Jasmine Okubo is a fabulous dancer, producer, choreographer and the founder of Yayasan Kitapoleng, a multidisciplinary art platform based in Bali. Though of Japanese descent, born and raised in Turkey, Jasmine has a deep passion for Balinese and Indonesian arts and has been a key figure in bringing the performing arts to modern audiences, especially here in Bali.

In this episode of Bali Breakfast Talks, Jasmine shares with us her background in Balinese dance, her insights on traditional and classical Balinese dance in the modern age, and her intriguing work with deaf dancers.

Bali Breakfast Talks is a talkshow that brings you meaningful discussions from our island home of Bali, recorded from the seaside deck of Breakfast Club Seminyak. Hosted by NOW! Bali Editor, Edward Speirs, listeners and watchers are invited to sit and sip as they discover more unique perspectives from Bali, with special guests.

A collaboration between Hotel Indigo Bali Seminyak Beach, The Rockin’ Life and NOW! Bali.

Many have heard of Nyepi, Bali’s Day of Silence, and understand that for 24 hours the entire island undergoes a strict period of no work, no activity and no sound.

But what is the reason behind this Day of Silence? And why is Nyepi observed on the day it is observed? These are the questions we hope to answer in this episode of the NOW! Bali Podcast with host, Eddy Speirs.

For more details you can read the full article on Nyepi on our website.

How to support NOW! Bali

(1) You can help grow the Podcast by following or rating us on your preferred Podcast platform, or indeed share our episodes with a friend.

(2) We'd love for you to become a reader! Our bi-monthly magazine is available as a digital edition and can be downloaded for free from our online catalogue: ⁠⁠⁠⁠payhip.com/nowbalimag⁠⁠⁠⁠.

(3) For those in Indonesia, you can ⁠⁠⁠order a print version of NOW! Bali. ⁠⁠⁠

(4) Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠ - or even send us a short email of encouragement or even feedback at [email protected].

Tjokorda Raka Kerthyasa is an esteemed member of the Ubud Royal Family and holds the position of Bendesa Adat of Ubud (Head of Customary Village Organisation) since 2009. He is one of Bali’s respected authorities on culture and local traditions.

He joins the podcast ahead of a colossal ceremony taking place in Ubud, on 10 November 2024, known as Karya Agung Penyejeg Jagat. This opens a wider conversation surrounding the nature of ceremonies and the intricacies of ‘yadnya’, or sacrifices (offerings) that are central to Balinese spiritual life. Tjok Raka demystifies many of the burning questions many have regarding Balinese Hindu ceremonies, including a frequently asked question: “Why do so many Balinese Hindu not understand the ceremony they are taking part in?” This episode delves deep into Balinese philosophy, belief and practice. 

Join Tjok Raka for the debut of an immersive cultural event from 15 to 17 November 2024’ Unveiling Bali’: Details can be found here: https://ibahubud.com/experiences/

Thank you to our Podcast Sponsor, Genesis Creative Centre, for providing the professional recording studio, centred in Pererenan, Bali. 

Purchase a copy of TIMELESS Bali Volume 4, the fourth edition in the annual publication series:

⁠⁠⁠Purchase a copy here. ⁠⁠⁠

How to support NOW! Bali

(1) You can help grow the Podcast by following or rating us on your preferred Podcast platform, or indeed share our episodes with a friend.

(2) We'd love for you to become a reader! Our bi-monthly magazine is available as a digital edition and can be downloaded for free from our online catalogue: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠payhip.com/nowbalimag⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

(3) For those in Indonesia, you can ⁠⁠⁠⁠order a print version of NOW! Bali. ⁠⁠⁠⁠

(4) Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - or even send us a short email of encouragement or even feedback at [email protected].

In this episode, host Eddy Speirs shares a bite-sized perspective piece on factors that help to perpetuate Balinese rituals through time.

Balinese Hindu philosophy has some effective built-in mechanisms for self-perpetuation down the generations. It is a mechanism driven by duty, debt and superstition. This is seen in the principle known as Tri Rna, the three duties or obligations one must fulfil during one’s life.

This episode comes from an article published in TIMELESS Bali Volume 4, the fourth iteration in the annual publication series, released in August 2024.

