Conversation

Living with borrowed certainty: A Gen Z reflection on the climate of our times

When dry roads feel like a gift, what kind of future are we really holding on to?

Culture and Entertainment

I wasn’t into nationalist orchestras, then Satoe Indonesia surprised me

What started as a rainy-night obligation turned into a nostalgic reminder that the songs of our childhood never really leave us.

Culture and Entertainment

Agak Laen returns funnier and warmer, but don’t call it a sequel

The team behind the highest grossing film of 2024 returns with a completely new world, this time with bigger mischief and deeper meaning.

Conversation

Exploring stories and their reasons with Xu Xi

The Chinese-Indonesian-American author reflects on who gets to tell a story, what makes a 'real writer' and what fiction is really for.

Culture and Entertainment

‘Dumplings and Dreams’: What a 14-year-old author can teach us about feminism and power

At just 14, author Hillary Aimee Srijaya is showing girls what it’s like to reach for your dreams, both on and off the page.

Culture and Entertainment

In Ratih Kumala’s 'Koloni', the revolution is tiny and female

Inspired by national struggles and everyday exhaustion, the Cigarette Girl author writes a story about ants that feels deeply human.

Away We Go

72 hours in Labuan Bajo: Everything you want in a quiet, luxury escape

Katamaran Hotel & Resort Komodo offers the combination of peace and luxury that’s getting harder to find in increasingly crowded Bali. For now, at least.

Culture and Entertainment

Why ‘nonton bareng’ might be the future of indie cinema

In an era of solo streaming, a global project is bringing people back together through film, dialogue and shared meaning.

Culture and Entertainment

Claresta Taufan and her long road to an ‘overnight’ success

From martial arts to movie stardom, Claresta Taufan proves that perseverance pays off in its own time.

Away We Go

A sweet, private escape at Umana Bali

In the southernmost tip of the Island of the Gods, pampered seclusion from the hustle and bustle is all but guaranteed.

Culture and Entertainment

Retro resurgence: Why Gen Z is falling for digicams and Walkmans

As everything turns AI and algorithmic, my generation is turning to digicams, cassette tapes and Walkmans in search of something real.

Arts

Sun, sea and sculptures: A weekend at the Island of the Gods’ newest art fair

Set in Bali’s up-and-coming Nuanu Creative City, Art & Bali’s inaugural edition felt more like a festival than a fair, celebrating the arts in all its forms.