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BALI
Inspired The Money Issue
Welcome to the Money issue!
Managing Director manager@inspired-bali.com
Once again, we bring you a variety of perspectives on a selected theme we think will interest everybody.
Editor editor@inspired-bali.com
Money. Love it or hate it, we all need it (and certainly we all spend it!). Here in Bali, an obvious question many of us ask is how can two economies—the local and the tourist/expat—co-exist side by side? Especially considering when money spent by one of these groups on dinner equals a half-months wage for another? It’s a complex issue, and although we don’t have all the answers here, we do have some innovative ideas to share: from alternative currencies to volunteer trainings, to local business ideas. Sit back, relax and enjoy.
Art Director art@inspired-bali.com Sales sales@inspred-bali.com
This is the last edition of Inspired Bali as a free quarterly publication. We will transition to a book format, with possible digital copies available as well. Also, please check out our eCommerce shop on our website: an artisan emporium offering locally created products exclusively made in Bali and selected with this community in mind.
Inspired Bali reserves the right to refuse any advertisements which don’t complement the magazine’s vision. We are not responsible for any copyright infringements for images supplied to us by writers or advertisers.
Janet Nicol Founder
www.facebook.com/ friendsofinspiredbali www.inspired-bali.com Read us online at www.issuu.com Cover photo by Suki Zoë
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CONTENTS
8 Inspired by Joanna Witt by Meg Mac 14 Money Madness by Renee Martyna 18 A Word to the Wine by Sommelier Sam 22 Cash for Trash by Amit Janco 24 In The Streets: Jalan Petitenget 28 Bitcoin in Bali by Gary Dykstra 46 The Illness of Money by Maureen Gilbert 48 Annapurna by Alison Bone 50 Setting It Up by Stacy Stube 54 Cashless at Green School by Shanti Balam Belaustegui Pockell 56 Makanan/Food: Rujak 58 Dual Economy by Rachel Glitz 60 Photo essay by Gun Gun Gumilar and Janet Nicol 70 Uang Kepeng by Stephen DeMeulenaere 72 Knowmads by Renee Martyna 78 Living to Work or Working to Live by Janas Priya 84 Fave Five: What to do, see, eat, visit in Bali
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Joanna witt By Meg Mac
WHAT Goes Around Comes Around. These are the words stamped on the Karma collection of Yin jewellery sold by Canadian native and long-time Ubud expat, Joanna Witt. The sentiment is more than just a cliché, it is a personal and professional mantra for this jewellery designer and entrepreneur, who uses her business to give back to Bali. “Bali has been my home for 20 years. I started designing and exporting metal garden ornaments from Bali in 1994. I eventually started a silver making class and from there a while I realized I had the infrastructure to create some special projects to give back to Bali that extended beyond just providing jobs. I took things a step further.” Joanna was one of the founding members on the in Ubud. “Pelangi was growing at the same time as I was growing my business. I had the idea to create the Karma line of jewellery and sell it in my shops, with $2 from each sale going to the school. It gave me a chance to support the school on an ongoing basis.” Seven years later, Joanna has contributed over $12,000 to Pelangi School, all through donations from her Karma line–enough to build an entire classroom! 8 | Inspired Bali 2015
Five years ago Joanna was approached by Si Yi Chen– one of nine Australians charged with attempted drug
a life sentence. He invited Joanna to teach silversmithing to a small group of prisoners. Joanna went to meet with the then 25 year old Si Yi, and was instantly inspired. Thus Mule Jewels was born. Kerobokan prison, much like prisons in other developing provide rehabilitation programs to inmates. Si Yi spearheaded such a program, collaborating with the warden to convert unused jail space into a workshop. He began to train other prisoners in a skill that would mean they could spend their time in prison purposefully, creatively and collaboratively. His own journey through six months ing to build his Taoist meditation practice in a prison cell had taught Si Yi that people need a purpose, and that himself, no matter where that life is lived. Joanna and her silversmith Pak Nyoman Alit started visiting the prison weekly, training Si Yi and others in the art of silversmithing. Si Yi used his own money to set up the studio, and Joanna and Pak Nyoman provided the training, helped to implement an accounting system and created a business plan. Si Yi and Joanna worked with the Photos by Suki Zoë
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wardens to grow the program and make it self-sustaining through the sale of pieces in Joanna’s stores. “It is a good thing for my business, and it is a good thing for the prisoners in this program. Like the Karma line, it only costs me time and effort and yet delivers so much." Si Yi is now an accomplished silversmith and trains all the new members in the group. He clearly sees the value in what he has created. He says, "The program was initiated to teach inmates the skills of jewellery making so that when they are free they can use these skills to find a job. My hope is these inmates will leave here and be inspired to change the lives of people around them, that they might redirect someone who is going down the wrong path." The income from the program provides healthy food for the group and some income for each of the participants. In the five years since the program’s inception Si Yi has trained over 20 inmates in the design, business planning, manufacturing and sale of jewelry. Joanna recently helped a group of students in her son’s grade seven class at Green School, design two pendants to sell at the school’s annual Bamboopalooza festival. After the students signed off on the design, they sent the sketches to Kerobokan prison, where the inmate silversmiths donated their time to create 40 pendants for the kids to sell. Joanna took the group into the prison, where they visited the workshop and had a firsthand look at the realities of prison life, as well as the program Si Yi works hard to maintain. “I agreed to help start the silver making program because the skills I had running a silver making workshop in Ubud could be directly applied in the jail. What I didn't realize was that there were so many more layers of benefit that the program gave to those involved. It has given them a reason to get up in the morning, almost as if they are going to work 10 | Inspired Bali 2015
Photos by Suki Zoë
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Monday to Friday. Silver making is very meditative in itself and the program is almost therapeutic. The workshop is a place where inmates can mentally escape their situation, while picking up skills they can use once they are free. Lots of foreigners come to Bali, and like me, they see opportunities to create businesses based on tourism. But we need to acknowledge how Bali supports us, and constantly ask ourselves how we can support Bali.” Joanna now goes to the workshop once a week to help with design, marketing and business development. She offers these words of wisdom to others who, like her, seek to do good. “If you start looking at what your business does well, and what resources you already have, you will be able to see how this could be leveraged to provide money or services to the community. It might even boost your bottom line, your staff morale, and your feeling of belonging here in Bali.” True enough: What goes around, comes around. Joanna has four Yin jewellery stores in Ubud and on Gili Trawangan, as well as a new spa called FRESH on Jalan Dewi Sita. Under her unwavering volunteer management, Pelangi School is flourishing and continuing to grow and serve the community. That’s some seriously good karma.
Meg moved to Bali with high hopes of finding inspiring people and a little school that would keep her son full of mischief and magic. Finding success, Meg has lived in Bali for the past seven years where she helps to manage Pelangi School. www. pelangischoolbali.com and www.yinjewelryforthesoul.com Photos in Kerobokan Jail by Elena Roman Durante
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Money Madness By Renee Martyna Photo by Heather Bonker
HOW crazy are you? Take a look at two of the most reliable indicators: Romance and Finance. While no one seems surprised when their love life is fraught with challenges and a long learning curve, when it comes to money, the shock is palpable. Truth: Matters pertaining to money are where we show our deepest desires and our greatest insecurities. And because the practical and the emotional frequently tangle around money, it’s easy for neurosis to show up there too. I had to take a hard look at the role that finance played in my life when motherhood made me an ‘under-earner’— wow, that was hard. I went from paychecks to Pampers overnight. Since I made a choice to be a parent rather than covet a career, I had to face all the hard-wired beliefs I had about my worth in this world. Plus, I had to live on a budget. It was sobering to realize just how tied I was to a ‘measurable’ like money to determine my value, 14 | Inspired Bali 2015
succumbing as I did to a classic addiction in today’s society—the dependence on external validation. But I’ve since learned that mothers aren’t the only people facing such ‘opportunity costs’; whether an entrepreneur, an artist or a student, at some stage or another we will all be asked to choose between our values and our financial viability. Ironically, getting over my dependence on my bank slips as a marker of success meant that I needed to engage more, not less, in the very thing I was no longer making very much of: money. So I did what all the good seekers on Bali do. I hit the books, called on mentors, and slowly waded through mountains of emotional rubble from my childhood to discover what needed to shift in order for me to broker a lasting peace with money. The journey, as always, continues, but here is what I have learned so far: There are only two real problems you can have with money: Too much, or not enough.
idealistinterrupted It’s easy to think that all our money problems are a matter of simple math (more=better). However, the reality is that having lots of money does not always add up to a good life. In fact, it’s often the opposite. The more money you have, the more you need to manage, and that in itself is a burden that many people might prefer to do without. We now know that there is a tipping point (about USD $100,000 in America ) past which no amount of money will bring you more happiness. The sub-title here is: be careful what you wish for. That said, the other extreme doesn’t suit everyone either, since most of us won’t renounce all worldly possessions and live in an ashram forever. As with most things, the middle road is probably best, which is why I like how David Lee Roth of Van Halen fame puts it in perspective: “Money can’t buy happiness, but it sure as hell can buy a big fat yacht to sail right through the sadness”. Money definitely softens some of the harder edges in life, but since it’s not our savior, we need to stop acting like it is. Don’t know how to manage your money? Join the club. It’s astounding how much shame and embarrassment people feel around money. One of our best kept secrets is how little most of us actually know—beyond basic accounting—about how to deal with money. Mainstream money guru Robert Kiyosaki of the “Rich Dad Poor Dad” series says that financial illiteracy is what the financial industry banks on. Without it, there would be sloughs of unemployed accountants, tax lawyers, and advisers. The sobering fact is that this reality behooves us to study up if we don’t want to be burned. The good news is, help is out there. Most developed countries have subsidized debt relief programs, and there are various entrepreneurial and Twelve Step programs that offer free insight into managing your money while tending to your soul. So don’t despair, help is out there, if you take the time to care. It’s not about the money. The old adage that “money is the root of all evil” is a misquote, because it leaves out a pivotal word from the original biblical text: “the LOVE of money is the root of all evil.”
