# Modern Women Bali ## Posts - [Professional Ghosting, Bali Style](https://modernwomenbali.com/reality-check/professional-ghosting-bali-style/): In Bali, silence has become a career strategy. One day you’re working with a designer on a client project, next she’s gone, taking the files, the fee, and the client’s patience. A new hire vanishes after the first payday. A collaborator disappears two days before an event. No message, no goodbye. Only silence. Here, nobody quits anymore; they simply evaporate. Professional ghosting is the island’s new occupational hazard. Built on transience and tropical escapism, even commitment in Bali has a short-term lease. For employers, it’s maddening. For employees the silence run deeper, tangled in culture, emotion shortcuts, and the illusion of […] - [Dreaming wide awake at Wonderfruit](https://modernwomenbali.com/coolhuntress/dreaming-wide-awake-at-wonderfruit/): For almost a decade, Wonderfruit has been our December ritual. Where else can you hear a Mongolian throat singer sparring with an LA DJ, or stumble on a Thai molam band remixed into electronica? One year it was eerie Icelandic acoustic folk, another a German marching band kicking it up like we’ve never seen. It feels alive, improvised and delightfully strange. The crowd is as eclectic as the program: Thai families, barefoot ravers, global creatives, wellness seekers, kids with face paint chasing fireflies. For ten years, Wonderfruit has been reshaping what a festival can feel like. Tens of thousands of […] - [Usada: Bali Before the Hashtags](https://modernwomenbali.com/coolhuntress/usada-bali-before-the-hashtags/): You’d be surprised how few people get to experience Bali (and Indonesia) in its honest form, beyond the quick cultural shortcuts designed for tourists. Even if you don’t know much about local culture, you can feel it: this mysterious island holds profound wisdom, preserved through centuries of ritual, ceremony, and art. A sacred knowledge inseparable from daily life. But how do you actually access it? Do you follow an IG-sponsored post of a “Bali priestess” with hundreds of well-crafted reels? Do you ask on forums and cross your fingers it’s not a marketing manager ghostwriting the answers?  Authenticity in Bali […] - [Saty Cipta: Blooming in the dark](https://modernwomenbali.com/coolhuntress/saty-cipta-blooming-in-the-dark/): Every healing begins with a heresy.
 To heal a wound, you must first look at it. But the first time something buried rises, it splits you open. It’s kriss-sharp, blood-wet, older than language. It rolls in from nowhere and everywhere, flooding you, claiming you. That’s where Satya Cipta paints from. A Balinese born in Lombok, Satya is a fiercely original artist whose work resists categorization. A painter, poet, performer – and recently, a singer touring with the National Indonesian Orchestra in Europe as lead vocalist – she inhabits all art forms with raw grace and aching beauty. But it’s her […] - [A week at the Yoga Barn: roars, wombs & real talk.](https://modernwomenbali.com/coolhuntress/a-week-at-the-yoga-barn-roars-wombs-real-talk/): So, here’s the truth. I’m losing patience with the direction the yoga and wellness scene in Bali has taken in recent years. It’s become increasingly hard to tell the difference between a solid wellness practice and trendy fluff. Moving to Ubud more than a decade ago, my first year was filled with chanting, stretching, breathwork and soul-baring. That phase of my life yielded something meaningful. But now, closer to 40, a mother, and well and truly over the fluffery that saturates the wellness space in this little town, my needs have changed. That is why I was both wary and […] - [RÜSTERS: Where Bali actually hangs out](https://modernwomenbali.com/coolhuntress/rusters-where-bali-actually-hangs-out/): RÜSTERS is where every self-respecting long-termer ends up at least once a week and where tourists swing by for a compulsory check-in. On Sundays, it’s the market: families sprawled out, kids running wild between the fish ponds while we catch up with friends from Canggu and Sanur, who we haven’t hugged in forever. The staff? Always making space for us, always remembering the little updates we shared last week. Weekdays, it flips into the perfect work spot. Indoors, outdoors, light pouring in, WiFi steady, plenty of corners if you need focus for