Kuban Magazine Sophie Digby, Nigel Simmonds Agustina Ardie Marketing & Sales Indrie Raranta Production Manager Evi Sri Rezeki Design Stuart Sullivan, Irawan Zuhri, Ida Bagus Adi Accounting Julia Rulianti Distribution Made Marjana, Putu Widi Susanto, Gede Swastika, Gede Suantika, Didakus Nuba Publisher PT Luxury In Print Licence AHU/47558/AH/01/01/2011 Advertising Enquiries Tel: (+62 361) 766 539, 085100431804, 085100431805, 085100431796 www.kubanbali.com On The Cover: INKA wears bikini from a.muse. Photo by: Gutterdust. Styling by The O.
You know the drill. No part of this publication may be copied or reproduced electronically or otherwise without prior permission from the Publisher. Opinions expressed within this publication are those of the authors not the Publisher. The Publisher reserves the right to refuse advertising that does not comply with the magazine's design criteria. KUBAN will not be held responsible for copyright infringements on images supplied directly by advertisers and/or contributors. And that's that. Do it. Or don't do it.
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With so many eyes looking at Bali for all the wrong reasons these days it's nice to bring some color and life back to the scene in which we live. If you want proof this is still a glorious land of free spirit look no further than the people we have in this issue - Milu, boot girl extraordinaire who's bringing her dream to life on this island; the talented Natisa whose art dissects life as she sees it; Igo, the man at the Man Shed, Windi, Dr, businessman and artist, and Robi, permaculture lead singer of the widely respected band Navicula. The proof is on the pudding. We continue the color with our Fashion spreads, shot by the brilliantly creative Gutterdust and styled by the ever bright-eyed stylist The O, and featuring Instagram girl of the moment Inka. Surfers take note: follow Harrison Roach on his trip to the shores of Java with guide Prince Sambal and his beautiful blue Datsun. There's more goodness with our feature on Vaping, taking the world one cloud at a time. And if you need even more proof that this island rocks, check out our feature on Clubbing, featuring a raft of new places to indulge your EDM fantasies. If you need more info on where to go and what to do here then flip through our Directory, go to the website or download our App, featuring all the deets you will ever need. We finish off with a look at hip underground rock venue Straw Hut, where the bright and the beautiful rub shoulders with the creative musical souls of Bali. And with that we're gone, onto the next issue ... a task we relish – with jam on top.
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Food Straw Hut.
Passions Traditional Tattooing.
Advertiser Directory Find out what's where and who's who in the zoo. Movie Matinee Time. Igo The Blado.
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IN
Peeps
Land Of Dreams.
Igo The Blado.
In The Mix
Local Heroes
News from our favourite peeps, perps and pups.
Robi Navicula.
Gear
Surf
Gear up for the sand and sunshine.
Batu Karas.
Interwho
Fashion
Natisa Jones.
Dream Catcher.
Peeps
Trends
Milu.
Hip Vapers.
Local Heroes
Clubbing
Windu Mangsi Coffee.
Club Class.
Vape Porn.
BALI’S HOST TO SOME OF THE WORLDS BEST DJs
SKYDOME AT SKYGARDEN BALI
SKYGARDENBALI.COM
Dash Hotel COMBINING creativity and comfort, style and affordability, Dash Hotel is a fresh modern take on accommodation in the heart of Seminyak. The design and decor here are based on industrial forms with a touch of street culture with bright graffiti-like murals, fun and funky art installations, and innovative space saving shelving. And in keeping with the contemporary cutting edge theme, guests can expect to find only the most modern conveniences and latest technology in each of the rooms and throughout the grounds. Tel:+62 361 3004666 www.dash-hotels.com
Cliffside G&Ts YOU'd be hard pressed to find a better spot for sun-downer drinks than El Kabron. Perched on the edge of a cliff overlooking the ocean at Pecatu, this sleek Spanish restaurant and bar offers modern Mediterranean vibes, exquisite tapas and paella, and now a new drinks list that includes 15 different types of gin and tonics. Settle into a lounger by the pool or grab a breezy table on the patio and watch the sun sink into the sea as you sip on one of their icy cold signature G&T creations or a glass of superb Spanish wine. Tel: +62 361 7803416 www.elkabron.com
GO!CURRY FOLLOWING its tremendous success in Jakarta, GO!CURRY is already making waves in Bali for its exciting menu that allows guests to create their own curry dishes using a range of curry recipes from around the world. Start with a base of Japanese brown curry, Indian rogan josh, or Thai red or green curry, top it off with some protein like chicken katsu, tandoori chicken tikka, or New Zealand mussels, and soak it all up with either rice or Indian naan. For those in the mood for something different, the menu also features tempting dishes like the fattoush salad, lamb aglio, and oxtail soup. Tel: +62 361 8464872 www.facebook.com/pages/gocurrybali
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THAITALIAN WATERBOM Bali is proud to unveil its newest eatery to open in the waterpark. THAITALIAN is a cool and casual cafĂŠ in the Flow Rider area with a fantastic vantage point of their four new adrenaline-pumping rides. The interior is a fusion of traditional and modern Thai and Italian design accents, and the menu features a mix of classic and creative Thai and Italian dishes made with fresh ingredients and herbs from the organic garden surrounding the cafe. Think handmade pizzas, pastas, noodles, grilled meats, cold beers and margaritas made to order, all in a fun and relaxed space. Tel: +62 361 755676 www.waterbom-bali.com
The Royal Purnama DESIGNED with discerning travellers in mind, The Royal Purnama is a tranquil escape set next to the glittering black sands of Pantai Purnama or Full Moon Beach. In addition to 35 luxurious pool villas and pool and Jacuzzi suites, the resort also has a beautiful beach club with a free form swimming pool, a gourmet restaurant serving Balinese, Asian and continental fare, a fitness centre, library, gallery and spa. Moreover, their over-16-years-of-age policy makes this the ideal spot for honeymooners, couples, weddings, or guests simply looking for a peaceful sanctuary next to the sea. Tel: +62 361 8493706 www.theroyalpurnama.com
go Koh A FRESH tweak to the Seminyak nightlife scene has arrived with the introduction of Koh, a cutting-edge club where music, art and experience collide. Koh is the artistic vision of renowned designer Josh Clapp, who was responsible for Sydney bars El Topo and the award-winning Lobo Plantation. Here the ground floor resembles a concrete bunker designed from the sound system outwards, while the upstairs lounge area harks back to Europe circa the 1930s, complete with an outdoor balcony terrace. And with an ethos of forward-thinking house and techno in an ego-free environment, Koh is already slated to be one of Bali’s hottest nightlife hubs. www.kohbali.com
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maya sanur One of our favourite hotels in Bali - Maya Ubud – has extended its good charm to a new property in Sanur. No prizes for guessing the name: Maya Sanur. This funky hotel boasts grass on the roof, rooms that step straight into lagoon pools and a wonderful setting on Sanur beach that is both charming and local. Located on the main beach drag of Danau Tamblingan opposite Grocer and Grind, Maya Sanur brings further class to Bali's most established beach community. Tel: +62 361 8497800 www.mayaresorts.com
Wake Up NEWLY opened in April, Bali Wake Park is the island’s first and only wakeboarding park. Set in lush tropical gardens next to the ocean, this unique sports venue has a five-hectare lake, a state-of-the-art cable system that can pull up to 10 riders at a time, a retail pro shop offering the latest gear and apparel from international wakeboarding brands, a pool, cocktail bar, seafood restaurant, spa, and adjoining heliport. Plus, their convenient location in Benoa Harbour makes it easy to get to from nearly any place on the island. Tel: +62 361 8468866 www.baliwakepark.com