It’s an important distinction, because when we hanker after money, rather than the freedom and opportunity it buys, we are missing the point. It is Greed, and not money itself, that drives us to value money more than human life, and which leads to war, famine, and all manner of conspicuous consumption. Viewed in this way, money is brought down to size; it s a tool, not a talisman. Enough is Enough If we learned anything from the global financial crisis, it’s that we may have been chasing the wrong goals. The ‘security’ we seek in our investment portfolios is just smoke and mirrors for the safety we truly desire—community, connection, freedom and opportunity. You don’t need assets fatter than your neighbour’s to discover that. What you do need is a shift in perception, because abundance is a moving target unless you can learn to love, or at least accept, what you already have. Just ask JD Rockefeller, who, when asked how much more money would be enough, said “Just a little bit more.” How will you measure your life? This is a question worth asking before, and not during, your quest for financial abundance; because while money itself doesn’t ultimately matter, measurability does. How else would you know when you have made progress? Herein lies your freedom, because there are many different ways to tally a score, and you get to decide what counts. Is it the quality of your relationships? The array of choices before you? The wealth of experiences you’ve had? If you broaden your perspective (and prospectus) in this way, you may discover that you already have enough of everything you really need.
Renee is a Rotary ambassadorial scholar, holds a Bachelors degree in International Relations, and a double Masters in Middle East studies and Conflict Transformation. If you would like her to curate a conversation for you, please visit her passion project: www.changeinconversation.com where you can learn how the art of conversation can help you create the difference you want to see in your world. Inspired Bali 2015 | 15
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Ubud Food Festival With the success of The Kitchen program at the 2014 Ubud Writers & Readers Festival, Director & Founder Janet DeNeefe has decided to go full steam ahead and launch a food festival, commencing June 5 - 7, 2015. Says Janet: “I have been living and breathing Indonesian food for more than 30 years and now it’s time to share this glorious cuisine with the world. With a line-up of local and international chefs from across the archipelago this is set to become Indonesia’s most exciting gastronomic celebration.” The Ubud Food Festival will be a three-day culinary extravaganza of cooking demonstrations, talks, workshops, wine-tastings, food tours, films, farmer’s markets and more. From coffee to chocolate, tempe to turmeric, local produce will be a glowing star amidst lively discussions and cooking demonstrations. This is a festival of food and stories worth savouring. Find us at www.ubudfoodfestival.com
A Word to the Wine with Sommelier Sam
WHAT price would you pay for a bottle of wine? Well, if your name is Rudy Kurniawan it seems you would pay a very high price indeed; to be exact a $28.4 million restitution bill and a ten year spell behind bars. Sentenced on August 7, 2014 in the U.S. courts, Indonesian-born Mr Kurniawan is the latest in a string of vinous villains who have put their considerable talents to work counterfeiting rare and expensive wines. In Rudy’s case with remarkable success, fooling some of the world’s best known authorities on wine and causing considerable chaos in the global wine investment market. It’s estimated that he bilked somewhere between $20 million and $100 million from his fellow wine buffs during his ten year run. A remarkable feat for a simple fellow from Jakarta, particularly given the notoriously exclusive world of wine collecting. So, how did he pull off this audacious feat? As any good con man knows the only way to succeed is to infiltrate, become one of ‘them’; an insider, a member of the very club you are out to swindle. You also have to rely heavily on the arrogance of those who consider themselves infallible, and arrogance is certainly not lacking when it comes to the world of fine wine. Rudy was a past master at this. He made friends in all the right places, wore Hermès suits, drove a fast car and assembled one of the most admired cellars in the world. He walked the walk, talked the talk and drank the (very 18 | Inspired Bali 2015
expensive) wine. He also convinced everyone of his ability to access some of the world’s rarest bottles, in particular Burgundies—including the most coveted wine of them all, Domaine Romanée Conti, earning himself the nickname Dr. Conti. Behind the scene he set up shop in his apartment in Arcadia, California, carefully crafting the fakes from old, but much less expensive wines. He sourced aged, empty bottles that he could reuse (a new bottle would immediately ring warning bells for any collector) and he set about making incredibly authentic-looking labels, scrupulously studying and imitating every detail to ensure that even a trained eye could not tell the difference. So far so good for Rudy. How could it possibly go wrong? In the end it was an all too familiar tale of greed and money breeding complacency. Fast forward to 2008. Acker, Merrall & Condit, one of the leading auction houses in America, is gearing up for its annual auction of fine and rare Burgundies. A full-page photo in Acker’s catalogue shows a quartet of Clos de la Roche bottles bearing the Domaine Ponsot label, including a 1929 (estimated at $14,000 to $19,000), consigned by a certain Mr. R. Kurniawan. On the other side of the Atlantic at his estate in Burgundy Laurent Ponsot, the proprietor of Domaine Ponsot is studying the auction catalogue. He picks up the phone, dials the number for John Kapon, head of Acker’s wine team in New York, and pointedly informs him that the first vintage of Clos de la Roche was 1934.
Sommelier Sam’s Wine Tip What: Henry Fessy, Moulin à Vent Beaujolais, 2009 (medium-bodied, red), 13.5% ABV. Where: Bridges Restaurant Wine Shop, Jl. Campuhan, Ubud, www.bridgesbali.com, 0361 970095. Who: Henry Fessy, Beaujolais, Burgundy, France. When: Drink now until the end of 2015, might keep a bit longer. Why: I am always on the lookout for a red wine that is suitable for drinking here in the tropics. This wine fits the bill perfectly. It is medium-bodied (not too flimsy or acidic and not too heavyweight) and soft and fruity thanks to the Gamay grape variety that it is made from (think red fruits like wild strawberries and cherries). Being five years old (2009 vintage) the tannins have rounded out adding a touch of spice, and there is also a lovely hint of mint that keeps it fresh. How: I would happily drink this on its own (I did!) but it is also an ideal partner for Chinese food, seared tuna or salmon, or a simple roast chicken. Bigger reds, like Cabernet Sauvignon or Shiraz, would overpower the delicate flavours in these dishes but this wine, being lighter in body, less tannic and with the red fruit character providing just a hint of sweetness, works perfectly. The other bonus for us here in Bali is that Beaujolais is great when served slightly chilled!
Sommelier Sam lives in Sanur with her family and enjoys sharing her love of wine with the good people of Bali. You can connect with her at: facebook.com/SommelierSam Photo by Janet Nicol
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Cash
For
Trash By Amit Janco
ONE Friday evening in the middle of November, I was ing for Startup Weekend to begin. Startup Weekends—a meeting place for digital entrepreneurs to launch startaround the globe, in cities like Auckland, Amman, Tokyo, Washington and Ulaan Baatar. Ubud’s weekend kicked off with participants from Indonesia, Singapore, Canada, America, Bulgaria, Germany, France, Sweden, Lithuania, Argentina, UK, Australia and the Netherlands, pitching ideas for websites and mobile apps, among other startup ideas. Among the hopefuls was Olivier Pouillon, long recognized as a pioneer in the (slowly) growing recycling movement on Bali. Despite his busy schedule, as founder and manager of the Bali Recycling Company (CV. Peduli Bali), American-born Olivier explained that he had conjured up the vague idea of a mobile app—a bold but sensible initiative to get local kids on board the recycling bandwagon. On Friday night, Olivier was among the many wired and nervous would-be entrepreneurs pitching their ideas. His recycling-for-cash idea collected enough votes from attendees to generate a team. Then his team, along with a dozen others—comprising developers, designers and non-technical creative types, huddled together for the following 54 hours—to brainstorm concepts, develop strategy, discuss revenue models, design digital proto-
In less than three days, Olivier’s scheme and team beat out ten other startups to take home the gold—with the so-called CashForTrash mobile app. "For the past few years I've tried to get this idea of 'rewards for rubbish' off the ground,” says Olivier, “so it's really satisfying that the StartUp Weekend was able to give it a shot of adrenaline. My team rocked!" CashForTrash (unrelated to Singapore’s program of the reward to people in exchange for collecting, sorting and recycling their trash. The ultimate goal is to encourage more awareness and environmental responsibility among the Indonesians and other island residents about waste that has for too long been simply burned or dumped into rivers, road sides and other illegal dumps. Olivier acknowledges what it takes to trigger that shift: "If you want to change perceptions, motivate and change peoples’ habits about their rubbish, put a dollar sign on it." The app’s primary target market is Bali’s—and more widely, Indonesia’s—youth, aged between 12 to 22 years old, who are among the savviest of smartphone users. The program would launch in schools, with presentations with an explanation about the cash-for-trash concept. Youth would be asked to register, and the receiving collection bags in return. Trash would be collected at schools, bags numbered
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then weighed. The entire contents of collected trash would then be delivered to recycling partners, where it would be processed. A database of user account information would be updated and financial payments given out soon after. Still in its infancy, CashForTrash is well on its way—attracting media coverage and interest from venture capital funds, all the while improving its technical utility and user-friendliness with the help of mobile app developers and branding coaches. "Indonesia is a beautiful country that is unfortunately plagued by serious waste pollution that is getting more critical every day,” says Olivier. “There are many Indonesians who want to act, but it is difficult without adequate or even basic waste systems in place in many parts of the country. CashForTrash offers an easy and rewarding way for anyone to help clean things up." And thus was born yet another imaginative solution for the island’s resource recovery plan. As far as Startup Weekends go, this made-in-Ubud solution is uniquely poised to address some of Bali’s ongoing and most widespread challenges.
Amit Janco, is a writer, photographer, yoga practitioner and labyrinth designer, Amit caught the start-up bug and is developing a global culture media project—Localore— which she pitched at Startup Weekend.
in the street jalan petitenget Thanks to Janet Nicol and MIrjam De Ruiter for the Instagram photos and tips.
IN the heart of Seminyak, bordering on Kerobokan, lies a two-kilometer long, winding street called Jalan Petitenget (petty-teng-it). As central Seminyak shows signs of having passed its heyday, this street is a welcome alternative to the trafmore neighbourhood feel, expats seek out many of the gems along this street to keep their bodies limber, their coffee and of funky clothes. Starting at Jalan Kerobokan and weaving its way toward the beach, Jalan Petitenget ends at the V junction with Jalan Laksmana. Get off your scooter or out of your car at one end and take an afternoon to walk the new sidewalks of this rapidly expanding street. Here are our tips for where to shop, eat and move; as well as the price range of some goodies you might want to stock up on.