⁠Purchase a copy here. ⁠

How to support NOW! Bali

(1) You can help grow the Podcast by following or rating us on your preferred Podcast platform, or indeed share our episodes with a friend.

(2) We'd love for you to become a reader! Our bi-monthly magazine is available as a digital edition and can be downloaded for free from our online catalogue: ⁠⁠⁠payhip.com/nowbalimag⁠⁠⁠.

(3) For those in Indonesia, you can ⁠⁠order a print version of NOW! Bali. ⁠⁠

(4) Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠ - or even send us a short email of encouragement or even feedback at [email protected].

Bali, renowned for its breathtaking landscapes and vibrant culture, has faced escalating environmental challenges as its tourism industry continues to grow. Issues such as waste mismanagement and ecological degradation have prompted a local response led by Eco Tourism Bali.

Founded in 2021 by Suzy Hutomo, Chairperson of BodyShop Indonesia, and Rahmi Fajar Harini, a Balinese entrepreneur with a background in hospitality and public relations, the social impact business is building the path to make Bali a sustainable destination by 2030. Through their  ‘Sustainable Guideline and Verification System’ and 'Regenerative Bali' programmes, they aim to improve the quality of the island's tourism industry and make it 'future-proof' in the face of environmental challenges.

Read the full article on Eco Tourism Bali on nowbali.co.id

Podcast Partner

The NOW! Bali Podcast is supported by ⁠⁠Genesis Creative Centre⁠⁠⁠, where you'll find video, photo and music studios, as well as other content creation services for any of your personal or business projects. This Episode was edited by Quincy Dekker.

How to support NOW! Bali

(1) You can help grow the Podcast by following or rating us on your preferred Podcast platform, or indeed share our episodes with a friend.

(2) We'd love for you to become a reader! Our bi-monthly magazine is available as a digital edition and can be downloaded for free from our online catalogue: ⁠⁠⁠payhip.com/nowbalimag⁠⁠⁠.

(3) For those in Indonesia, you can ⁠⁠order a print version of NOW! Bali. ⁠⁠

(4) Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠ - or even send us a short email of encouragement or even feedback at [email protected].

In this episode, host Eddy Speirs covers one of the most central aspects of Balinese Hindu ritual life: the Pawukon Calendar.

This episode outlines the mythological origins of Hari Saraswati, The Day of Knowledge, rooted in the legend of 'Watugunung', Bali's own 'Oedipus' tale. This is tied to the creation of the calendar as well as wariga, the knowledge of time. Following this is an explanation of how the Pawukon calendar is used, and what 'calculations' must be done to define specific auspicious days.

This episode comes from an article written by Jean Couteau, published in TIMELESS Bali Volume 3, the third iteration in our annual publication series, released in August 2023.

Purchase a copy here.

Free Transcript Available: Download Here

Podcast Partner

The NOW! Bali Podcast is supported by ⁠Genesis Creative Centre⁠⁠, where you'll find video, photo and music studios, as well as other content creation services for any of your personal or business projects. This Episode was edited by Quincy Dekker.

How to support NOW! Bali

(1) You can help grow the Podcast by following or rating us on your preferred Podcast platform, or indeed share our episodes with a friend.

(2) We'd love for you to become a reader! Our bi-monthly magazine is available as a digital edition and can be downloaded for free from our online catalogue: ⁠⁠payhip.com/nowbalimag⁠⁠.

(3) For those in Indonesia, you can ⁠order a print version of NOW! Bali. ⁠

(4) Follow us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ - or even send us a short email of encouragement or even feedback at [email protected].

In this episode, we welcome Prof. Dr. I Made Bandem and Bruce Carpenter who recently published 'Masks of Bali: Between Heaven and Hell', an epic 2-volume collection on Bali's traditional masks, a historical publication set to define this field of art for generations to come. Note: this episode is best enjoyed as a Video (YouTube version available here).

In this insightful conversation, Pak Bandem and Pak Bruce share their in-depth knowledge on Balinese masks, explaining the history of masks in Bali; the nine different genres of masks found in Bali, their different shapes, forms and functions; their place in Balinese culture and arts; what it takes to be a successful mask dancer; and Pak Bandem also honours the NOW! Bali Podcast with a live display of his masterful dancing.