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Chill’ Frozen Yogurt CHILL’ Frozen Yogurt is cool in every sense of the word with a bright new space on buzzing Oberoi, 100 per cent natural and low-fat frozen yogurt in a range of flavours like mango, passion fruit, raspberry and peach, and 25 different toppings to choose from including fresh fruit, candies, chocolate, granola, and nuts. The focus here is on all natural ingredients and healthy options, which is why they also offer pure juice extracts and light bites like breakfast yogurt bowls and fresh salads. Stop in to cool off on a hot day, or grab your goodies to go before hitting up the beach. Tel: +62 361 739146 www.facebook.com/pages/ChillFrozen-Yogurt-Bali
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2. Santana 75 0. 00 0, w Je w w sse .li Th lla Tot la w eP ne e w .co , w ouc m .ka ssi h as $1 ur 5 f.c 0, om
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ID
JAMBOREE Hat IDR 395.000 www.volcom.co.id GRIMM Shoes, IDR 1.100.000 www.volcom.co.id
Riser Denim IDR 1.100.000 www.volcom.co.id
CHIRP CHIRP 19� Boardshorts, IDR 775.000 www.volcom.co.id
6'0 Neal Purchase Colour Red by Deus IDR 12.000.000 id.deuscustoms.com Moto Tees Deus X Ornamental Conifer by Deus IDR 790.000 id.deuscustoms.com
B-infinity, $38.88 www.simpliik.com
Arrow, $38.88 www.simpliik.com
Secret lover dress IDR 490.000 www.bambooblonde.com
Talk about short IDR 350.000 www.bambooblonde.com
Summer Fling Dress IDR 490.000 www.bambooblonde.com
Natisa Jones. Photo by Olivier Turpin.
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Kuban gets artsy with Natisa . . .
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Hi Natisa, what have you been up to since we last spoke? I remember when we spoke last, it was a while ago. Maybe three years? Since then I've been doing a lot of travelling, working on my art, I got involved in various creative projects – kind of all over the place and seeing what's out there. But mostly having fun working on expanding my art and just working on myself. Tell us about the new studio . . . The studio [Natisa Jones Studio] is something I've been working on since the better half of 2014 and made it public in March this year. I built my home studio in 2013, and since then have built a network of people who became interested in my work. As things got a little more serious I decided to move it to a more accessible/public space. The home studio was getting too cramped, as I started getting into bigger mediums. Some of your work gets us to thinking Francis Bacon meets Ralph Steadman? And throw in some Picasso and a bit of Gauguin for good measure . . . I didn't really get into Francis Bacon until after my studies in art school. But I've been a fan of Ralph Steadman and Hunter S. Thompson since I was a teenager. My work mostly revolves around the human condition and the process of being human as a parallel concept to the creative process. I explore the less favourable parts of being human as much as the wonderful parts . . . mostly I'd rather talk about the less favourable parts because the wonderful parts don't need dissecting. You've been at this a long time now . . . Yeah, I grew up in a creative family. I was always encouraged to be to free to express myself at home as a kid and it just became second nature. It [creating] just became my way of understanding/processing myself and the world around me. The process stays the same, but I guess the material just got heavier. There's a mix of things you reference in your work, but your style is developing? Do you ever foresee a time when you will just stick with one way to draw and paint? I don't really think about "style". I don't really look at my work and see what is going right and wrong according to how people will receive it or perceive it – aesthetically or otherwise. I just kind of do what feels right and if I feel satisfied doing it. I try to express as honestly and genuinely as I can.
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How do you work – do you have a fixed time . . . night or day, when you paint? I used to work whenever. Since I got the studio I give myself office hours. Nine to five. Since I've been involved in other projects on top of my artwork it's easier to organise myself. Making art is making work and it's easier for me to stay in check if I give myself at least certain boundaries. Sometimes I cheat but mostly I think I am pretty disciplined. How much of your time is spent explaining what you do – marketing yourself, getting the word out . . . In terms of creating versus all the other stuff about 50/50. Keeping it flexible is always good. Finding a good balance between being generous to the craft and having one foot on the ground in terms of all the other stuff. What was the last great painting you saw that blew you away? I went to Art Basel Hong Kong last month and there were loads of great works from senior to upcoming artists. But it was too hectic to be taking in one specific work fully. In Amsterdam this past Christmas I got to see the complete collection of Marlene Dumas in the flesh for the first time. I have been a fan of her work for a little bit now but only got around to see it then. The Kiss and Magdalena (Manet's Queen/ Queen of Spades are two works from the collection that really stuck with me. When is your next exhibition? I'm participating in a group show in mid May with BIASA. Should be fun! I have a couple other projects in motion, still at their early stages. So we'll see how they all pan out . . . fingers crossed. www.natisajones.com
Faces and spaces.
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Raining colour.
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Sleep.
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Christina Iskandar gets into the sole of fab footware with boot babe Milu. Photo: Cait Miers @ caitmiersphotography.
Milu.
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MILU, your boots were made for more than just walking . . . how did your label Wild Only begin? It started with the brand name Dear Milu in our small coastal town on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, Australia. I live in a share house with four of the best babes who are all creative so inspiration was abundant. There’s not much happening down here so between surfs and adventures I started cutting and decorating vintage western boots. I made just one pair, then a few girlfriends wanted a pair of their own, then their mums, their friends and even a few little beach bambinas. I just saw it as a hobby but my boyfriend pushed and supported me to make the boots for markets and into a business possibility. Orders continued to grow and eventually I had too many orders to for fill so the girls, my mum and my sis got on board. We then went to Bali to have the designs manufactured then sent back here for the finishing touches. Now we have established an amazing business and friendship with our skilled manufacturers and all of their very talented craftsmen (and women) who bring life to our designs and a quality to keep up with the modern wanderlust lifestyle. You have had some exciting things happen with your brand over the past months, how has this journey been? We have been working really hard over the past three months rebranding Dear Milu to Wild Only. I was forced to make this change due to trademark issues brought about by a big company, which I think in hindsight is amazing. Little us seen as a threat . . . The new name has made way for fresh look at our brand and is a symbolic redirection of making essentially a hobby into a strong label. Why Bali? I studied international development and spiritual anthropology at university and went on to work for an aid organisation in fair trade, so I’m very aware of the poor labour conditions that can exist in China and Bangladesh. I also studied Balinese culture at uni and fell in love with the people, spiritual rituals and ceremony. I also surf, so that definitely has a lot to do with it. Has it been a trying passion/vision to manufacture on this island?