EAT/DRINK Mantra: Jl Petitenget #77x Pull on your leather boots and strut around with the cool crowd, especially on the weekends. Cheapest: Shake Bean, Rp 25,000. Most expensive: Char Grilled Australian tenderloin steak, Rp 200,000 Biku: Jl Petitenget #888 Shop, eat or have your tarot card read in this elegant and spaciously designed cafĂŠ. Enday from Australian cows in Java. Cheapest: Cupcakes, Rp 15,000. Most expensive: Lamb chops, Rp 130,000 24 | Inspired Bali 2015
in the street jalan petitenget Parlour: Jl Petitenget #15XX Elegant, delicious, and divine. This bar, lounge and bistro offers some of southern Bali’s best gourmet food. Cheapest: Potato wedges, Rp 34,000. Most expensive: Solomilo Iberico, Rp 424,000 Potato Head Beach Club: Jl Petitenget Described as a fusion of various art forms including bricolage, this concept venue has it all. With multiple restaurants, shops, pools, bars and a huge lawn on the beach including four full-time DJs. With a capacity for 4,000, this club caters to a diverse audience, especially middle and upper-class Jakartans. Prices vary. The Drop: Jl Petitenget #888x Great decor and awesome food - including bagels and sublime eggs. The Drop also hosts a monthly garage sale with some of the island’s funkiest finds. Owned by a young Russian couple; the wife is the founder of the much-loved Canggu Chronicles blog. Cheapest: Macchiato, Rp 24,000. Most expensive: Smoked Salmon Benedict, Rp 60,000 Revolver Café (baby): Jl Petitenget #102x Tiny and quaint! Find a spot at one of the three tables inside and linger over arguably one of Bali’s best coffees. Cheapest: Espresso/macchiato, Rp 20,000. Most expensive: Ice coffee (with ice cream), Rp 30,000
SHOP Home Mate: Jl. Petitenget #1A Sweet little boutique and café with a groovy collection of gifts and jewellery from around OUR globe. Shop first, then indulge in one of the many sweet or savory desserts. Cheapest: Umbrella toothpicks, Rp 20,000 Most expensive: Totem bowl, Rp 3.5 million Inspired Bali 2015 | 25
in the street jalan petitenget Tribali: Jl Petitenget #12 Gorgeous small consignment shop full of eclectic jewellery. Cheapest: Bracelets, Rp 125,000. Most expensive: Earrings, Rp 1.4 million Carga: Jl Petitenget #886 An artistic selection of housewares for every corner of the home. Cheapest: Candle holders, Rp 45,000. Most expensive: Round tables, Rp 12 million The Prisoners of Saint Petersburg: Jl Laksamana, Petitenget Owned by an Australian with a flare for Mexican artifacts. You’ll find a decent selection of floral dresses and young designer items. Cheapest: Finger thimble, Rp 45,000 Most expensive: Leather bag, Rp 1.2 million The Living Room: Jl Petitenget #2000x Head over to this flea market - and former restaurant - if you want to pay half price for items sold elsewhere on the same street. Prices vary. Bargain!
STAY Ivory Resort: Jl. Petitenget #35 Beautiful lobby and hotel, but the real perk is the spa-one of the finest in Seminyak. Cheapest: Standard room, USD $130 Most expensive: Deluxe room, USD $500 Fave Hotel: Jl. Raya Petitenget #7 You can’t do much better than this. A chain hotel that is cheap, functional and well located, with the beach only a short stroll away. Cheapest: Standard room, Rp 289,000. Most expensive: Spacious suite, Rp 698,000 The Alea Hotels: Jl. Petitenget #78 Ideal for families or couples, this hotel is located near rice paddies and has a spa spe26 | Inspired Bali 2015
in the street jalan petitenget cializing in anti-aging. Cheapest: Superior Twin room with pool view, USD $45. Most expensive: Superior twin double with pool access, USD $55 W Hotel: Jl. Petitenget A member of the global hotel chain, Bali’s own W taps into local Hindu mythology. Beautifully laid out and majestic as always, this hotel provides a glorious sense of peace, tranquility and utopia set amongst the galleries, boutiques and restaurants. Cheapest: Garden view room, $375.00 a night. Most Expensive: Extreme 3 bedroom villa, $1,999.00 a night
RELAX Amo Life: Jl Petitenget #100x Choose from a vast selection of makeup to beautify every part of your face, or indulge in a full range of spa services. Cheapest: 1 hour relaxing massage, Rp 220,000. Most expensive: Red Carpet Ready (Pamper package), Rp 1.25 million Jiwa Yoga: Jl Petitenget #72 Seminyak’s Bikram yoga studio offers an average of four classes a day. After you sweat, browse their great clothing shop for a small but decent selection of yoga clothes and mats. Cheapest: Single class, Rp 187,000. Most Expensive: 3 months unlimited, Rp 4.5 million Motion Fitness: Jl Petitenget The place to go for results-driven fitness, with a wide range of group and private classes such as Cardio Pilates and Brazil Boon to get you moving. They also offer a comprehensive menu to complement the desired fitness results. Cheapest: Drop in class, Rp 100,000. Most expensive: Fit and Slim Xtreme package, Rp 30 million Inspired Bali 2015 | 27
Bitcoin in Bali By Gary Dykstra
WELCOME to Bali. You’ll need cash. New adventures take one to far-off lands where everything is fresh, exciting and novel. People dream of traveling to Southeast Asia to experience the breeze and lush jungle settings. This is especially true when landing for the first time in Bali, where art, music and architecture infuse the entire island landscape with a sensory experience like no place on earth. What a pity that today’s traveler has no choice but to confound this beautiful experience with the hassles of money. In Bali, you need cash. The island’s shops, restaurants and homestays run on colorful Indonesian rupiah banknotes and coins. Credit cards are accepted but coverage is spotty and transaction success is anything but certain. Cash is unavoidable. The largest denomination is the pale pink 100,000 rupiah note worth roughly USD $8. You will need a pile of them for your stay in beautiful Bali. We live in a connected, modern world full of immediacy and convenience in all areas of life. This is true in Bali as well, with many places advertising free WiFi and Internet. We can shoot photographs with our phone and send them to mom halfway around the world in a second. We can chat with friends or even video conference from a café overlooking beautiful rice fields. So why must we carry around a wallet full of unhygienic, insecure, un-modern cash? The sad truth is that today’s international traveler does not have many good options when it comes to money. Carrying large amounts of cash can be quite dangerous 28 | Inspired Bali 2015
in any tourist destination and Bali is no exception. So one is forced to use ATMs which charge fees; travelers checks, which are antiquated and inconvenient; or credit cards which are expensive and not accepted everywhere. Every option available to the traveler skims a little off the top. Anytime money is exchanged and spent, one loses 2 -3%; and in some cases much more in hidden costs. It’s the modern world of money but it is anything but modern. It won’t be long before people look back with incredulity at the antiquated and expensive analog money we still find ourselves using in the 21st century. It will become painfully obvious that paper notes or even plastic cards did not leverage the power of the interconnected world that furnishes so many other conveniences. One might even wonder why we put up with the old system for so long when many better options were technically possible, yet still delayed or unavailable. Deep in our heart we all know that money could work in a better way. Money could be modern and digital. Money could work everywhere without the need to exchange it. Money could be secure in a digital wallet—for example on our phone where we already store everything else digital. It could be instant, cheap and convenient, available 24/7 with no middleman and no crazy fees or hassles. Picture a world where you don’t need local currency and where moneychangers don’t take advantage of you. Where you don’t leave the country with a bunch of useless coins. Picture a world of money that just works, anywhere, like all other aspects of our technology-enabled lives.
“I’m a big fan of Bitcoin. Regulation of money supply needs to be depoliticized.” Al Gore, former US VIce President and winner of Nobel Peace Prize
What if we had Bitcoin? Bitcoin is the technological answer to the aforementioned problems of money. Bitcoin is transnational, apolitical, totally transparent, secure and nearly instantaneous travel-money. Bitcoins are created and tallied by tens of thousands of computers cooperating to provide a system of money. These computers voluntarily run the bitcoin software which is free for anyone to use. Computers running this software miraculously synchronize to maintain a global ledger that effectively replaces the worldwide banking settlement system we normally rely on for international money transfers.
tion to capturing the world’s attention as a Bitcoin-friendly destination. A small group of dedicated Bitcoin enthusiasts has been growing on the island. Through steady community outreach and education, the Bitcoin economy is taking shape. Business owners and community leaders meet every week to talk about the latest developments in Bitcoin and how they can be leveraged to help local commerce and local people to serve the global traveler. An effort is being spearheaded at bitislands.com, to create a friendly environment in Bali for Bitcoin. It is now possible to begin using Bitcoin from the time you land at Ngurah Rai Airport (see next page).
MP3 was to the music industry, and what Skype was to the telecommunications industry. Bitcoin replaces the entire banking system for a fraction of the cost. Amazingly, Bitcoin has no employees. No buildings. No impediments to innovation. As a consequence, bitcoin is faster and cheaper than any alternative. Reducing these costs opens up whole new economic possibilities for emerging markets like Indonesia. And it’s all beginning here in Bali where tourism ties this country to the international market. Building a Bitcoin Economy in Bali Bali is poised to inspire the world to adopt Bitcoin. Over the past six months, Bali has gone from zero Bitcoin adop-
Digital currency is growing, however, it is still early for Bitcoin in Bali. There is a buzz on the island and the world is taking notice. By next high season, Bali will have well over 100 merchants who accept the currency and will be recognized as one of the global destinations in which the burgeoning new world economy is made up of digits not dollars. As more merchants and tourists participate, network effects take off and a new economy is born. Inspired Bali 2015 | 29
Where to spend Bitcoin:
Where to buy Bitcoin:
Your bitcoin (located on your mobile phone) is accepted at a number of places on the island including:
1. 2.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
3.
