybody would want to wear them. That everyone can benefit from their divine power, whether they believed in them or not. I don’t consider myself a designer but an expert on the energy. Each of our SHIVALOKA jewelry pieces has a specific power or benefit. You can choose by your intention, i.e. healing heartbreak, protecting from negativity, or creating peace of mind. I see many of our customers becoming soulfully attached to their SHIVALOKA jewelry. It makes people happy. What is the spiritual truth of our time? Life is short. Follow your Heart! www.omshivaloka.com

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VOLUPT U E U S E S Photography: Stephane Delavega Styling: Guillaume Langlois M a ke - u p & H a i r : Va l e n t i n e B e r t o n Model: Tiphaine & Julie w w w. s t e p h a n e d e l a v e g a . c o m w w w. f r e s h - c a n c a n . c o m

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gossip by SHANti

Only in Bali can you be on a modest salary and still have an army of staff. I have a gardener, a pembantu (house helper) and several (cute!!!) pool boys. Komang is amazing around the house, her aura is beautiful and she’s a Gemini like me, but with moon in Taurus and Libra rising. Divine. And the gardener, Putu, comes every other day. Recently I came home earlier than usual on a Thursday from Bikram and startled Komang coming out of the bathroom. I made nothing of it until they both left, and went I went to tone my pores in the bathroom, and I noticed a prophylactic (plain English: condom) lying on the floor next to the sink. What does this mean? Both Komang and Putu have families and children! I don’t live with anyone else and no one else could have come by my house and done a quickie! What a scandal! It’s none of my business really, and I don’t intend to get involved, but it does add a bit of intrigue to my daily affairs. As long as they don’t do it in my bed. I also have a friend who has been instagramming the shit out of London Fashion Week. Front row at McQueen, gentle Raf Simons and I almost died when I saw his photos of Vivienne Westwood’s Revolution collection. I took a minute to soak in all her truisms- which include hotties with tats and some of the following commandments on HOW TO JOIN THE REVOLUTION: 1) Money is a means to an end, not an end in itself 2) Quality v Quantity. 3) Buy less, choose well, make it last “I never waste money, I spend it” – Oscar Wilde. Maybe you’ll give a donation to an NGO or charity 4) Prepare and cook your own food. 5) Cut out plastic when possible, for instance making a plastic bottle consumes 50 times the amount of water than it contains 6) Inform yourselves 7) NGO’s: there are thousands, follow one in particular and give your support. You will learn a lot 8) Consider the responsibility of not having or having children 9) Take an active part in the Revolution as it starts to build 10) Engage in art and culture (get off the consumer treadmill; discriminate, don’t suck up). If there’s anything to learn from London Men’s Fashion week, it’s that Eddie Redmayne is hot beyond believe and I have no idea why… and get off the consumer treadmill and engage in local art and culture! Loves! 62

Back to Bali. There’s super sexy new Minx in town who was the star in Made J’s new video, produced by Nathan, Andy, Nicole and styled by Mariah. We heard there were turtles, bunny rabbits, birds, fish, cats and roosters on the set on the top floor of the new La Favela, sound wild. We won’t say exactly who the minx is, but she’s been on the cover of Fauve and you should definitely check her out in the vid coming out soon! It’s got a ton of cock and pussies! And by that I mean cats and roosters! In slightly dirtier news (you didn’t think I was going to leave you hanging did I?) I was out at a Potato Head bash recently and I heard a prominent clothing designer slash photographer from Jakarta/London and her friend from Sydney, and she sounded like she was about to die! She had taken too many drinks and her friend had to stick her hand down her throat! So not chic. I mean, its ok to pass out once you’re home but keep it together while you’re out. And don’t d.., please. I love you all my fabulous little freaks! In this Merry merry go-round of men women and 3rd gender hotties, sometimes its really easy to snag one but it ain’t so easy to keep em. I have one friend especially who keeps dating these babes and they eventually have to leave. What is the solution to all this? We live in Bali, it’s going to be a bit crazy, but what can we expect? If we’re suppose to live and love, how much can we really love and give ourselves to someone who’s only here for 2 or 3 or 6 months, time after time? But love we must, no matter whether someone doesn’t like the movie Apocalypse Now (such poor taste!!) or mock us when we try to explain the mysteries of the universe within astrology, or explain why sometimes we don’t feel like waxing (it kills!). Love isn’t petty or reactive. Love is living in the moment, expecting nothing and getting all life has to offer in return. So hopefully you’ve found someone to snuggle with every night or only occasionally if that’s your desire, to watch the hot rain fall. shanti.says@gmail.com