"Difficult" would probably capture the first weeks in production; "almost impossible" would best describe how it has been to get from that point to the point we are at now – having a factory. I was warned over and over again by good friends who own fashion labels that footwear was the most difficult thing to produce on a small scale. I can now confidently say that smallscale production in Bali is almost impossible. We feel very lucky to now have great quality, a solid, ethical and reliable team and an incredible factory manager. I have noticed that there are Instagram and Facebook gangs or tight friendship groups, some of whom have never met in person. Who is your gang? Yes, that is very true. Having an Instagram and a Facebookbased fashion label you need to be on your phone or checking into your accounts for the good part of the day. So finding a community I guess is a natural process. Hails from @ fridayiminlovexo and I begun our accounts at the same time and have been a part of each others labels growing, commenting, collaborating and seeing each other’s photos reposted to big brand accounts that we both have always admired. We are now really good friends and even catch up in the “real world”. Paula the marketing manager of @Islacollective is one of my best friends and conveniently happens to be a marketing genius; Elly from Salt Store has also always been a supportive friend . . . What is your vision and goal down the track with your boot making? I want to see a pair of Wild Only boots on Madonna. Are you Bali-based now? Only when the sun’s shining and the waves are good! A coffee or tea lover? I’m turbocharged enough – coffee turns me into Godzilla. I’m a chamomile tea vibe kind of girl. A lover or a fighter? I’m not going to lie – I’m really struggling with this interview that I can’t use emojis to express myself. But I’m most certainly a lover. What moves you? Phil Collins, forever! www.facebook.com/DEARMILUBOOTS
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Multi-tasking.
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WHO is Windu? I’m a man with odd jobs. Odd jobs? Yes, I do whatever I can do. I graduated from med school and I still run a practice until now. I do design and also painting. I play music and I also run a coffee shop business. Can you tell me more about this coffee shop? Mangsi Coffee is located in Denpasar and actually started as family business, as a coffee factory. This business began in 2004 because my father’s and my love for coffee – you can say that we are true coffee lovers. My father works in the kitchen production, while I do the idea development, branding, and work as a tester. The identity and idealism of Mangsi is Balinese but the most important thing is the art in Mangsi. What about the art in coffee? Because when product is wrapped in a touch of art, there will be a different value in it. I feel there is a synergy which completes my passion for art and as a coffee producer. Each design was born through a creativite process based on art, creating innovation and uniqueness. What's different about Mangsi? Mangsi is an authentic Balinese coffee. I want the authenticity of Bali to remain intact in the face of a big Western wave here. I don’t want what was owned by Balinese to be taken. Bali is a field of art that has the inspiration of famous people in the world. So art has a big role in your life? Of course! Since I was a kid, my father never let me play console games like my friends. But he was fine with me messing around the house creating art. You graduated from medical school and you’re a doctor . . . Yes, I graduated from Udayana University in Bali. I also worked in a hospital and I still run a practice at home now. My practice at home is my social work. I don’t claim money from my patients because I feel like this is the only thing I can give to my environment. Why didn’t you go to art school if you loved art? I feel like art is something you can’t teach and get taught. People who specifically study art will lose their creativity – it can’t flow as it should. So going to art school was never in my mind. How does having different professions complete your life? I think my right brain and left brain complete each other with doing what I’ve been doing. I tussle with the medical world, which was my education. I run a business that is based on my love for coffee and I want to do something creative. So I paint or do designs for my business . . . perfect.
Siapa sebenarnya seorang Windu itu? Saya seorang pekerja serabutan. Pekerja serabutan? Iya, saya mengerjakan apa yang bisa saya kerjakan. Saya lulus dari fakultas kedokteran dan sampai sekarang masih praktik. Saya mengerjakan desain dan juga melukis. Saya bermain musik dan juga menjalankan bisnis coffee shop. Bisa ceritakan tentang coffee shop Anda? Mangsi Coffee berlokasi di Denpasar dan sebenarnya dimulai dari sebuah usaha keluarga, yaitu pabrik kopi. Bisnis ini sendiri diawali tahu 2004 karena saya dan ayah sangat mencintai kopi - bisa dibilang kami penikmat kopi sejati. Ayah berada di dapur, di bagian produksi, sementara saya bertugas sebagai tester, pengembang ide, dan branding. Identitas dan idealisme Mangsi adalah sebuah brand kopi lokal asli Bali, namun yang utama Mangsi juga mengusung seni. Kenapa ada seni di dalam kopi? Karena saat sebuah produk dibalut oleh sentuhan, tentu ada nilai yang berbeda di dalamnya. Saya merasa ada sebuah sinergi yang saling melengkapi antara passion saya untuk seni dan produsen kopi. Setiap desain dan produk dari Mangsi dilahirkan oleh proses kreativitas yang didasari seni, menghasilkan inovasi, dan keunikan tersendiri. Apakah ada pesan khusus yang diusung Mangsi? Mangsi adalah kopi asli Bali. Sebagai seorang yang lahir, dibesarkan, dan hidup di Bali, saya ingin keaslian Bali tetap terjaga di tengah derasnya terjangan gelombang westernisasi. Saya tidak ingin apa yang dimiliki Bali diambil oleh orang asing. Bali ini ladangnya seni dan kerap menjadi inspirasi bagi orang-orang besar di dunia. Jadi seni memainkan peran yang sangat penting bagi seorang Windu ya? Tentunya! Dari kecil Ayah tidak memberikan saya permainan seperti PlayStation layaknya anak seumuran saya. Tapi ia mengizinkan saya membuat rumah berantakan dengan menghasilkan kreasi-kreasi seni. Anda juga seorang dokter? Iya, saya lulus dari Universitas Udayana di Bali. Saya pernah bekerja di rumah sakit dan sampai sekarang saya praktik di rumah. Praktik yang saya jalankan di rumah ini merupakan kerja sosial saya. Saya tidak menuntut bayaran untuk pasien, karena saya merasa hanya inilah yang bisa saya berikan untuk lingkungan saya. Kalau Anda mencintai seni, kenapa memilih untuk sekolah kedokteran? Saya merasa kalau seni itu tidak bisa dipelajari dan diajari. Orang yang khusus mempelajari seni, kreativitasnya akan terbentuk, dan tidak bisa mengalir dengan sendirinya, jadi sekolah seni tidak pernah ada di pikiran saya. Bagaimana profesi-profesi yang berbeda bisa saling melengkapi hidup Anda? Saya merasa otak kanan dan otak kiri saya benar-benar bisa saling melengkapi dengan menjadi pekerja serabutan seperti ini. Saya bergumul dengan dunia medis, yang juga merupakan dasar pendidikan saya. Saya menjalani bisnis yang didasari kecintaan saya akan kopi, dan disaat saya ingin berkreativitas, saya bisa melukis atau menghasilkan desain-desain baru untuk bisnis saya… sempurna.