Delicious Onion in Ubud Nyoman the taxi driver (+62 819 9950 1167) Viceroy Bali in Ubud: www.viceroybali.com Sepeda Bali in Nyuh Kuning: www.sepedabali.com Hubud in Ubud: www.hubud.org Cinta Bahasa www.cintabahasa.com
For updates on participating locations see: www.coinmap.org Learn more about Bitcoin here: https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Main_Page Bitcoin education resources can be found here: http://coinacademy.co Buy bitcoins in Indonesia here: https://www.bitcoin.co.id What is Bitcoin? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Um63OQz3bjo
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4.
There’s a vending machine at Hubud in Ubud. At the Bitcoin.co.id Information Center, Legian Kaja Street, No. 455 in Kuta. Online at www.coinbase.com, www.kraken.com, or www.localbitcoins.com. You can also buy them directly from other Bitcoiners! There’s a weekly Bitcoins in Bali Meetup group.www.facebook.com/groups/bitcoinsinbali
Gary is a technology veteran with 20+ years experience in software development tools and methodologies. He has a degree in Economics from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and has done graduate work in Computer Science at Harvard University’s Extension School in In the fall of 2011 while working on internet payment systems in the video gaming industry and now devotes his efforts full time to Bitcoin related projects. Gary is spearheading Bitcoin adoption in Ubud and hosts the weekly BITCOIN FILTER Meetup, focusing on the economics of crypto-currencies and the basics of Bitcoin.
Pink leggings and orange dress top, We’Ar www.wearyogaclothing.com Earings and necklace, YIN 32 | Inspired Bali 2015
Illuminate Illuminate Bali’s Bali’s best best yoga yoga andand jewellery jewellery brands, brands, in the in the streets streets of of Ubud. Ubud. Photography: Photography: Heather Heather Bonker Bonker / Styling / Styling & Production: & Production: Mirjam Mirjam de de Ruiter Ruiter Models: Models: Ashazel Ashazel Tenille Tenille + MacKenzie + MacKenzie Duffy Duffy Inspired Inspired Bali 2015 Bali 2015 | 33 | 33
Mala necklaces and bracelets, Aum Rudraksha www.aumrudraksha.com Snake print legging and blue top, Divine Goddess 34 | Inspired Bali 2015
Bracelets and mala necklaces, Aum Rudraksha www.aumrudraksha.com White top and yogabra, Divine Goddess
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White lace top and silk shorts, We’Ar, www.wearyogaclothing.com 36 | Inspired Bali 2015
Poetry rings, Heartcore Design by HeleneA www.etsy.com/shop/HeartCoreDesign
Lace and tie-dye dress, SOA Gypsy
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Red shorts and top, Divine Goddess www.divinegoddess.net Mala necklace, Aum Rudraksha 38 | Inspired Bali 2015
Green tie-dye maxi dress, SOA Gypsy www.soagypsy.com Mala necklaces, Heart Core Design.
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Leggings, Teeki www.teeki.com
Sandals, Indosole. Crop top, SOA Gypsy. Drop earring, YIN 40 | Inspired Bali 2015
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Black leggings and top, SOL Yoga Clothes www.etsy.com/shop/SOLYogaClothes 42 | Inspired Bali 2015
Gold plate necklace pendant, gold plate bracelet. This pendant is a product of the Mule Jewels rehabilitative silver making program in Kerobokan jail, all proceeds go back into the program to keep training more prisoners.
YIN, www.yinjewelryforthesoul.com Inspired Bali 2015 | 43
All rings and bracelets www.yinjewelryforthesoul.com Yogabra, We’Ar
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Purple top and leopard legging, Divine Goddess www.divinegoddess.net Mala necklaces, Aum Rudraksha. Orange yoga bra, We’Ar
Inspired Bali 2015 | 45
The illness of money By Maureen Gilbert
FINANCIAL problems rank highest on the list of stress factors that affect both individuals and couples. At the same time money is often considered a more taboo subject of discussion than sex. You can eat a whole foods diet, take high quality supplements and maintain a yoga practice but if you don’t pay attention to your stress levels you may still end up sick. Most medical studies confirm that most medical conditions ranging from heart disease to Alzheimer’s are in some degree created or worsened by our stress levels. So how do you address and heal something that many of us are reluctant to talk about or even reflect upon in our lives? We all want the same things: • To find work we truly love and that allows us to use our talents in a way that is meaningful. • To have enough money that the whims of the stock market or banking crises can’t hurt our sense of financial security. • To spend more time with the people we care about most while still affording the lifestyle that speaks to our hearts. Many of us feel more anxiety, less security and less joy about our financial situation and future than ever before. Even in Bali, arguably one of the more conscious places on the planet this is true. While there are amazing courses and opportunities to heal and transform here there is also a lot of new age crap that often isn’t very credible. I believe that one of the great fallacies of the self-help movement is that we can have everything we want, when we want it and without much personal energy output—as if the Universe is no more than a giant wish-fulfilling machine. This phenomenon may sell a lot of books and courses but it’s not grounded in any experience of reality that I’m aware of. When I worked in manufacturing it was a truism that while most clients wanted a custom product that was good quality, cheap and available immediately, we could only deliver on two variables. You could have it cheap and fast but it wouldn’t be the best quality; or we could deliver good quality quickly but it would be very expensive. We could even manage good quality at an affordable price but you'd have to wait for a production lull. While the Universe is a storehouse of infinite potential and miracles do happen, we are more likely to succeed in manifesting our dreams and desires if we apply the “good, cheap and quick model” and pick two of the three variables. For me cheap means easy, i.e. requiring little of my energy output. We’ve all had the experience of throwing our own Chi (energy or will power) into making what we want happen come hell or high water. However, it feels much better (and is kinder to our adrenals) when we create things from a place of ease and co-operation with the Universe. Recently I was required to make a major decision. I was turning myself inside out trying to figure out
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how I could move forward and achieve everything I wanted. I was trying to launch my work in a new location, provide emotionally and materially for my kids, and achieve financial independence from a business partner. It just wouldn’t triangulate. It’s seductive to think that if you’re a “master manifestor” you can find the loophole or break the code to manipulate reality to do your bidding. However, as soon as I prioritized the two most important desires I achieved calm and clarity. Then I knew how to move forward without believing I was giving something up. If I was to get everything I wanted (good), without exhausting myself (cheap), I was going to have to be patient and devise a one-year plan (not so quick) to pull it all together. Money is often a “place-holder” for what we really want in life. After all we don’t eat money, or wear money, or sleep on money. What we really want are the things, opportunities and security that we believe money will buy. What would it feel like to be in control and at peace with your money? Magic, right? Most people believe this sense of security will only come when they have a certain amount of assets or money in the bank. However, that still leaves your sense of well-being and security dependent on something outside of yourself—which will always leave you vulnerable. There IS a way to discover what is blocking your fullest financial potential. There is an emerging field of therapy called Money Coaching where people learn to better understand their relationship to money. It combines both practical financial guidance with sound psychological principles, to help transform your relationship with money in a way that will reduce your anxiety around wealth and increase your capacity for financial abundance. Using a step-by-step process, Money Coaching guides you to a deeper understanding of unconscious beliefs and patterns that create stress, anxiety and fear that can prevent you from creating the life you desire. This work is both profound and practical, grounded in the realities of an uncertain and challenging financial world. The focus is on pursuing tangible changes that will make a difference in your life; rather than repeating affirmations or new age mumbo jumbo. Regardless of your current income or wealth, if financial issues are diminishing your sense of serenity, or if you want to align how you generate money with your true soul purpose, Money Coaching could be the key to your financial and physical health. More information about Maureen Gilbert and Money Coaching can be found on her website www.loveandfinances.com Inspired Bali 2015 | 47
Annapurna Words and photos by Alison Bone
SET on a quiet back street in Sanur, Annapurna is a welcoming and informal space for gathering, playing music and inspiring creativity. At its heart is the notion that food is for sharing and to this end, it is the first café in Bali to offer meals by donation. The concept is straight-forward: you order from the à la carte menu and leave a donation in the box on your way out. The same applies to the themed buffets on Thursday and Saturday evenings, where you also drop some money in the hat for the musicians who entertain busker-style. I visit on a sunny Saturday afternoon and find a vibrant space filled with paper lanterns, Tibetan prayer flags and colourful murals. Window boxes are filled with herbs, and a stage is fitted out with a drum kit, congas and guitars. In the corner three guys are jamming out the blues, and staff in the kitchen are busy preparing Indian food for the upcoming buffet. Customers are gathered around the long wooden tables – it’s the kind of place where you gravitate towards others, rather than sit at a table alone. The laid back traveller vibe also reminds me of the chill out cafés that you find in Oregon and Nimbin, and the beaches of Goa. The menu includes tasty all-day breakfasts, salads, curries, tempeh burgers, chicken schnitzel, juices and teas. A sign on the table explains, “We believe in the goodness of humankind and value friendship, trust and generosity. Also we believe that everyone deserves a spot at the table to have a healthy and tasty home cooked meal.”
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Ben, a peaceful and gently spoken chef from Indonesia explains that he was inspired by the time he spent on the north coast of New South Wales, where he travelled with people from all walks of life, sharing food, music and good times. Arriving in Melbourne he discovered Lentil as Anything, a ‘pay as you feel restaurant,’ where customers give what they feel the food is worth. Running for 13 years now, with a string of four cafés, the Lentil as Anything philosophy is that everyone has a right to feel valued and respected, and that money should help bring people together rather than divide them. Returning to Bali, Ben was staging regular music events in the café space he shared with his mother, but his thoughts kept returning to that strong sense of community he had discovered on the road. That’s when the idea of starting a pay by donation café was born. He opened with just Rp 440,000 and a bunch of day-old bread bought cheaply from Bali Buda. Posting his idea for the café on Facebook, he asked for suggestions for names. His friends were quick to post their ideas, “warung karma,” “warung bagus,” “warung 3 bags full” (of bread,) but the name Annapurna really stood out. In Sanskrit anna means "food" or "grains" while purna means "full, complete and perfect." Annapoorna Devi is also the Hindu Goddess of food and nourishment. And so it was named.