a call or that dreaded report. You’ll see […] - [From Minsk to Ubud: How Potato Pancakes Got Sexy](https://modernwomenbali.com/coolhuntress/from-minsk-to-ubud-how-potato-pancakes-got-sexy/): Let’s get one thing straight: Belarusian food is not vodka and mystery meat stews. In fact, one of the best things I ate this month was technically a taco – except the shell was a potato pancake and the filling was spiced chicken with a slap of horseradish. Welcome to Draniki Ubud, where comfort food from Eastern Europe gets a playful Bali twist. As an Australian, my idea of comfort food usually swings between smashed avo toast and meat pies. So stumbling into Belarusian potato pancakes in Ubud was frankly not on my bingo card. But wow, game changer! The […] - [Ten Years, One Café, Zero Compromise.](https://modernwomenbali.com/reality-check/ten-years-one-cafe-zero-compromise/): Erlin doesn’t flinch. Pererenan is a mess of aggressive first-time drivers, high rents, and low patience. She opened her café here way back when hers was the only building for miles. The streets were empty, just her and the stables. Since then, the area has exploded into a swirl of glossy cafés, boutique shops, and influencers posing on scooters. Most last in Pererenan for two seasons. Erlin has lasted almost ten. Why?She knows her limits. She knows what she can do and what she won’t. While the rest chase trends, she moves at her own pace, letting the business grow […] - [Clean Girl Who?](https://modernwomenbali.com/love-and-life/clean-girl-who/): Once upon a time, there was “Hot Girl Summer” – a 2019 trend that became shorthand for women feeling bold and confident. It started as playful and self-assured, but like many “empowerment” trends before it, became quickly marketable, full of brand deals and poses engineered to look carefree, read: toxic positivity. When that market got too saturated, “Clean Girl Aesthetic” arrived: dewy skin, gut health, minimalist, polished, perfect. Older waves of feminism gave us hashtags, hustle culture, and insincere solidarity. #Girlboss. #WomenSupportingWomen. But if your empowerment depends on being palatable,—or stepping over other women to get to the top, I […] - [Life After Bali](https://modernwomenbali.com/reality-check/life-after-bali/): Bali was the best thing that ever happened to me. It was the sweetest fairytale I have ever lived, and also the sharpest awakening. I came in my thirties, worn out and brittle, and the island let me unclench. It slowed me down. It let me breathe again. I drank kopi to the sound of impossibly green rice fields swaying in the distance. I scribbled clumsy poetry, walked barefoot with frangipani in my hair. I loved all the wellness practices Bali had to offer – the rewilding, the womb connection, the breathing and the authentic relating classes. I began to […] - [Not A Man's Game: Women Rewriting Business. ](https://modernwomenbali.com/love-and-life/feminine-way-of-doing-business/): You left the corporate world because it didn’t fit. Not even close. The rhythm was masochistic, the culture misogynistic. And the freedom you craved? To decide when, how, and where you work. Turns out nearly one in two women who quit want exactly that. Which is why you’re in Bali. Or Lisbon. Anywhere far from the wreckage they call the modern workplace. Here, you learned how to steady your nervous system and, with that, rescue what corporate life had starved – creativity, meaning, delight. But as you start rebuilding your financial independence, you realize you slip into the old rules […] - [Will Canggu’s Gym Boom Bust?](https://modernwomenbali.com/reality-check/will-canggus-gym-boom-bust/): If Canggu were a country, its national animal would be the micro-influencer, its national dish would be protein powder. National sport? Gym-hopping. Before you come at me, bro: yes, I considered padel and surf. But nothing stimulates flirtation in this town quite like asking, “Are you Team Body Factory or Team Nirvana?” Welcome to Canggu, where gyms are multiplying like stray Bali dogs – and while on this island you still can’t flush toilet paper, you can spend LA-level prices ($200+ a month) on a membership with a sauna, cold plunge, protein smoothies, and a ready-made Instagram backdrop. We talked […] - [The Nervous System Whisperer: What is family constellation — and why people fly to Bali for