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HEY Igo, how’s biz at the Man Shed? Hi Kuban Mag. Man Shed is doin’ great. How did you come up with the concept? It came from Nyoman Sumadi (a.k.a. Koming) – the owner – who has been collecting many old bikes and cars for years . . . but didn’t have a special place to keep his collection at the time. Finally he found a big warehouse that he and I thought was a perfect place to store everything. The bar/restaurant was a spontaneous idea that we thought would be perfect for our friends when they wanted to visit. Your name – where did it come from and why? Surely your parents didn’t call you Igo The Blado . . . My real name is Teguh Setiabudi. Igo is my nickname. “The Blado” was my brand: The Blado Showbiz for music events organiser, and The Blado Beatsmith is an independent record label that was active between 2005 and 2010. The shed is a central cultural icon in Australia – are you trying to extend this to Bali? Collecting old cars and motorbikes has been our dream since we were kids. Nyoman Sumadi really loves used stuff. You can see it in his other properties too – the interior and exterior décor is all made from second hand things. The word “Man” is taken from Nyoman and the “Shed” concept is already in his blood. So there it is: Man Shed. What kind of crowd do you get? We get all sorts. We’re always open-hearted – not just for the automotive communities, but also to any kind of artistic activity. That’s why there were so many activities outside the automotive field that have been held in Man Shed: a Street Fashion Show, Visual Art Show, Tattoo Contest, and many more. If we go to the Man Shed do we have to wear a blue singlet, footy shorts and thongs (of the footwear variety)? Ha ha . . . if that's what you want to wear it's fine. As long as you are being yourself. What’s the food like? We serve Asian & Western cuisine. This is important: is the beer super chilled? The beer is ice-cold. Thanks mate . . . Cheerz Beerz brother! www.facebook.com/Manshedsanurbali
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A man. In a shed.
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Navicula.
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Ayundari Gunansyach meets navicula frontman robi . . .
Hi Robi. What's new with Navicula?
Have you ever received criticism from your audience?
We just finished recording our latest album. We recorded our seventh album in a US studio and we were looking for something (very) cool. We recorded the eighth album with live acoustic concept.
Maybe, I don’t know and I don’t care actually . . . we just create music according to the things we are passionate about and inspire us. It all depends on your taste, maybe from 1,000 people who listen to our music, there will be 100 inspired by us . . . and go on to create something better than Navicula.
Tell us more about that . . . Usually people record in a studio, where every mistake can be fixed easily. But by doing live acoustic, every song has to be done in one take, everything just as it is. It's coing about soon. Can you define the music of Navicula? Rock – but what makes Navicula different is our concept in creating music. We talk about almost everything in our songs, especially society and the environment. I’m a media consultant for a few non-profit organisations in Bali. The information that I get from my work is really good for song lyrics.
Why did you choose music as your career? Because I love it. I’ve liked music since I was a kid and started a band when I was in high school. Then I thought, why don’t I make my hobby as my profession? Navicula’s genre is grunge, just like the kind of music I listened to when I was a teenager. Other than music, what are your hobbies?
They came from my daily life. My wife and family.
Farming and gardening! And many other things . . . I like five things, they are food, massage, movies, music, and making love! I like food because I’m a farmer who likes to eat. Massage because it helps me relax. Movies, because I like watching movies and I have a small production house – we released a movie called Jalanan about street musicians.
What organisation is your family part of?
Who or what is the greatest love in your life?
Bumi Sehat in Ubud. My wife is one of Ibu Robin’s – the founder of the organisation – daughters. I live in the same house with her and by seeing her spirit in helping people every day inspires us to stay in the same spirit.
I’m a very lucky person because I am surrounded people who love me. My parents, siblings, friends, and my wife. The point is if you grow love, you will get happiness. On our seventh album there is a song called Love Bomb, with a lyric, “love to live and live to love” because love is all about giving it.
What inspires you in writing lyrics other than your work?
What issue concerns you the most? Agriculture. I’m a farmer and I want to bring back the farming trend to young people. I want them to think that farming is a big profession, and also a cool one. With Navicula, I also talk about environmental issues like deforestation in Indonesia, which is so horrible. We also talk a lot about corruption, poverty and social conflict. Do you think Navicula’s campaign has hit the target? Frankly, our topics were deep and sensitive for most people at the beginning but now lots of people are more aware about social and environment issues.
What do you do in your spare time? Performing from café to café, it’s like a rehearsal. Farming, helping at Bumi Sehat, and those five things I talked about. I also do permaculture for Bumi Sehat, and I also teach permaculture to kids. You talked a lot about music and farming as two of your favorite things – if you had to choose between them, which would you pick? Only one? Okay, as a human, I’d choose farming to survive.
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Harrison Roach and friends search for laid-back life and perfect waves. Images: anthony dodds
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Cutbacks.
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Paddle Happy.
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Postcard from Java.