The first menu was small and illustrated by hand, but friends came, then friends of friends, and word spread about this cool new café where anyone could get a meal and enjoy the atmosphere. The buffet nights continue to be a great success and draw some of the best known bands on the island; a painting day saw many people joining in to create the colourful wall mural. Produce is sourced from local farmers, and Ben brings fruit and vegetables from his permablitz organic garden, while his friends also bring in excess produce from their own permablitz gardens. Permablitz refers to a direct action ‘green’ movement that started in Melbourne in 2006 and quickly spread to the rest of the world – including Bali. A permaculture designer draws up a site-specific plan, volunteers provide the labour and the host makes lunch. The network runs on reciprocity so if you attend a few permablitzes, you then are eligible to get your own permablitzed into an edible garden. It’s not easy to survive as a donations-only business, but a few months in, the cafe is building a name for itself and looks set to last the distance. A successful event recently raised funds for Cahaya Mutiara, a foundation for people with disabilities, and there is talk of starting a co-op, and hopefully a Yayasan will collect left-over food from supermarkets and delis for distribution to the needy, which would be a great community service on the island. Annapurna Jln Tandahan #7 Sanur.
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Setting It Up By Stacy Stube
IT was during a holiday on the island that I caught the Bali Bug; not the one that affects the stomachs of many tourists (that’s Bali Belly), but the madly-in-love and ‘can’t live or breathe without you’ kind of bug. Bali is one of the few places in the world that I have visited where you get this hopeful sense that anything is possible. Despite being half-Indonesian and half-American, I grew up in the United States so I had to relearn the language when I landed in indonesia and take the time to understand the Balinese way of life. For 13 years I worked steadily toward a childhood dream of building a socially focused fashion company that gives back to the community. I completed my Masters studies at London College of Fashion and London Business
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School and worked for some of the top luxury fashion brands in both the United States and Europe. However, when I arrived in Bali, I really had no idea how to start a fashion business. I had created a business model during my studies, but that model was of no use to me when I first landed in Bali, when I was merely trying to survive. There are so many things that you can only learn by doing when you are becoming an entrepreneur. If you are considering setting up a business in Bali, I would like to share my insights in order to save you a few unnecessary headaches. I have created a summary in the form of a SWOT Analysis, to highlight the key Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats, along with my Top Ten Tips for Setting Up a Business in Bali.
SWOT Analysis
• • •
Strengths Low cost: living, labor and property rents. Warm weather, beaches, mountains and rich culture. Fresh produce grown locally.
•
• • • • • • • • •
• • •
Weaknesses Slow and spotty internet. Limited legal protection. Health issues due to common illnesses in the region and poor hygiene. Heavy traffic jams and pollution Everything takes longer than promised, which means longer wait times. Many religious ceremonies delaying business processes. Low level of customer service and business professionalism. Focus on producing lots of products at the expense of quality. Opportunities The creativity of the Balinese people. Ease of customization. Production can be done in small quantities.
• •
•
•
Relative accessibility to Indonesia as a growing emerging market. Close proximity to other markets across Asia. Threats Many legal limitations within the context of business. For example, if your business operates outside the spectrum of the registration categorisation you could incur a hefty fine. Corrupt System – many officials are looking for a payout ‘bribe’. Owning land as a foreigner is not a straight-forward process and involves reliance on a partnership with an Indonesian co-signer. This process requires a certain degree of trust that could pose a problem in the future if the relationship doesn’t work out. Temporary loss of key staff as the need arises. For example, when an employee’s relative is sick or team members have to return to their village, and a replacement is not easily found, this leaves the business vulnerable. Cutting corners is common when manufacturers or suppliers are looking to find a way to make a bit of extra money. Limited protection of your creative works - copying is a standard business practice on the island.
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Top Ten Tips 1.
Learn Bahasa Indonesia – Some locals speak English, but many don’t. I’ve noticed that foreigners end up paying higher prices when speaking English.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
problem on the island so get used to spending lots of time on your bike. Be careful with your bags while on the bike, as there have been many motor accidents resulting from bag thefts. Get a business visa – Although you can apply for a visa with an agent in Bali, you must leave Indonesia to process it. Once complete the visa allows you to stay on the island while you are deciding whether to commit 100% to setting up your business. The visa is valid for one year but you must leave the country every 60 days. I would advise against registering your business in the beginning as it can take about 3-6 months. Moreover, your business idea may change over time. From homestay to house contract – A ‘homestay’ is out where you want to live. If you decide to stay, you will save money in the long run to rent for longer periods like six months to a year. Prices are usually negotiable, so ask around with a local friend in town. Learn the Balinese Hindu and Muslim Calendars – Mark your calendar for the key religious holidays. The Balinese Hindu have a large number of festivals and ceremonies throughout the year. Also factor in that the Muslim population fasts for an entire month during Ramadan. Have enough money to last you at least one year - Two years’ worth of funds is wiser and a safer bet. You can live fairly cheaply, but you may occasionally have to factor in unanticipated expenses. Build Bridges with other Business Owners – In the early days of starting up your enterprise, you might want to seek out other business owners on the island who may be willing to help you out. Understand Indonesian Business Practices - Learn the Indonesian way of doing business by engaging with the local community so that the business can grow more organically. Sometimes it’s easy to follow what you are used to in approaches to business, but be open to new perspectives. Visibility through Social Media – I highly recommend using social media platforms to promote your business through video content, blogging and even a crowdfunding campaign.
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10. Spread Your Risk - Reliability and consistency are among the greatest challenges when it comes to dealing with vendors and manufacturers. Make sure to have a fall-back plan for all aspects of your business. Looking back, this is the best advice I heard when I was starting out: ‘When people start questioning your decision to move to Bali and they want to know how you will do it, just tell them: ‘I don’t know how I will get there, but once I have gotten there then I will tell you how I did it’. I have documented the good, the bad and the ugly in a year-long blog called Bali Fashion Dream. www.balifashiondreamblog.com. My forthcoming book, based on my blog, is due for release in January 2015. Now it is up to you to dive into your dreams. No one else can do it for you. What are you waiting for? The greatest journey of your life awaits... See you in Bali!
Cashless at Green School Words and photos by Shanti Balam Belaustegui Pockell
RECENTLY, in the wake of an initiative to improve the nutritional value of American school lunches, my newsfeed has been bombarded by pictures of gross-looking American school lunches with the hashtag: #thanksmichelleobama, protesting against the change. While I cannot relate to my school lunches being disgusting, I can relate to something drastic happening at my school which seems out of my control. In the fall of 2014, Green School switched from a place that is cash-friendly to one that only accepts a cashless card. As students of a progressive school, we get used to things changing every now and again. However, as with any new drastic shift, it is not always easy to adjust right away. The teachers and high school students were given the cards a week in advance to try out the system. At first, there was much resistance, and complaints were made such as: "It's not fair, we did not have a say in this change," and, "this is just so inconvenient." There were meetings held to try and get more justification on why the changes were made. I believe that most of the turmoil around the subject was due to a lack of communication from management to the rest of the school community as to why the system was changed. After all, it is much easier to protest something that does not seem justified. To be perfectly honest, I was not instantly swayed by the new cashless system either. It did not seem necessary, and I was spending far more money than I had before (as I could just swipe a card and get my food). Sometimes, half of my lunch time periods were spent waiting in a line to get money put onto my cashless card, and it was much harder to lend out or borrow money for lunch if somebody forgot or had lost their card. Being the “Green” School, every new idea that is brought to the table must be assessed on an environmental level. There was some criticism about how “green” these plastic cards really were. However, this issue has been resolved as you can 54 | Inspired Bali 2015
now simply say your name or give a PIN number to get your food. From talking to other members of the school's community questions were raised about other related issues, such as: "What do we do at bake sales?" or, "What happens when four groups come to visit the school?" However, it is simply a fact that such struggles are normal when trying to adjust. I decided to talk to our head of school to further understand the rationale behind the new system. From what I gathered, there were many reasons why we made this switch. First and foremost, going cashless enabled the school to track all financial records and purchasing trends. The management could see where all money was going, and track the most and least popular foods. Other reasons for the change included: hygiene (touching money and touching food is not a safe mix), and lost or stolen money. However, it could be said, if we do not trust our students to not steal or treat others with respect, what does that reflect about the community as a whole? This new system also closely resembles how money is dealt with in the "real world,” and introduces students to the experience of handling their own electronic accounts. The cashless system is a fairly new concept, though it has recently been implemented in some schools in the United Kingdom. Many schools have contacted Green School about our system, inquiring about its successes and implementation. Now that some time has passed, the entire turmoil over this change is starting to feel more and more like a distant memory. Likewise, the #thankmichelleobama posts are few and far between. People adjust, but there are many ways to implement change, and some are more effective than others. Also, after being at Green School for some years I have seen how many conflicts are cre-
ated just out of differences in people’s definitions of what "Green" means. There are a lot of approaches you could take. One being that the cards are plastic - which is unsustainable and perhaps an odd choice for Green School to use. I suppose we do not know for sure where the future of money is going, but Green School is going somewhere, and other schools are following. Some
say that money in itself is unsustainable, so if we are a leading "green" school perhaps we could find an alternate method of payment altogether! There are so many unique and progressive things occurring at the Green School. Stay tuned, as much happens here and the world is watching us.
Shanti is a current Grade 12 student at the Green School. She is an aspiring journalist and world traveler. Here is a link to her blog and website: www.tulisan.greenschool.org/author/shanti-pockell www.shantibalam.weebly.com
makananfood
RUJAK RUJAK (Malay for ‘mixture’) is unheard of by many, but it’s a classic Indonesian dish with a unique taste second to none. Made from a wide range of local fruits and topped off with a signature spicy peanut sauce, this fruit and vegetable salad is best enjoyed in the afternoon as it can be too strong on the stomach lining for morning consumption. Notably, each province in Indonesia has its own variation of rujak—with Bali being no exception. Here you can find Rujak Bulung (with seaweed), Rujak Boni (using a wild cherry called antidesma bunius) and the most unique variation called Rujak Kuah Pindang, made from pindang (fish in brine). Rujak Kuah Pindang can only be found in southern Bali so keep your eyes open for it in small warungs. A small serving costs between Rp 5,000 and Rp 10,000. It is still quite rare to find Rujak Kuah Pindang in Western restaurants but the basic rujak can sometimes be found on a menu, as a side dish or dessert, with a small plate costing between Rp 20,000 and Rp 30,000.
