Visitors to Bali cannot fail to be delighted by its warm, clear sea and white beaches, writes Hamilton Wende – but the island’s special charms also include its cheeky wildlife. It was in Bali that I punched my first monkey. A cute, furry beast it was, gray and white with a long tail and an [...]

Bali. When mentioned, people conjure up images of killer waves, busy night clubs and overcrowded beaches running rampant with young suntanned partiers. But look beyond the surface and you will witness a land rich with tradition, superstition and a people whose dedication to their beliefs has helped the island to maintain their centuries old customs. [...]

The chef Chris Salans bumped into a stream of fashionable European diners as they departed through the garden at Mozaic, his restaurant in Ubud on the Indonesian island of Bali, and kissed each of their cheeks like a good Frenchman. But once they were out of earshot, he said in a no-nonsense American accent, “I [...]

Ni Wayan Lilir is a diminutive Balinese woman with boundless energy and an infectious enthusiasm for helping people learn about the traditional healing herbs of Bali. Lilir manages Utama Spice, a company near Ubud, that makes natural body care products, based on the traditional healing herbs, or obat asli, of Bali.
Utama Spice won an award [...]