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IT was in the shirt on my shoulders and the shoes on my feet. In the feeling I got from my travelling friend’s Instagram and the feeling I got when I looked at photos from my past trips. It was an undeniable desire to escape . . . it was coming at me from all angles and my friends felt it too. At the local bean shop we reminisced on when board shorts and bikinis were our day-to-day outfits. When congregations for cocktails were more common than congregations for coffee. Whether it was due to a considerable amount of caffeine or the fact that we’d all reached our small town’s mental breaking point, a group of us decided that the time had come to head for the tropics. Five of us skipped out of Australia with Indonesia as our target. Along for the ride was Eadie Hancock, Matt Cuddihy, Andre Fauzi, and the delightful photographer Anthony Dodds. In the hope of escaping the ordeals of an ever-expanding expatriate population living in Bali, we made our way to a little known, small village in West Java. The sound of the Muslim call to prayer, the smell of smoke and the evergrinning face of local "Prince" Husni Ridwan, welcomed us upon our arrival. Husni is the kind of dude that goes above and beyond when making friends feel comfortable in his hometown. With Sambal on tap, point-side Pocaris and millions in our pockets, we melted into the cruisey village vibe. The ridiculous heat and warm afternoon rainsqualls were a cause for celebration on that first afternoon. Rather than referring us to the usual scooter hirer, Husni generously made himself available as our personal chauffeur. In his old Datsun wagon
we meandered up and over headlands in search of surf, finding waves in some places, finding nothing in others. All that mattered was that we’d escaped the routine of home. The villages were quiet and rural. People smiled at us as we drove past and the children all yelled and waved. It was refreshing to spend time in a place where the bule hasn’t yet worn out his/her welcome. The routine was basic at first . . . all we did was eat, surf, sleep and repeat. But when Husni’s perfect point started resembling a lake, we found amusement elsewhere. The town had a lot to offer, the best of which was a hidden swimming area that very few tourists seemed to be aware of. The place was surreal; like stepping onto the set of an Indiana Jones or Pirates of the Caribbean movie. In such stunning scenery, we felt a satisfaction that only comes from this kind of travel. Just a week before, we’d whined about traffic and crowds . . . and there we were in one of West Java’s spectacular running rivers, soaking up the beauty in fresh, clear and cool water. After a couple of unforgettable, deeplydreamt-of weeks, the time came to say goodbye to the village. Husni and his gang took us in with open arms; they introduced us to their families and let us share their waves. We couldn’t have been more spoilt. Not quite so emotional but still frustrating was the goodbye to his old Datsun. That car really knew how to float us over the bumps. Husni’s jazz playlists, the slight putter from the old engine and the sights through its windscreen, made us feel alive.
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styling: The รถ photography: Gutterdust Model: Inka Thanks to balistarz
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Inka wears Yaz Bukey scarf.
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left,toptobottom:fallenbrokenstreet hat available at a.muse, State of Georgia top,OneTeaspoonjeans;YazBukeyscarf; Ozlem Esen bikini and hat available at a.muse. This page: Ozlem Esen bikini.
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This page: American scarf and bikini available at a.muse. Right, top to bottom:VintageCokejumperstylists' own;hatbyfallenbrokenstreet,fendi top, vintage tiger pants from a.muse; Pepsi top from Gotta Have It, Venice Beach, CALIFORNIA; Crap sunglasses, white hat from a.muse.
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lEFT, TOP TO BOTTOM: jACKET BY gUCCI, SUNGLASSES BY kAREN wALKER; bIKINI AVAILABLE AT A.MUSE. RIGHT: pEPSI TOP FROM gOTTA hAVE iT, vENICE, cALIFORNIA, crap sunglasses, hat from a.muse.
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Puff the magic dragon.
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if you're a nicotine tragic – suck it and see . . . laurie osborne gets on the vape jag.
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vaper is health-conscious, educated, interested in technology and has a higher than average disposable income. There’s a large community on Instagram. Searching for #vapestagram yields half a million of photos of vaporizers and people chasing clouds.” Crowned 2014’s international Word of the Year by Oxford Dictionaries, you can now play the word ‘vape’ in Scrabble. For the record, it’s only worth nine points, so why is vaping suddenly so important, and how did #vapeporn become an actual thing? Our story begins in China with an entrepreneurial pharmacist from Shenyang. When his father died of lung cancer, Hon Lik had the idea of diluting nicotine in propylene glycol and filed the first patent for an electronic cigarette in 2003. He’s still waiting for his royalties due to multiple lawsuits in the United States and Europe, but his creation has grown into an industry worth an estimated US$3.5 billion industry in 2015. A ‘vape pen’ or ‘e-cigarette’ is really just a battery, a heating mechanism called an atomizer and a container where the ‘e-juice’ that makes the vapour is stored. Because they don’t use tobacco, or smoke, to deliver nicotine to the lungs, vape pens don’t expose the consumer to the same toxic chemicals as cigarettes. “Vapers don't get smokers cough, and there are still millions of smokers to convert,” says Karl Hoffmann, Founder of the AsiaVape.co online store. While cancer sticks only come in various shades of regular or menthol, e-juices come in a dizzying kaleidoscope of flavours. There’s everything from hookah staples such as watermelon and apple to gimmicky experiments such as birthday cake, nacho cheese and pumpkin pie. Vaper culture has firmly taken root in California where the palm treelined streets are now home to an estimated one thousand vape shops. Inside, hip vapers sample e-juice, compare hardware modifications and chillax in huddled plumes. Some shops have a chic, cocktail bar vibe while others resemble sofa-strewn coffee shops. “It’s fun and relaxing to blow huge clouds,” says Karl. ”The bigger the clouds, the better.” But, who exactly is blowing the vapour? “The typical
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It’s a “community without borders”, according to Jeremy Lekhal at the Cstyle Bali vape shop: “Vapers cross all socio-professional categories because even in Indonesia where cigarettes are so inexpensive, vaping is not still cheaper than smoking.” Disposable, individually wrapped e-cigarettes are usually made by ‘Big Tobacco’-owned brands such Blu or NJoy and can be found at an uncaring gas station near you. At the other end of the spectrum are the customised works of art tweaked by ‘modders’ who spend hours on forums, endlessly tweaking their self-assembled devices with intricate components purchased online. “A big part of the fun is crafting a custom-made vape. It’s like Minecraft, but with vaporizer parts instead of 3D blocks,” explains Karl. ”Building and customising your vape device takes it to an avatar level. It becomes an extension of who you are,” adds Jeremy. “There is always a curiosity when people who have never seen a vaporizer before see one for the first time. They look like cigarettes from the future, but imagined 20 years ago.” Independent studies show overwhelming health benefits, but vaping is still courting global acceptance, and the big tobacco companies are keen to hold onto their nicotine monopoly. “There are campaigns online that show potential dangers pushed by the tobacco industry and its related stakeholders,” says Karl. ”However, more and more people are going from skeptics to advocates, convinced that e-ciggies can actually save their lives... after all, most people who start vaping don't go back to burning plants again.”
Vape kit.
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Just landed? Want to party? Where do you start when there are more bars than you can shake a stick at? tom hickman finds out . . .