Rujak Kuah Pindang (Fish Brine) Ingredients 500g (1.1 lbs) sardines (or any kind of fish) scaled and guts removed, cleaned thoroughly 2 tbsp sea salt or kosher salt (more to taste if needed) 3 Indonesian bay leaves (salam) 3 lemongrass stalks (open the white stalks and pound them with a pestle) 800ml (3½ cups) water
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Steps to prepare the fish 1. Rub the fish in salt and let stand until salt is absorbed. 2. Heat water in a pot. Add fish, lemongrass and bay leaves. 3. Bring to a boil for 15-30 minutes until the fish is cooked, the water is murky and the liquid has reduced by about 50%. 4. Remove the fish, cut into bite size pieces, and set aside fish stock to cool. Dressing/Sauce 250 g of palm sugar 5 red chili peppers 1 tsp shrimp paste 1 tsp salt Place the chili peppers and salt in a large mortar, using a pestle to grind into a paste. Add all ingredients to the fish stock and boil until it turns thick like gravy. Steps to prepare the salad* 2 apples, cut into medium sized chunks ½ pineapple, roughly chopped 1 large cucumber, roughly chopped 1 ripe mango, roughly chopped 1 Japanese pear or jicama, roughly chopped *Substitute any fruits that are in season. Place the chopped fruit into a bowl and add the fish stock, letting the fruit soak up the flavours for up to a few hours. Finally add the dressing to the Kuah Pindang and, voila! Selamat Makan!
Photos by Janas Priya Inspired Bali 2015 | 57
Dual Economy By Rachel Glitz
MY husband handed me the receipt as we left the restaurant’s payment kiosk in downtown Denpasar. We squeezed past the drivers, labourers and other locals waiting patiently on plastic chairs for their bungkus (takeaway), which is cheaper than dining at a table. I scanned the flimsy page until I landed on the word. There it was in black and white, in clear, precise script: “Bule.” Weren’t those four letters proof positive—a vindication even—of the vague suspicion that hovers over every transaction? If you aren’t Indonesian, expect to pay more. Perhaps because my belly was filled with a generous portion of spicy soto and babi guling, or maybe I have just adapted to my place in this culture, I was little more than bemused. I doubt I would have been as sanguine a few years ago, when I first arrived in Bali. Then again, I probably wouldn’t have understood then that “bule” referred to me: Foreigner. And I definitely would have failed to comprehend that it meant my lunch was costing me more than it did the Indonesian diners. How could this be? Charging me more for the exact same meal—wasn’t that blatant discrimination? How unjust! How unfair! At first, my suspicion of this dual economy festered. Didn’t the billfold passed to the florist by the Ibu ahead of me seem awfully slim compared to the amount required for my bouquet? Similar misgivings arose while buying fruit at the local pasar (market). And was the man in the traffic vest wresting Rp 2000 from me really charging the locals to park on the street? What 58 | Inspired Bali 2015
about that suspiciously expensive terracotta pot I picked up at the nursery…? Eventually my suspicions about flexible pricing were confirmed. I couldn’t help but conclude that differential pricing was the norm. Even my children’s school was regularly stipulating one price for Indonesian families attending an event and another for expat families, regardless of actual income. But it took a little longer for me to discern a sliding scale, more complex than merely Bule v. Local. Go to Waterbom, Bali Treetops and many hotels, flash your KITAS (long term visa) and get a price break. This special status seems to imply you have more money to spend than a local, but not as much as a tourist. Peculiarly unfair, perhaps, if your income is earned in the West and potentially inadequate if your income is earned here. A KITAS isn’t the only wrinkle in the bule-local dichotomy. Children apparently also qualify for a lower price. The neighbourhood ice cream vendor, for example charges me more than he charges my kids for the very same treat (provided I am not around when they buy it)—yet they are just as “bule” as me! I may never fully understand or accept the rationale for all of these distinctions. But nor can I really complain. At the time of this writing, the minimum wage in Bali is about 1.5 Million Rupiah per month (less than $150 USD) and many earn far less. In San Francisco, my hometown, the minimum wage guarantees about the same amount of money in exchange for less than two days of work. Not that $150 USD will
buy you very much there. I used to pay almost twice what I spend in Bali to fill my car with petrol. I spent more to park downtown for a day than the parking attendant on Jalan Raya Ubud likely earns in a week. Dining out routinely cost me more than he would earn in a month. I could afford it. When I came to Bali, I chose to leave San Francisco’s high cost of living behind me (an option not available to the vast majority of Balinese). So perhaps it makes sense for the Balinese to take full advantage of the “tamu” (guest). If we get to enjoy the beauty and hospitality of this place, why shouldn’t the locals be able to benefit from our visit—however long we might stay? Or maybe they are just charging what the market will bear. After all, it is only rational to sell at the highest price that someone is willing and able to pay. But “willing” becomes suspect when pricing is not transparent and “able” less clear when you no longer earn a Western salary. In a place where price tags are rare and the cost of so many services negotiable, it is hard to know the “right” price: Is it the lowest amount the seller is willing to accept? Does that answer change depending on the buyer? What is fair? Is it possible to “overpay” when the seller’s assumption is that you can afford it or, by making the purchase, are you just proving that the price is, in fact “right”? Some of us seek the solace of a fixed price. There is relief in certainty, even if the number on the tag is arguably more arbitrary than one ne-
gotiated directly between two individuals. It is certainly simpler. And there is no nagging concern that you have been “taken,” or worse, the shame of admitting that such a concern could nag, when you consider the disparity between your income and the seller’s. But that disparity is blurring. For me, it has certainly become less stark. When we left our hometown behind, unlike tourists, our family also left behind more than half of our robust Western salary. And although we reside in Bali, we remain American citizens and still pay a host of taxes to the city of San Francisco, state of California and U.S. government. At the same time, the prices for housing and petrol here in Bali continue to rise. Whether or not I should be paying more, these changes call into question the assumption that I can. An expanding Indonesian economy also changes the dynamic. In the last week alone, I saw two brand new shiny BMWs and a Jaguar in Ubud—none of which were driven by a “bule” (or a bule’s driver). With the tourist trade booming in Bali and the middle class growing quickly, the future is starting to look a little more expensive for everyone. Rachel never planned on a life in Bali. Born and raised in Santa Monica, she went to university in Boston, followed by Washington, D.C. working in U.S. government and politics before returning to California for law school. She had been practicing law in San Francisco for ten years when she moved to Indonesia with her family, where she remains; wwww.hereinbali.wordpress.com Inspired Bali 2015 | 59
Allinaday Photo essay by Gun Gun Gumilar and Janet Nicol One day’s wage
Dara, earth-mover, 60,000 a day
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Dewa, tattooist, income varies Dewa, barista, 60,000 a day
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Heru, bakso seller, 80,000 a day Wayan, seamstress, 50,000 a day
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Adi, midwife, 33,000 a day Ketut Suada, parkir, 60,000 a day
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Lengser, shopkeeper, 80,000 a day Nila, cook and restaurant owner, 250,000 a day
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Vivi, caterer, income varies Nyoman, driver, income varies
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Satoru, manager, 250-350,000 a day Stephan, labourer, 65,000 a day
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Kadek, salesgirl, 25,000 a day Wita, shop assistant, 130,000 a day
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Money won't create success, the freedom to make it will. Nelson Mandela A wise person should have money in their head, but not in their heart. Jonathan Swift Wealth is the ability to fully experience life. Henry David Thoreau
Exchanging Money in Bali THE currency in Indonesia is the Rupiah, which comes from the Sanskrit word for wrought silver, rupya. Banknotes come in denominations as low as Rp 1,000 (currently being phased out) up to the bright pink coloured Rp 100,000. The Indonesian government is planning a re-denomination of the Rupiah to reduce the number of zeros; however this is a long-term project and no set date of implementation has been announced. All authorized money changers in Bali must be formally identified with stickers bearing a PVA Berizin logo and a Bank of Indonesia registration number which should be displayed prominently on their window. Be wary of unregistered money changers who offer “better” exchange rates due to fraudulent practices such as cheating and the use of bogus currencies. Look for ‘no commission’ signs and count your money BEFORE you leave. If you have been cheated and/or money has been stolen, report it to the Bali Regional Police, (0361) 224111. If you have trouble with a (genuine) authorized money trader then try to photograph their signboard showing the registration number. You can also contact the licensing bureau to report them directly at: 021 3818603.
Uang Kepeng
The Traditional Money of the Balinese By Stephen DeMeulenaere
YOU may have noticed old coins with a hole in the middle lying on the ground around the front of a house; or appearing in offerings at certain ceremonies; or in works of art, without realizing how important they were to the financing of the arts and the development of strong traditional local government in Bali. Chinese money, known generally as Uang Kepeng in Indonesian, or as Pis Bolong in Balinese, is known through the ancient Lontar records to have circulated as a medium of exchange since at least 900 AD, and perhaps much longer. Throughout this time, Uang Kepeng touched on all aspects of Balinese life: cultural, religious, social, political and economic. Today, Uang Kepeng is used only for ceremonial purposes, while the economic aspects have withered away with the rise of a united Indonesia. Most Balinese over 35 years of age recall their parents giving them allowances in Uang Kepeng, with which they could buy lunch and snacks at school. Older adults remember their banjar, the ancient traditional government, imposing fines payable in Uang Kepeng for failure to abide by village rules or attend meetings on time. Some, particularly women, remember using Uang Kepeng to buy nearly all of their families’ daily needs in the marketplace. But regardless of age or gender, every Balinese knows Uang Kepeng is an essential component of Hindu religious ceremony. Few realize the significant role that Uang Kepeng played in financing the diverse arts in 70 | Inspired Bali 2015
Bali. Although Uang Kepeng circulated freely throughout the island, each banjar levied taxes on the coins, which were used to finance group activities (sekaa) like gamelan or kite flying; or to support community infrastructure projects such as temples, bridges and roads. Women used to control the economy of Bali. As Miguel Covarrubias wrote, “the women are the financiers that control the market; one seldom sees men in it, except in certain trades or to help carry such a load as a fat pig. Even the money changers are women, who sit behind little tables filled with rolls of small change, Kepeng, Chinese brass coins with a hole in the middle.� Uang Kepeng gave women one of the most important roles in society. Uang Kepeng also helped protect Balinese culture from the intrusive effects of foreign money, whether through trade or tourism. People could choose to participate in both economies, rather than being forced to choose between them. Take a moment to think about what this would mean to those Balinese who would prefer to continue living a more traditional lifestyle, in harmony with a slower, more sustainable pace of life. Stephen has been active with alternative currencies since 1991. He came to Indonesia in 2000 on a Canadian government program to help rebuild the rural financial system following the Asian Monetary Crisis. He founded the Complementary Currency Resource Center and co-founded Coin Academy. He is promoting Bitcoins in Bali and the BitIslands Program.