it](https://modernwomenbali.com/reality-check/the-nervous-system-whisperer-what-is-family-constellation-and-why-people-fly-to-bali-for-it/): What is family constellation — and why people fly to Bali for it. Everybody comes to Bali to heal. IG promises waterfalls will rinse you clean and rice fields will rearrange your nervous system. And for a while, it works. You drink your coconuts, vibrate just right at some sound healing dome, and watch the sunsets drop into the waves. You tell friends back home you feel “lighter.” For rational Westerners, Bali is a gentle paradise where logic fades and sensations rule. It’s all softness, nurture, and maybe even energy, if you play that way. Through breathwork, touch, movement, rituals […] - [When Surrendering Feels Rebellious](https://modernwomenbali.com/love-and-life/when-surrendering-feels-rebellious/): We weren’t magic together. After a month of exciting, sensual texts, with his flirtatious messages making me feel the star of a French movie, the moment we finally met didn’t translate into chemistry. I loved his honesty, confidence, and dominance. It made me feel powerful and feminine. I shared my natural self in the photos I sent him, wearing elegant clothes but not pretending to be someone I’m not. He applauded my authenticity, which made me feel even more appreciated. When we finally met in a coffee shop and went to his place after, there was a tension in my […] - [Who Gets to Define ‘Mother’? A Journey Through MFW11’s Short Films](https://modernwomenbali.com/coolhuntress/bali-cinema-highlight-with-minikino-film-week-2025/): What truly makes a woman a mother. Is it biology? Love? Choice? A sacrifice? Bali cinema fans explore the answer with Minikino Film Week 11 (MFW11). It invited you to reflect on this deeply personal question through its short film program, Mother. 5 striking stories were chosen to show the complexities of motherhood, challenge social norms, and reveal the invisible battles women fight. Through Mother!, we’re invited to witness different perspectives, each one redefining what it means to carry, embrace, or even reject the label of “mother.” Bali cinema just got deep. When Motherhood Is Not a Choice For much […] - [Di Sini Di Sana: A Culinary and Cultural Journey in Ubud](https://modernwomenbali.com/coolhuntress/di-sini-di-sana-a-culinary-and-cultural-journey-in-ubud/): Stepping inside Di Sini Di Sana feels like being invited into someone’s fabulous old-school home. A glamorous auntie drops by for her afternoon chocolate cake. A nephew hurries through the rooms, proudly pointing out family treasures collected over many generations. It feels so personal. You can’t help but get curious about the stories the furniture the vases and the photographs and all the heirlooms are holding. The whole place is a bow of gratitude. Subtle little tributes are everywhere: a golden plaque – made from grandparents’ photos, a secret arch to the roof – a nod to the women who […] - [MWB CURATED: Events Roundup](https://modernwomenbali.com/coolhuntress/mwb-curated-events-roundup/): We’ve gathered a handful of events that feel thoughtful, welcoming, and honestly just worth your time. From a film screening in a village to a lively art fair that’ll leave your brain buzzing, this one’s for those weekends when you want something more than a party. Check out the list, see what speaks to you, maybe block off a day or two, and let yourself be part of something meaningful. Minikino Film Week Sept 12–19 | Various venues across BaliBali’s short film festival that doesn’t feel like a festival. It feels like hanging out, watching something unexpected, then talking about it […] - [MWB CURATED: Restaurant Pick Of The Month - Fuego.](https://modernwomenbali.com/coolhuntress/mwb-curated-restaurant-pick-of-the-month-fuego/): Too many places with 5-star ratings and zero soul. Too much fluff, too many “best ever” claims that fall apart by the second bite. We created MWB Curated out of self-defense — to track the spots that actually get it right. Real non-sponsored picks we tell our friends about. Fuego We found Fuego during one of our ongoing missions: the hunt for a great steak. Not a decent one. A great one. If you’ve been following us, you know we are serious about our meat. After sifting through another round of glowing-yet-generic reviews, we booked a table with low expectations. […] - [Yes, Bali Has Music Bands. And They’re Really Good](https://modernwomenbali.com/coolhuntress/yes-bali-has-music-bands-and-theyre-really-good/): Yes, Bali has a music scene that’s way deeper than what you hear from beach bars, Sunday ecstatic DJs or elevator music in spas. It’s punk bands who’ve been around for decades. Folk duos singing about climate change in Balinese. Shoegaze, psychobilly, reggae, grunge — all shaped this magical island.  