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KUTA is changing. The hipster vibe that dominates nearby surf town, Canggu, is making its presence felt here and cutting-edge bars now compete with the more touristy clubs. Whether you’re just passing through for a weekend tear-up, need some time out from a surf trip or want to get down to some top DJs, here’s our take on what’s going on . . . Koh Bali LIKE a diamond in the dirt, this place stands out. Authentically cool, it has an underground urban vibe right through from the off-street location to the minimalist set-up. Set opposite a noisy strip of neon boy-bars on Jalan Dhyana Pura, Koh’s award-winning founders wanted to create an “ego-free environment”. They rolled their sleeves up, researched the world’s most innovative clubs and brought it all together right here. The décor is essentially cement (think Fight Club chic”) or underground car park. It’s made for clubbers who love no-BS dance and top-notch electro. There are two levels: a ground floor concrete bunker with awesome sound and up above a 1930s-style bar with private booths and an open-air terrace. The team running the show clearly know what it’s doing. The professional staff delivers an experience that’s rare outside of the most happening parts of London, Berlin or Tokyo. In short, it’s a smash-hit. www.kohbali.com Hard Rock KUTA is noisy. That’s partly why we love it. But sometimes it’s tricky to find a place that combines great music and a deluxe feel where you can rest up and gather your senses for a moment or two before heading back out for another double shot of mayhem. Not any more. Round up your entourage and head to Hard Rock Kuta. It may bust your budget a little but there is some class action here and a good time to be had. Here are the reasons I love this place: There are cozy booths for smooching couples, defined areas with the world’s best sofas for groups, and a dance floor that could easily double as a mosh pit for when things kick-off. Right at the start of the Kuta beach strip the warm welcome, high-end service and dark lit comfort are like a slice of high-end Las Vegas. The Music? As you’d expect whether live from the stage or piped in via the video screens it’s quality all-round. I’d always thought Hard Rock was the place parents took their 12-yearold kids for a burger and milkshake. Wrong. Tel: 0361 755 661 www.hardrock.com/cafes/bali
Mint A LITTLE down Jalan Petitenget past Potato Head we strolled into Mint just after midnight on a Friday. Two girls in multi-coloured body paint and bikinis were dancing atop the bar waving flaming sticks around. Another quiet evening out then. Mint is small but perfectly formed – previously a bar/restaurant it’s designed exactly as you’d expect from a top end international venue. A female DJ, who looked a bit like my aunt, (apparently they fly them in – DJs that is not aunts) was hard at work and jumping around behind a massive set of decks. Aside from a host of the type of girls your mother warned you about, the seating, music and service make this place fun, light-hearted, dancy and a guaranteed dose of quality fun. Mirrors expand the space and the party goes on late. Unlike many clubs the lighting – blue, green and white (kind of minty in fact) – and aircon works perfectly to create the right vibe. To top it all off cocktails are buy-one-get-one at Rp.110K for two. Tel: 0361 8769 741 www.mintbali.com Jenja . . . is a class outfit – Mint on steroids but with fewer old people. Designed by folk who know what a top nightclub should look like, this place easily earns the Rp.100K entrance fee. In the basement of the Town Square hotel and retail complex in between Legian and Seminyak, Jenja offers up a stylish dance floor, circled by VIP seating. The stunning raised bar area adjacent has quick service and the kind of cocktails you’re happy to splash out for. Wednesday’s DJ, Angelo’s, hip-hop and R&B was a hit with the young, trendy international crowd. Classic dance tracks mixed smoothly, girls enjoyed 50 per cent off cocktails and by 1am it was pumping. Aside from the winning design the DJs really brought the crowd together: it felt like a private house party, and that’s unusual for a Kuta nightclub. There’s also a great restaurant upstairs on the ground floor, the airconditioning works to keep the underground location fresh and cool. Jenja is open post-midnight Wednesday through Saturday to 5am. Tel: 0361 8827 711 www.jenjabali.com Frankenstein’s Laboratory ON the same road as Koh ( Jalan Dhyana Pura) Frankenstein’s initially looked like a desperate attempt to rescue the standard Kuta bar with a lame monster theme. But first impressions can be deceptive, and when you’re wrong it’s best to fess-up. I was wrong. This bar/restaurant is one-of-a-kind, with a high energy and funky
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cabaret set that straight-up works. On-stage acrobatics and a sexy burlesque routine quickly morphed into The Rocky Horror Picture Show. For someone who never quite got The Time-Warp I was impressed and the mixed-aged crowd loved it. The owners have gone to town on the Frankenstein theme and the entire venue is on-message. Strange electric contraptions, huge light bulbs, cobwebs and all kinds of ancient electric wall-mountings ensure this place lives up to its name. Drinks are well priced, there is no queuing, and no fighting for a place to sit. If you’re looking for some top cabaret and excellent entertainment at great value prices then this is your place. We didn’t check out the food but it seemed pretty standard from what we could see. They’ve definitely kept Frankenstein out of the kitchen here. Tel: 0361 731 622 www.frankensteinslaboratory.net Boshe BOSHE is a large-scale rock, DJ, and karaoke venue about 10 minutes out of town on the Ngurah Rai Bypass. It’s big with local students. I can’t work out why. When I arrived and paid (Rp.45K entrance, with a drink thrown-in) the staff had, to a person, dyed their hair bright orange. Dressed like extras from a Mad Max movie they were, to be fair, super friendly. Safely inside the main music hall, the host introduced a wholesomelooking band to an underwhelmed audience of local youngsters. The five clean-cut musicians warmed up and immediately shape-shifted into a hardcore death-metal set. I was hoping the crowd would respond appropriately and start moshing . . . no one so much as looked up from her/his smartphone. I don’t want to put you off Boshe completely as there is a range of nights on offer but please make sure you check the line-up before heading all this way out of town. As I was leaving another band was getting ready. Maybe this lot was better and the crowd were just getting set to rip it up once the dance music started. The fact I didn’t stick around to find out says it all. Tel: 0361 3603 980 www.boshevvipclub.com Sky Garden THE Sky Garden Superdrome is sold as six bars under one roof. A little like one of those Russian dolls. Open the first one up and there’s another inside. This is fantastic if you’re wasted as it’s almost impossible to get lost once you're inside – there is alcohol and dance at every turn. Right on the middle of the Legian strip in party central this is a must-visit for anyone wanting a taste of the mainstream Kuta party scene. Entry is Rp.100K including a couple of beers or a single mixer – which is probably about right if you’re in the mood for a late one. Once inside the first stop is a large dance floor complete with dancing girls and laser show. The DJ makes it all happen from a high stage surrounded by a balcony, a great place to check out the talent and get in the mood. At 11:30pm Bobby K was playing. The set was strong but some of the dancing among the mixed under-30 crowd would make my Uncle Terry cringe.