The Balinese counting system is directly connected to Uang Kepeng. The word for fifty, seket, comes from se (one) and ikat (to tie something together), as in a string of coins, like the one pictured here. Photo by Janas Priya Inspired Bali 2015 | 71
KNOWMADS
what Knowmads should Know About: THE FOUR HOUR WORK WEEK By Renee Martyna
YOU may be among the many millions who read Tim Ferriss’ book “The 4 Hour Work Week” and felt it changed your life. You are not alone! Bali is teeming with people who dropped traditional careers for the promise of better work-life balance. Some of them are now discovering, however, that designing their lives on Ferriss’ 8020 premise was not quite the balance they were looking for.
As unfashionable as it may sound in these days when self-development gurus preach that it is no longer couth to ask what people ‘do’ the minute you meet them, work is still where most of us draw our sense of identity, community and purpose. So why pretend otherwise? What if the real quest was not to work less, but work better?
FACT: Among the many corporate refugees who flock to co-working spaces in Bali every year, ultimately, very few end up working less than they did before. Many work even more! But the good news is, most of them don’t mind. And here’s why: they do work differently.
We don’t all aspire to a perpetual vacation. The ‘location independent movement’ often hawks the dream of life with a laptop in one hand and a margarita in the other. While the fantasy is not always off the mark, for many people, it may be a short-lived one. The beach gets boring.
The American dream revisited
What most Knowmads actually want is something much deeper, something the beach points to, but decidedly isn’t: freedom, freshness, play, nature, nurture, and spirited creativity. A chance to do your work in the context of expansiveness. A place to be inspired.
Despite the advances of mass technology and hyper mobility, the holy grail of career management does not seem to have changed much through the ages. Same ethos, different flare for the era. Ferriss’ refashioning of an old American dream—“work hard” (albeit smart) “so you can make enough money to retire early” (as in now)—misses the point that many people actually like working. Or they can, if they do it well. It’s ironic that just as financial planners are peddling the idea of early retirement, governments worldwide are being lobbied to raise the retirement age; not just because of dwindling pension funds but because too many people still want to work. Depression in retirement and old age is a concern, and many psychologists feel that the loss of meaningful work—that which gets you up every morning—is the main culprit.
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Beyond the 4-Hour Workweek
Work-life balance is a decoy As appealing as this HR innovation sounded to people slaving away in cubicles across the corporate world, we now know that it was a red herring. It conjured the illusion that your life will be happier as long as you scheduled it right; as if there was some magical formula between time spent in and out of the office that would balance you out and have you humming along at Zen. While no one would argue that balancing your hours of work and play is important, the science of human productivity and happiness (and the relationship between them) points to a much more compelling question:
What would work look like if it had more life running through it?
cause they see work as much more than just making a living. It IS living.
It might mean being able to bring your kids to work when they want to shadow Mommy and Daddy for a day. It might mean working from home when the kids are sick— or when you just need to avoid engaging with people for a while; Meditations mid-morning or yoga in the afternoon when you don’t feel that productive anyway; Lots of connecting with human beings: at the water cooler, at beer-o’clock or at a fabulous health-food restaurant; a place where your private life does not have to be so rigidly divided from the work you do; taking conference calls in your underwear—if that’s how you think better (without the video, of course!). Imagine yourself working sporadic hours, on demand, with no time clock; job-sharing and job shifting. And yes, taking the laptop to the beach on occasion, if that’s what inspires you. It could even mean working round the clock for weeks at a time, then switching off for a month.
Conscious careers are the new collateral Who and what do we see in these spaces? In this new world, work is an integrative exercise, where who you are, what you believe, and what you feel called to do on this planet blends seamlessly with the work that keeps you waking up each morning. For some people, this means developing a heightened sensitivity to previously overlooked aspects of being in business, like bringing emotional, spiritual and even Kinesthetic intelligences to bear on business practices. It could also mean being eco-literate; giving back; collaborating freely; and feeling like the people who work beside you are not just colleagues, but part of your community. It’s different for everyone, but the point is this: these are spaces where it’s okay to experiment with the options. Forget work smart. Work well.
But these suggestions distract us with details, so the real question is: What does the ideal work-life balance look like for you? Have you ever really asked yourself? The New World of Work: Is this where you belong? Community co-working spaces—also known as hubs— are membership-based shared offices at the cutting edge of a movement that goes beyond work-life balance, and aims to put more LIFE in your work. These are places where hierarchies are flattened, dress codes and working hours are interpretive, and the potential for spontaneous and creative collaborations are intensified. Hubsters are the patrons of a new world of work. They are highly mobile—literally and figuratively—because they will consider working with anyone, anytime, anywhere. They rank lifestyle and experience at a level that is, if not above, than at least on par, with churning capital be-
Bali now offers a number of co-working venues for you to choose from. Check out LineUp Hub on Sunset Blvd. (www.lineuphub.co), Hubud in Ubud (www.hubud.org) or the Salty Volt at Echo Beach (www.saltyvolt.com). The international network of Hubs is growing across the globe. You can learn more about them here http://www. impacthub.net/. If you want to learn more about how to leave conventional work behind, Turnpoint offers courses and retreats in Bali on how to do it. www.turnpoint.io
Renee Martyna is a perpetual Knowmad, a Conversation Curator with www.ChangeinConversation.com, mother to two Third Culture Kids and partner to a serial social entrepreneur. She has lived in Bali since 2009. Inspired Bali 2015 | 73
How much does it cost? Berapa harganya?
Rp 1,000 Cost to park a scooter on the street One dadar gulung (egg roll) at the Ubud market
Rp 20,000 Espresso shot at most café’s around the island Box of 5 condoms
Rp 2,000 A cup of tea at a local warung Parking ticket at Batu Bolong Canggu
Rp 25,000 A large chocolate milk from Tutmak Restaurant in Ubud Flip flops at most local stores
Rp 3,000 Bowl of Bubur (rice porridge) from street market vendor Rent of a public toilet in Lovina Fresh tofu (tahu) from Warung
Rp 50,000 A glass of Plaga wine at CP Lounge Motorbike taxi from Ubud to Tampaksiring (the purification temple)
Rp 4,000 Ticket for toll road Rp 5,000 One head of lettuce - or a mixed bag - at Warung Alami’s organic market A bar soap of soap at most minimarts Rp 7,000 1 litre of gas / benzin at Pertamina One barbequed sweet corn at Lebih beach Small carton of coconut cream Rp 10,000 Local bemo ride from Ubud to Denpasar 8 sticks of satay at Gianyar night market Rp 15,000 Marlborough Lights
Photo at Ubud pasar by Suki Zoë
Rp 120,000 1.5 hour yoga class in most studios on the island A 10 kg bag of rice Rp 250,000 Balinese offering for dark moon or full moon ceremony Kopernik’s regular water filter 2 kilos of Freak Coffee Rp 300,000 Fly High Yoga belt at Radiantly Alive Regular gym shoes on Jalan Peliatan Rp 650,000 Otonan ceremony or Balinese birthday ceremony 1 gram of gold in Gianyar Market Rp 1 million A decent quality push bike Average dues paid by each family for Galungan and Kuningan to their banjar
Rp 1.5 million Melaspas - ritual cleansing and purification ceremony for new buildings Upacara 3 bulan - 3 month ceremony for a baby Rp 2.5 million One month’s rent, if you live with a Balinese family 30 days unlimited yoga at Yoga Barn Rp 10 million Average month’s rent for 2 bedroom private villa with pool in a mediocre location Private metatah ceremony Rp 20 million A basic Balinese wedding ceremony Average cost of 7 day yoga retreat Rp 200 million A new Avanza car 1 are land in Gianyar area Rp 16 billion Land for sale in Nusa Lembongan at Rp 3 million a square meter FREE Walking in the rice fields Laughing, smiling and especially hugging Preparing an offering Sleeping in Volunteering (see our list) Kite watching Watching artisans at work Picking up garbage
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Living to work or working to live? By Janas Priya
“THE gods had condemned Sisyphus to ceaselessly rolling a rock to the top of a mountain, whence the stone would fall back of its own weight. They had thought with some reason that there is no more dreadful punishment than futile and hopeless labor.” (The Myth of Sisyphus, Albert Camus) In his writing about the absurdity of human existence, Camus believed that human beings were not supposed to be living in this world. He used Sisyphus as an example of how life is imagined. Sisyphus’ efforts at pushing the rock up the mountain are, according to Camus, similar to the challenges of life. He goes on to write that even if we work really hard to achieve goals, we may achieve nothing in the end. So, if life has no meaning, does that mean life is not worth living? Are we living only to work, mirroring Sisyphus’ own struggles—or are we working to live? Humans have always worked to survive: hunting animals and gathering fruits and vegetables. In this scenario they worked to live. As society evolved and industrialized, the premise of working for survival (hunting) shifted insofar as work became a commodity that could be rewarded and traded with money. Then, in the 18th century, the industrial revolution marked a major turning point in human history. Nearly every aspect of daily life including agriculture, manufacturing and technology was influenced in some way. The industrial revolution spread from the U.K., through Europe, the U.S. and the rest of the world, dramatically increasing the availability of consumer goods. In the words of Nobel Prize winning laureate Robert E. Lucas, Jr., "For the first time in history, the living standards of the masses of ordinary people have begun to undergo sustained growth. Nothing like this economic behavior has happened before.”