Secure your own copy of 'Masks of Bali: Between Heaven and Hell' by going to their website: masksofbali.com.

Podcast Partner

The NOW! Bali Podcast is supported by Genesis Creative Centre⁠, where you'll find video, photo and music studios, as well as other content creation services for any of your personal or business projects.

How to support NOW! Bali

(1) You can help grow the Podcast by following or rating us on your preferred Podcast platform, or indeed share our episodes with a friend.

(2) We'd love for you to become a reader! Our bi-monthly magazine is available as a digital edition and can be downloaded for free from our online catalogue: ⁠payhip.com/nowbalimag⁠.

(3) For those in Indonesia, you can order a print version of NOW! Bali.

(4) Follow us on ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠Facebook⁠ - or even send us a short email of encouragement or even feedback at [email protected].

This episode discusses Balinese healing traditions in the modern age, speaking to Tjok Gde Kerthyasa on how both science and spirituality are important to his work, why Balinese cosmology is important to holistic healing, and also what it will take to make Bali’s healing offerings more trusted and robust.

Tjok Gde Kerthyasa is the founder of Tirta Usada, a holistic clinic and research centre in Ubud. With his mixed background — his mother, Jero Asri Kerthyasa, is Australian; his father Tjokorda Raka Kerthyasa, is Balinese and was a spiritual healer — Tjok Gde shares unique insight into Balinese healing, one that bridges the usada traditions of Bali and the natural medicine he studied, researched and practiced in Sydney. So he brings an east-meets-west, science-meets-spirituality perspective into the topic of healing and wellness. Head to tirtausada.com to find out more about Tjok Gde’s work.

For more on this subject, download 'The Ancient Healing Traditions of the Balian Usada' - NOW! Bali January-February 2023 edition.

Or support us by ordering the print edition of NOW! Bali Magazine by emailing us at [email protected].

For more great stories go to nowbali.co.id and subscribe to our Newsletter. Or follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

In the same way we all make targets and goals for ourselves in the new year, why shouldn’t an island do the same? Why can’t Bali strive to be and do better? NOW! Bali Founder Alistair Speirs joins this episode to share his 20 Bali New Year Resolutions, some guidelines required to maintain the island's place as a world-renowned destination that everyone can love, or indeed as a wonderful place to live for residents.

NOW! Bali Magazine is now back in print! Available as a bi-monthly publication, our magazine is available to purchase in Indonesia, or for those who are abroad, an online catalogue is available with a free PDF download.

Our January-February 2023 edition is: 'The Ancient Healing Traditions of the Balian Usada'

Online catalogue available at: payhip.com/nowbalimag

For more great stories got to nowbali.co.id and subscribe to our Newsletter. Or follow us on Instagram and Facebook. 

Full Video Interview available on YouTube here.

Stored in distant archives of universities abroad, the earliest recordings of Balinese music and dance have remained a mystery for the greater Balinese society, alongside footage and photography of island life just a century ago.

Bali 1928, a project on a mission to repatriate this old documentation back to the island, is seeing the effects the past can have on today’s generation. Artistic communities, environmental groups, everyday Balinese awe-inspired by the sounds, images and scenes of their own history; invigorated to revive, revitalise and even reinvent.

NOW! Bali speaks to Edward Herbst (Ethnomusicologist and Project Director) and Marlowe Bandem (Project Manager) to learn about how this project started, what makes it unique to regular repatriation projects of its kind and what effects it has had on communities and individuals in Bali.

Podcast Partner

The NOW! Bali Podcast is supported by ⁠Genesis Creative Centre⁠⁠, where you'll find video, photo and music studios, as well as other content creation services for any of your personal or business projects.

How to support NOW! Bali

(1) You can help grow the Podcast by following or rating us on your preferred Podcast platform, or indeed share our episodes with a friend.

(2) We'd love for you to become a reader! Our bi-monthly magazine is available as a digital edition and can be downloaded for free from our online catalogue: ⁠⁠payhip.com/nowbalimag⁠⁠.

(3) For those in Indonesia, you can ⁠order a print version of NOW! Bali. ⁠

(4) Follow us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ - or even send us a short email of encouragement or even feedback at [email protected].