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Time to wander around. Here’s what I found: Brandy’s R&B club is exactly what the name suggests: a compact bar with two girls dancing on the bar in bikinis. Next . . . The 4th-floor Deep House Room: shades of Vegas, some shisha pipes and a few punters jumping up and down. Not for me. Up stairs to the International Travellers VIP Lounge, no less. Finally I think I’ve found some action. A super busy drum and bass smash-up is raising the roof. Everyone here is extremely excited, but then again we’re all VIP’s here now. Let’s party! Catching my breath on the top floor – the Sky Roof Garden – I sit down by a real-life tree. This place has everything. Across the way are tables draped in white linen and set with elegant white candles . . . ready and waiting for a romantic couple. From what we could tell they stayed empty all night. More exploration revealed directions to a Romper Room For Bump and Grind – I kid you not. Maybe that’s where the couples hang? For anyone who gets lucky there’s a posh area round the back of the roof garden. It’s quieter, more discrete. There are plenty of tables, great lighting and a bit of a view. I check one of the big screens where two middle-aged guys are playing the harp. Time to go to bed. Tel: 0361 755 423 www.61legian.com Bounty UNFORTUNATELY as I made my way home down Legian The Bounty, a big old-school club, captured my attention. A ripped Aussie guy in fancy black lingerie was limbering up for an amateur pole-dancing duet with what I guessed was his girlfriend. Two Bounty bar girls in bunny suits egged them on and a heckling crowd screamed encouragement. Other revelers further back decked in togas were living the frat house dream. Although certainly not a pretty sight everyone looked like they were having fun. And that’s fine with me. Fascinated by what I’d seen so far I decided to investigate and made a beeline into the belly of the beast. You won’t believe what I found . . . A full-size Pirate’s of the Caribbean-style ship (sorry girls, no Johnny Depp). The biggest disco ball ever. Plastic hammerhead sharks. Empty dancing cages and more poles. Here’s the low-down: Bounty provides what one could describe as “high intensity, low budget” entertainment. Thursday’s are indeed Frat Party Night; Wednesday’s are Mexico Tequila Gila; and Sunday’s, Rumble in the Jungle. Bounty also specialises in Foam Parties, Go-Go Dancers, Fashion Shows, Drinking Competitions, and Drag Queen Shows. What the Aussie guy in the ladies underwear was up to now makes a little more sense. Kind of . . . Tel: 0361 752 529 www.bountydiscotheque.com
Villa
Palma
Genteel style • Gracious living
Fully-staffed, elegant, colonial-style 4-bedroom pool villa on a quiet cul-de-sac close to Berawa Beach
V
i
l
l
a
palma www.villapalmacanggu.com
info@villapalmacanggu.com Jl. Subak Sari No.8, Berawa Beach, nr. LV8 Resort, Canggu, Bali, Indonesia
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T: +62 81 236 301330
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+62 81 734 7389
made of straw, built on rock.
THE Straw Hut is a little café that offers the works. Tucked away on Jl. Sarinande, a little back road that connects Jl. Dhyana Pura to Oberoi, you would never know it was there unless you accidentally stumbled upon it or someone recommended it to you. Which is altogether possible. Their food and beverage menu is delectable to say the least, offering breakfast, lunch and dinner. The breakfast menu offers all your standard breakfast favourites (mine’s the bacon & egg roll which I top with a crunchy hash brown). Whether you’re a healthy eater or nursing a hangover The Hut’s menu has something for everyone. Iced coffees are ridiculously good! Lunch offers a range of healthy organic salads or some freshly made hearty meals such as burgers, pastas and pizzas for the hungry. For dinner I always go the Pizza Margarita as it’s topped with pesto and olives, and is thin and crispy just the way we like it! On Friday nights the stage hots up with live bands – you’ll see the likes of The Deep Sea Explorers, The Hydrant, Dialog Dini Hari and many
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more playing some rad live tunes; the dance floor is usually packed by 11pm so we advise you get down there nice and early to secure your spot. The DJs come afterwards playing everything from funk to house to hip hop. It’s some serious fun to be had. If you’re not up for a big night – join in on the acoustic Wednesday sessions – chilled vibe, awesome atmosphere and cool people. Two-forone cocktails are 5:30 to 8:30pm . . . we highly recommend the Berry Breeze. This little oasis in the midst of Seminyak has also just put in a pool so every month they’re hosting a PNNY pool party usually held on a Sunday – girls in bikinis, delicious cocktails and epic beats . . . what more could you want? Follow Instagram @thestrawhut for event updates and times. So you can now eat, drink, party and swim without having to go anywhere else but The Straw Hut. It’s affordable, it’s fun and there is always something going on. We highly recommend it so get on down there for whatever you fancy, it’s young, funky and the gang is all there. Tel: 0361 736 750 www.villakresna.com
IN a traditional longhouse in Kalimantan, a teenage Dayak boy lies on a reed mat as two tribal elders simultaneously pull the skin on his shoulders taut and hand tap ink into his skin using two bamboo sticks, one with a needle secured to the end. The gentle tapping sound is hypnotic, and almost anti-climatic after the excitement of the bloodletting and chanting ritual that took place before. A day or two earlier, the boy had returned from a successful hunt bearing a wild boar, a sure sign that he was now ready to become a man. As per Dayak custom, this meant that he could receive his first tattoos, a set of Bunga Terung flowers with spiral centres on each of his shoulders. These would be followed by many more tattoos over his lifetime, each one telling the story of the tribe he came from, where he travelled, and his achievements including marriage, children, and even the severing of his enemies’ heads. Like the Polynesian islands, Indonesia has a rich history of tattooing that dates back centuries. The two main groups to practice the art are the Dayak in Kalimantan and the Mentawai from a chain of islands off the west coast of Sumatra. With both basic and intricate tattoo designs and patterns, many of which represent elements of nature, they seek to display status and gain protection from evil spirits. For generations traditional hand-tapping tattooing was an essential part of life for these and a number of other tribes across the archipelago. However, by the 1960s and '70s a mixture of missionary influence and New Order policies, both of which discouraged ethnic expression and encouraged religious conformity, caused the art to go into almost complete decline.
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Ask any Indonesian about tattoos and most of them will tell you that they are a relatively new fad brought to the country by travellers from other lands. Peruse the ubiquitous tattoo shops of Kuta and you might be convinced that this is true, as the sample books include a range of decidedly un-Indonesian designs like Sailor Jerry-style pin-up girls, Japanese koi fish, and Celtic bands. Yet in a small tattoo studio on Jalan Nakula, one Indonesian artist is working tirelessly to revive the traditional Indonesian tattooing methods and motifs. Never one to conform to the norm, Jakarta-born Albar Tikam discovered his passion in body art over 20 years ago, much to the chagrin of his conservative family. He began working in tattoo and piercing shops in the capital, but found it hard to do what he loved in a society where tattoos and piercings were seen as criminal elements. He needed a change and Bali’s more liberal and international vibe seemed like a good fit. Albar soon became a well-known figure in the Bali body art scene, most notably for his ample facial piercings, split tongue, and interest in alternative arts like scarification and body suspension. In 2007 Albar attended a tattoo convention where he saw the Dayak way of traditional tattooing. “At first I just wanted to have a traditional tattoo on my body, but then I thought I could learn about this kind of thing too, because up until now my aim has always been to connect with my culture through piercings and tattoos,” he says.