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In the middle of the 20th century, people began to buy products with little regard for the true utility of their purchased goods. As consumerism continued to evolve and society created the concept of materialism, people started to “live” to work. Multi-millionaire businessman James Caan has said, “No one can survive for long if they are completely obsessed by work; that route will only lead to increased stress levels and can ultimately be counter-productive.” Consumer behavior is similar around the globe, even in places such as Bali. However, in the past, the Balinese perspective about work differed from today; it was always related to religion and culture. The Balinese traditionally believed that work was bound up with duty and dedication to their gods. For example, a farmer’s workday begins at sunrise and ends at sunset. Under these conditions, a farmer may rarely complain and may harbor little desire to become rich. In the past, a powerful concept among the Balinese from the lowliest farmers to the high-ranking kings - was swadharma*; they didn’t work to live, but to fulfill their swadharma. If a farmer believes strongly in this notion, he may keep that belief in mind as he works. Over time and until today, this belief in swadharma has been slowly disappearing. Work/life balance Think about how much time you have spent working and how much time you have left for the ones you love, friends, family, and also yourself. Is it balanced? If not, what can you change?
Mohamed El-Erian, the chair of Microsoft’s Investment Advisory Committee recently wrote on the subject: “One day, my daughter asked me to wait a minute. She went to her room and came back with a piece of paper. When my daughter pointed out all the special events and things I was missing, I realized that something had to change. The list contained 22 items: her first day at school, first soccer match of the season, parent-teacher meeting and a Halloween Parade. I felt awful and got defensive: I had a good excuse for each missed event! Travelling, important meetings, and urgent phone calls, etc. But it dawned on me that I was missing an infinitely more important point. My work-life balance had gotten way out of whack, and the imbalance was hurting my very special relationship with my daughter. I was not making nearly enough time for her.” Another important aspect of a healthy work-life balance is how you actually view your job. Step back and ask yourself: Am I happy with my life as it is right now? At the end of his book, Camus writes that Sisyphus realized he would continue to face challenges despite no chance of success. Once he accepted the misery of his condition, Sisyphus also recognized that life was nothing more than a struggle of absurd proportions. When people accept their fate; accept who they are and what they are capable of, they may find genuine happiness. This is really the essence of swadharma. Once we know more about ourselves and accept it, we can live with greater joy. *Swadharma is the idea of acting according to your skills and talents, your own nature and that which you are responsible (karma). Janaspriya Das graduated from the University of Indonesia with a degree in French Literature. He now lives in Denpasar and works for his family business making organic incense. Inspired Bali 2015 | 77
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KUTA LINE
LEGIAN LINE
SEMINYAK LINE
SANUR LINE
DREAMLAND LINE NUSA DUA LINE
UBUD LINE
Tourist bus service in Bali’s most popular areas
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Volunteering in Bali If you find yourself with time to spare, consider volunteering at one of the following places for an afternoon, a few days or even a few months. Solemen Indonesia Solemen Indonesia a registered non-profit charity primarily focuses their efforts on helping the disadvantaged in Bali, Indonesia. They are one of the most wellknown and trusted charities in Bali, working with mental illness, disabilities, disease and ongoing outreach. http://www.solemen.org Jodie O’Shea Orphanage Established after the Bali bombing in October of 2002, the staff and volunteers care for some of Bali’s most disenfranchised children. www.careforkidsbali.com/www. thebalibible.com / +62361725076 The Harapan Project This organization seeks to improve the health and education standards of Indonesia’s most vulnerable and fragile communities. www.proyectoharapan.org / harapanproject@gmail.com Smile Shop A secondhand charity shop that donates profits from its sales to Yayasan Senyum Bali, a foundation that provides healthcare to people with craniofacial disabilities. www.senyumbali.org / info@senyumbali. org/+62361233758 Campuhan College Established as part of the Karuna Bali Foundation, this institution focuses on social engagement and education as a way of showing love to Bali and its people. www.campuhancollege.com / info@campuhancollege.com / +623617800399 80 | Inspired Bali 2015
The Safe Childhoods Foundation The mission of this amazing organization is to combat crimes against children in developing countries. To get the kids off the streets and stop begging, they offer food and education to kids, and jobs to their mothers. www.safechildhoods.org / info@safechildhoods.org / +6281236135699 BALI CHILDREN’S PROJECT Dedicated to improving the lives of disadvantaged young people in Bali – collecting books, and building schools. http://balichildrensproject.org / info@balichildrensproject.org / +62361978189 IDEP Foundation A local NGO that develops community programs related to sustainability through permaculture and community-based disaster management. Show up any Friday morning at 9:00 for three hours of organic gardening. www.idepfoundation.org/info@idepfoundation. org/+62361294993 Yayasan Senang Hati A non-profit organization that assists people living with disabilities. www.senanghatifoundation.weebly.com/yayasan_senanghati@yahoo.co.id/+623617470718 The Role Foundation A non-profit humanitarian organization whose aim is to improve the education, well-being and self-reliance of people living in underprivileged circumstances, whilst ensuring environmental resilience and sustainability. www.rolefoundation.org / mike@rolefoundation. org/+623618078805
Photo by Suki ZoĂŤ, of Robert Epstone, of Indonesian Solemen, with Made (who used to be in a cage).
Short on time? Would you rather give money? These places below could use your financial support: Bumi Sehat Yayasan Bumi Sehat is an organization of committed families and international teachers, midwives, doctors, nurses and volunteers offering safe, holistic births, and working to advocate for the reproductive rights of marginalized and low-income women throughout Bali and beyond. www.bumisehatbali.org / hello@bumisehatfoundation.org / +62361970002 Yayasan Anak Anak Bali Established in April 2005. The supporters of Yayasan Anak Anak Bali were inspired to build a centre which could provide quality medical care, love, and a safe environment for orphans requiring special care; as well as a centre for children in crisis. www.balikids.org / komang@balikids.org / +623619288831 Yayasan Kemanusian Ibu Pertiwi Originally set up to assist in the recovery efforts after the Bali bombing in October 2002, YKIP is committed to improving the lives of the needy and breaking the cycle of poverty through educational support and services. www.ykip.org / info@ykip.org / +62361761208
Bali Hati A non-profit foundation established in 1997 to promote the education and social welfare of the Balinese people. www.balihati.org / info@balihati.org / +62361974672 BAWA A non-profit organization based in Bali, Indonesia. BAWA works to save, protect and improve the lives of dogs, cats and monkeys in Bali. www.bawabali.com / info@ bawabali.com / +62361981490 FNPF (Friends of the National Park Foundation) An Indonesian conservation not-for-profit organization working to protect wildlife and its habitat, while supporting local communities. www.fnpf.org / info@fnpf.org / +6282897209633 Sumatran Orangutan Society Established in 1997, SOS works to find local, national and international solutions to the root causes of deforestation. www.orangutans-sos.org / info@orangutans-sos.org / +441865403341 GUS Foundation Established in 2002, GUS Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving Bali’s environment. www.gus-bali.org / info@gus-bali.com / +62361759323 Inspired Bali 2015 | 81
favefive
Where to go, eat, give, practice, shop and explore Bali from hip locals “in the know.”
DODDY GUNAWAN
CYNTHIA DEWI
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For a relaxing weekend away I take my family to the Beji Bay Resort in Padang Bai. Playing live music with my band on Friday’s at CP Lounge; and Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at XL Shisha Lounge, both in Ubud. A good local meal best enjoyed at Mangga Madu, right behind Arjuna Statue in Ubud. For my music necessities I head to the music shop in Jl. Jatayu, Pedang Tegal, Ubud. Pranoto’s Painting Gallery on the way to Goa Gajah is the place to be for live painting sessions.
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5. Doddy Gunawan is a singer/ songwriter and passionate guitarist. Born in Malang Java, and a long term Jakarta resident, he found his home in Bali in 2009.
Watercress Cafe - best lunch with a big selection of healthy salads. (Jl. Batu Belig 21A, Kerobokan) Bening Spa - great spa with best massages for a cheap price to feel reborn (Jl. Batu Belig 100X, Kerobokan). Pandawa Beach - rent a kayak or enjoy the white sand and calm clear blue water also known as Secret Beach. La Favela – the place oozes soul, you feel you have been transported to an amazing bar in Brazil (Jl. Laksmana 177X, Seminyak). Kumbasari Market - local market with great prices. Buy the same souvenirs and crafts as in tourist places but way cheaper (Jl. Gajah Mada, Denpasar)
Cynthia is freelance marketing consultant and frequents Bali from her native Holland. She can be found day and night in Seminyak.
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Ke mana haus pergi makan, memberi donasi, latihan, toko dan menjelajahi Bali “dari penduduk setempat”
KRISNA DEAN
OCTAVIA DINGSS
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Going to Bounce Bali in Canggu. It’s awesome because you can bounce from wall to wall and go bowling at Strike afterwards. Tree Tops in Bedugal to go on the zip lines - it's really fun. Reflexology at Five Elements. I especially like it because it's really relaxing and kinda fun. Fishing in the Gilis near Lombok - it's great to catch those little silver angel fish. Doing Hash House Harriers Runs with Bali Hash on Saturday afternoon with my mom and our friends.
Krisna Dean is a 7 year old currently attending Green School
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I love the Monkey Forest in Ubud because I can get up close with the long tailed macaques. The Uluwatu temple offers amazing views, and an awesome Kecak dance. Seminyak is the place to be if you love shopping, good food and night clubs. Potato Head and Woo bar are two of my favs. Lake Bratan is unbelievably scenic and magical! The mist hangs low and the air is much cooler in the mountains. I love Ubud because of the glistening rice terraces, lush tropical greenery and the fragrant flowers. The atmosphere is very peaceful.
Octavia is from Sumatra and has been living in Bali for one year. When not hanging out with monkeys, she does self-portrait photography.
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