Aries This is a month for taking a bold or even an impulsive approach to developing a new professional image for your new professional year. You’ve reached a point where, with all your cards on the table it’s time to start playing it like you mean it and as well positioned as you are professionally, looking the part is essential. Approach your professional wardrobe with a new broom. Taurus It’s from now that the professional focus begins to intensify, with Mercury’s return to your career sector. It’s Mercury’s intellectual savvy that is now able to mix with Mars’ professional passions and fighting spirit, giving you the practical resources needed to pick your battles wisely and to play a more strategic game. With the Sun returning, your new professional year is getting a major boost. Gemini Just when your new professional year should be moving into gear you are instead finally able to mentally buy into the holiday spirit, with Mercury’s return to your sector of travel, adventure, learning and discovery. With the Sun returning now this is not an anomaly and instead gives you a chance to open your mind, explore your options and embrace a passion for adventure before your professional year begins in earnest. Cancer As the Moon wraps up his first visit to your career sector for the year hold onto the professional instincts, clues and hunches this leaves you with, especially when it comes to putting your professional year on a track that it can continue on without too much ongoing input. With the next real push not coming until March you can afford to put things on autopilot until then while you focus on more urgent matters, especially on the financial and relationship fronts. Leo While Mercury will leave your work sector this month, shifting your mental focus off work matters and onto your relationships the Moon’s return to your career sector will keep the professional focus strong. Yet while Mercury’s focus now is on opening the communication lines on the relationship front it’s something he’ll take his time over, in contrast to the urgency there is to put your working year and professional game on the track you want it to continue on. Virgo As if to counteract the shift in mindset today, with Mercury’s return to your work sector shifting your mind to work mode, ahead of some extremely busy weeks, the Moon’s return to an adventurous part of your chart will make this less of a sudden jolt. Yet with even the Moon due to shift focus to your professional game in just a few days time this is a temporary reprieve, buying you extra time to ensure you have the right balance between work and play.

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Libra On the same day that Mercury, planet of communication returns to your romantic sector, where he’s able to give your heart and romantic passions a voice, the Moon wraps up his first visit to your relationship sector for the year, leaving you with plenty to say. While 2013 is destined to be an extremely busy year the real thrust won’t come until middle month, giving you a chance to put your personal life first, future proofing it against the busier times ahead. Scorpio As Mercury, planet of communication leaves your communication sector and the Sun spends his last full days the Moon returns for his first visit to your relationship sector for the year. In what is one of the most important days of the year for not only having the communication lines open but in an authentic way, it’s your relationships that will jump the queue, giving them a chance to benefit the most from the authentic connecting that’s possible today. Sagittarius Just as Mercury leaves your income sector, leaving you with a smart head for money and the Sun is spending his last full days, throwing the spotlight on all your options, the Moon returns for his first visit to your work sector for the year. With an already strong partnership between income and work forces this gives you an intuitive edge that allows you to take this deeper, forging them into one united front as you move forward. Capricorn The Moon’s return to your romantic sector is not only his first visit for the year but his only visit while Venus, planet of love is in your sign and as you’re setting your personal and romantic desires and expectations for the coming year. As the Moon stirs up a lot of romantic sentiment and some strong responses from your heart, no matter what the message this brings it will give you a clearer sense of where your heart stands and of what you do and don’t want. Aquarius Just before your birthday month is due to kick off Mercury, planet of communication and smart thinking returns today, shifting your mental focus onto the future and all of a sudden sharpening your mind and your intellectual responses. For the first time your mental focus is on road ahead rather than the road behind, with a sign that the future is starting to open up and reveal itself. Pisces Just before you’re due to begin the month long wind down of your current solar year Mercury increases an already strong need to withdraw and pull back, appreciating the need to connect but also valuing time out to simply hear yourself think. Yet with the Sun spending his last full days in your friendship sector it’s a little too early to put out the ‘do not disturb’ sign, though you will need to from time to time.