From that point on, Albar began his education in traditional tattooing, seeking out teachers from within the tattoo community and elders in the Kalimantan jungles. In 2010 his studio, Suku Suku Tatau, became the first and only official studio on Bali to offer traditional hand-tapping and handpoking tattoos, and one of just a handful across Indonesia. The hand-tapping technique involves two artists, one to stretch the skin and one to use a bamboo stick to tap a second bamboo stick with a needle into the skin. Hand-poking tattooing can be done with just one artist using a bamboo and needle tool. Sono, the owner of the Cap Bagong Tatu studio in Ubud and the only other artist doing traditional hand-tapping tattooing in Bali says, “Although hand-tapping uses the same needle as a tattoo machine, with a machine you get more bruising and swelling. With tapping it’s a really different experience. It is more gentle and relaxing, but for bigger tattoos it may be uncomfortable because it takes longer.” The Indonesian hand-tapping and hand-poking techniques are not particularly complicated to learn, but what is proving to be more difficult is finding the traditional patterns and symbols that were once passed down through the generations. “From what I see now in Kalimantan, the new generation doesn’t have tattoos,” Albar says. “They don’t want to have them and not many people know about it anymore, so it is a little bit hard to find out exactly what the meanings of the different motifs are. “But in the 1980s and '90s, some of the designs were already famous outside Indonesia. Western people came over and were interested in the
tradition, so they took those designs and after 10 or 20 years, they brought them back again. That’s a good thing but I’m thinking, what the fuck? That’s our culture. Why does it have to be brought back by another culture?” Sono says: “Here in Bali, it’s mostly foreigners who want traditional tattoos. But in Java, more locals are open to that, especially in Jogja because people go there to study and have more knowledge, understand more motifs, and want to go back to their roots. “I think things everywhere are changing. This generation is more open, so people can choose what they like, and many are choosing their culture. When you want to have your own character you must go back to your roots so you can have a strong character.” While both Albar and Sono are constantly seeking out traditional designs and the meanings of those motifs among the people who still practice the art, they also incorporate original freehand, pointillism and custom designs into their work. And neither believes that traditional tattoos should be limited to or only hold significance for Indonesian people. Albar says: “Some (foreign) people come in and want designs from Kalimantan or Mentawai and they ask, ‘What do you think about this?’ And if I know the meaning, I will explain it. At least the people coming here for traditional tattoos know what they want, and I’m happy to do tattoos for somebody who knows exactly what they want. “Now there are more people who want to learn about hand-tapping and I am positive that in a few years you will see more people doing it here. Slowly things are progressing. I just hope that people don’t do it just for fashion. In the end, a tattoo is not just fashion – it is art. It is part of your soul and part of your life.”
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Before the Oscars nominations hype I hadn’t heard of Eddie Redmayne and hadn’t seen the film in which he took on the character of the world’s best-known physicist, Stephen Hawking. I’m very pleased that both of those matters have been attended to. There are a couple of ways the screenplay for this film could have been written – one of which would be to focus on the theories that Hawking alluded to in his blockbuster book A Brief History of Time (that all of us bought but very, very few actually understand). Thankfully, writer Anthony McCarten, in collaboration with Hawking’s ex-wife, Jane, crafted a script that traces the life of this incredible man and his relationship with an equally incredible woman. The Theory of Everything starts out with Hawking as a precocious cosmology graduate student at Cambridge University in the early 1960s. But he is somewhat shiftless and having difficulty deciding what direction his PhD thesis should take. During this time he meets Jane Wilde (Felicity Jones), the sister of a close friend, George (Guy Oliver-Watts), and a romance blooms between them. Shortly thereafter Hawking is diagnosed with motor neuron disease (Lou Gehric’s disease) that, in the majority of circumstances, is a short-order killer – which sends him into
a dark spiral. But with the love and support of Jane, George and Professor Dennis Sciama (David Thewlis) amongst others, Hawking soldiers on in the face of rapid physical deterioration to gain his Doctorate and kick-start his stellar (interstellar?) career. Eddie Redmayne delivers a performance that is at once delicate and incredibly powerful. His portrayal of the physical deterioration of a relatively robust young man – whose mind dares to go where very few have gone before – into the twisted, wheelchair-bound figure with whom most of us are familiar, is nothing short of remarkable. A thoroughly deserved Best Actor Oscar. Stephen Hawking and Jane Wilde were married in 1965 and had three children between 1967 and 1979. The Theory of Everything very much focuses on the towering strength of Jane Hawking in her utter commitment to Stephen – and the emotional trials and tribulations of caring for a severely physically disabled person. The film also investigates in a sensitive way the conundrum of the mind of a genius trapped in the body of a cripple. Against-all-odds triumph of the human spirit that will bring you close to tears and at the same time warm the cockles of your hearts.
For disciples and devotees of the digital information age, you might well be a bit freaked out by this Oscar-winning cinéma vérité-style documentary. Or, you may not care who knows what you’re up to on the inter-web of things . . . and exactly how much they know. I found it quite chilling . . . and compared to many others I know, I’m a relative Luddite when it comes to being “connected”. Whew! Documentarian and director, Laura Poitras, begins Citizenfour with the statement: “In 2006 I was placed on a secret watch list after making a film about the Iraq War. In the following years I was detained and interrogated at the US boarder dozens of times. My next film was about Guantanamo and the war on terror. This film is the third part of a trilogy about America post-9/11”. In January 2013, Laura Poitras received an encrypted e-mail from a stranger who called himself “CITIZENFOUR”. In it, he offered her inside information about illegal information trapping practices of the US National Security Agency (NSA) and other intelligence agencies. So began the process of clandestine communications – and finally meetings with – whistleblower, Edward Snowden, a highsecurity-level intelligence analyst who had been sub-contracted to the NSA and CIA. He had become morally and ethically troubled with the level of access various security agencies in the US and elsewhere had to an almost unimaginably vast swathe of
personal communications. Suffice to say that the film goes into great detail about what kind of data is collected by western “democratic” security agencies but, to date, Snowden has declined to reveal the specifics of how it is harvested . . . although several inferences are made. Citizenfour portrays him as an humanitarian; a patriot of his country who has deep misgivings about the way the democratic process is being hijacked by agencies (including the legislature and executive) that place themselves above the laws of the land(s). Of course, the authorities in the US and allied nations would very much like to get a hold of him and hang him up by his scrotum. Snowden anticipated this and devised a clever exit strategy. The tired adage that: “If you have done nothing wrong, you have no reason to be afraid”, is blown out of the water in Citizenfour. You have every reason to believe that every form of your digital existence is available for scrutiny via something called “metadata”. In March the Australian federal government passed laws requiring telecommunications companies and ISPs retain “metadata” for a minimum of two years. Be afraid . . . be very afraid. The content is five-stars but because Citizenfour is somewhat hard-going . . .