STOCKIST 69SLAM www.69slam.com

BAMBOO BLONDE Bali & Jakarta facebook @ bambooblondebali twitter @ bambooblondebali

BLESSED JEWELZ Jln Oberoi, Seminyak, Bali www.blessedjewelz.com

BLUE KARMA HOTEL Jln Raya Seminyak, Gang Bima N째2 Seminyak Bali www.balibluekarma.com

BUDDHA TO BUDDHA Jln Oberoi, Seminyak, Bali www.buddhatobuddha.com

CAST EYEWEAR This is a Love Song, Jln oberoi Seminyak Bali www.casteyewear.com

CHRISTOPHE C. HAIRSALON Jln kunti no. 9, Seminyak, Bali www.Christophe-c-c.com

DELLAROSE SHOES www.dellaroseshoes.com

ESIBE Jln Petitenget, Lio Square Facebook @ EsiBe

FROM 1 SECRET Jln Laksamana, oberoi Bali www.from1secret.com info@from1secret.com

IO/CO Sanur, Nusa Dua, Ubud, Kuta www.io-co.com

MAGALI PASCAL Jln Seminyak, Oberoi & Petitenget www.magalipascal.com

METIS Jln Petitenget no.6, Kerobokan, Bali www.metisbali.com info@metisbali.com

MISS MILNE Jln Raya Seminyak www.missmilne.co.uk

MOTEL ROCKS www.motelrocks.com

MOTION FITNESS www.motionfitnessbali.com info@motionfitnessbali.com

RACHEL MANTIRI DESIGN & PHOTO www.rachelmantiri.com rachel.mantiri@gmail.com

REVOLVER at gang #51 Boutique Coffee House Jln Kayu Aya No. 3 Oberoi Seminyak

SELECTED LABELS Jln Oberoi, Seminyak, Bali www.selectedlabels.com info@selectedlabels.com

SHANTI SAYS... shanti.says@gmail.com

SHIVALOKA JEWELS 49-1 Jln hanoman Ubud Bali www.omshivaloka.com

SLAM JAM PRODUCTIONS www.slamjam.me

THINK PINK NAILS Jln Batu Belig no 108, Kerobokan Bali www.thinkpinknails.com

PAC BEAUTY www.pacbeauty.com

VILLA NOMADS www.villanomads.com information@villanomads.com

PRESSBAN Jln Oberoi 50XX, Seminyak, Bali Facebook @ PRESS.BAN.CAFE

ZEN GARDEN Jln Mertanadi 46, Seminyak Bali balizengarden@gmail.com

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MOTEL ROCKS www.motelrocks.com

bamboo blonde facebook @ bambooblonde bali

MAGALI PASCAL www.magalipascal.com

IO/CO www.io-co.com 66



BEAUTY

Make-up 101 with YEANNE eye line to you Special thanks to Serliana

1. Start with Eyeprimer Clear for a nice base.

2. Apply Microshadow Muffin as a highlighter on the brow bone and all of the eyelid

3. Apply Microshadow Muffin on the whole eyelid as well.

4. Use Gel Eyeliner Black on the top lid . Apply eyeline as close to the eyelid as possible from the front to the end of the eyelid and create a longer backlash look Draw bottom liner from the end to the front part of the eye.

5. Finish of with applying Mascara for long full lashes look, fill the gap between your lashes with Eyepencil Black. The eyeliner should be as close to the eyelids as possible. Draw your eyebrow with Tri Brow, apply Brow Set Fix to firm your brow.

All make up products are sponsored by Make Up Store, available at Yeanne. Yeanne and Team www.yeanne.com facebook @ yeanne make up art

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Exclusively sold by: SELECTED LABELS SHOP, JL.OBEROI 20-42A, SEMINYAK-BALI, WWW.SELECTEDLABELS.COM



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