Let’s get into top Bali bands for you to discover. Navicula youtube.com/watch?v=a_ARdpQx_-o&t=26s↗ Navicula has been making grunge-psych-blues magic since the ‘90s — long before anyone thought “eco-activist” and “rock band” could live in the same sentence. No list of top Bali Bands is complete without them. They blend Seattle grunge with […] - [A Facilitator’s Guide To Leading With Authority And Compassion](https://modernwomenbali.com/love-and-life/a-facilitators-guide-to-leading-with-authority-and-compassion/): “Maybe we could… if you’d like to… unless anyone has other thoughts?” You cringe as these hesitant phrases leave your mouth, watching your carefully planned agenda slip away while someone from the class you are leading shares a powerful but off-topic story that captivates the group.It happens in every workshop: the tension between staying on track and going with the flow. Your inner dialogue swings  from “We need to get back on track as soon as possible; there’s so much to cover!” to “This is what the group needs right now.” Your chest tightens as you calculate the time left. […] - [The Bule’s Guide to Bali: Understanding the Unspoken Rules](https://modernwomenbali.com/love-and-life/the-bules-guide-to-bali-understanding-the-unspoken-rules/): If you walk too slowly on the streets of New York, you’ll be shoved aside by a local appalled with your lack of spatial awareness. If you stand on the wrong side of the escalator in London, you’ll get a passive-aggressive ‘sorry’ meant to mean, ‘are you an idiot?’ But in Bali, even if you drive your scooter in your bikini, you’ll likely only get a quick, if annoyed, glance. No matter what faux pas you commit here, it seems, you’re likely to be blissfully unaware until a more aware expat pulls your sexy provocative dress and mercifully gets you […] - [Journey To The Afterlife](https://modernwomenbali.com/love-and-life/balinese-cremation-ceremony/): One of the most awe-inspiring sights in Bali? A crowd of people sprinting through the streets with a massive, elaborately decorated bull. It’s not a parade—it’s a Balinese cremation ceremony, and it’s as intense as it is beautiful. To break down the meaning behind this fiery tradition, we turned to our Bali culture gurus—Ubud Story Walks—to walk us through the ritual and decode the jaw-dropping scenes you’re bound to witness. Why burn the dead? In Bali, fire is freedom, and cremation is a transformation. To be reborn, the body must burn, its smoke spiraling skyward, clearing the way for the […] - [Swipe Right in Paradise: Tales from Bali’s Dating App Jungle](https://modernwomenbali.com/love-and-life/swipe-right-in-paradise-tales-from-balis-dating-app-jungle/): Dating in Bali isn’t so different from anywhere else—apps rule the game here, too. Although, the sample of dates you get in Bali is quite specific. We have the blessing and the curse of diversity in cultures, nationalities, thought systems, and dating traditions that are probably wider than in many other parts of the globe.  Are you a woman looking for a committed relationship like me? In that case, you can grab a cup of kopi and read my experience navigating the apps without losing my sense of humor (or sanity).  The App Jungle Dating apps are a jungle more […] - [ True Cost Of Modernity: What Bali Can Learn from Lamalera’s Sacred Hunt](https://modernwomenbali.com/reality-check/true-cost-of-modernity-what-bali-can-learn-from-lamaleras-sacred-hunt/): For hundreds of years, the men, women and children of Lamalera, a remote fishing village nestled on a rocky hillside at the foot of a volcano in far eastern Indonesia, have scanned the sea for the unmistakable spray of a blowhole on the horizon. When one is spotted, the shout will sound out: ‘Baleo!’ and the men rush to get the peledang, slender wooden boats, from their boatsheds on the beach and carry them down to the dark churn of the Savu Sea. The chief hunter, the lamafa, will take his place at the stern, and ready his harpoon in […] - [Authenticity Inc. : Wellness And The Battle For Bali’s Brand.](https://modernwomenbali.com/reality-check/authenticity-inc-wellness-and-the-battle-for-balis-brand/): With ‘I want to heal’ stamped on their foreheads, hoards of tourists set out on a quest while the wellness industry salivates. Last year ended with a few blasts to the heart of Bali’s tourism industry. This island topped Fodor’s list of where not to go in 2025. The respected travel source called out the mass tourism that’s turned Bali into a plastic apocalypse, and its culture, heritage, and natural habitats are being decimated by unchecked development. In what seems like a race to recoup the revenue lost during lockdowns, massive construction projects popped up faster than cow paddy mushrooms […] - [Rusters Xiu Tea House: The Temple of Quiet](https://modernwomenbali.com/coolhuntress/rusters-xiu-tea-house-the-temple-of-quiet/): Bali is becoming a bit of an attention-seeker — loud and urgent — until you step into Rusters Xiu Teahouse. Here, silence isn’t awkward or forced, it’s a gentle invitation. No gimmicks, no filters — just tea, time, and the delicate hum of presence. Walking in, your voice naturally melts into a mellow whisper. A book reader in the corner, a girl scribbling in her journal, and the tea master gliding between the low tables are all in unspoken agreement to respect this temple of quiet.  Xiu Tea House is a continuation of what Faye, the tea master, has done […] - [Jungle Padel Marks Three Years of Growth and Expansion in Indonesia](https://modernwomenbali.com/coolhuntress/jungle-padel-marks-three-years-of-growth-and-expansion-in-indonesia/): Jungle Padel, the first padel club in Indonesia, recently celebrated its third anniversary with an electrifying tournament, highlighting its role in the sport’s rapid rise across the country. Jungle Padel has been at the forefront of Indonesia’s padel movement, fostering a passionate and thriving community and redefining the local sports landscape. Building on this momentum, Jungle Padel is now expanding beyond Bali, bringing the excitement of padel to Jakarta and Surabaya with new venues in development. In Bali you can also expect to see brand new Jungle Padel courts in several locations including Seseh, and Nusa Lembongan.  Through its dedication […] - [Big-City Vibe: The Creative Renaissance at Ash Nuanu](https://modernwomenbali.com/coolhuntress/big-city-vibe-the-creative-renaissance-at-ash-nuanu/): Ash Nuanu has quickly become a go-to spot for anyone craving a dose of Bali’s creative energy. The events are a bit all over the place—but in the best possible way—making it feel like a place where creativity isn’t boxed in and doesn’t follow the expected boring schedule. From soulful violin and touching piano concerts to seriously popping DJ sets, the events appeal to the multipotentialite nature of those who have made it to Bali. We especially love catching theatre performances there. Theatre in Bali, y’all! It feels like Ash Nuanu has brought back some of the big-city cultural vibrancy […] - [Building a Cool World, The Zin Way.](https://modernwomenbali.com/coolhuntress/building-a-cool-world-the-zin-way/): If you’re into the effortlessly cool, you likely already know about Zin. Or rather, Zin World, because it’s a whole planet of luxe goodness. Zin has been steadily expanding over the years. We’ve watched them grow from a hidden gem of an airy cafe into a multi-story community hub brimming with events, laughter, and deliciousness. After adding fitness and hotel to their world, they’ve continued to blossom, with Zin Spa being their latest flower. 
True to their essence, the spa blends modern luxury with tropical serenity. The sweetest part? The way they treat every visitor to their planet. For instance, […] - [MWB CURATED: Spa Pick Of The Month - Faces Ubud.](https://modernwomenbali.com/coolhuntress/best-spa-in-ubud-faces-ubud/): Some places just get it. Faces Ubud is that rare kind of spa where you walk in thinking you’re about to get a massage, and walk out feeling like you’ve had a soulful therapy session. This newcomer to Bali’s wellness scene doesn’t do the usual “rub some oils, call it a day” routine. No, here every touch is like poetry for your nervous system — grounding, surprising, cooling, and honestly, kinda emotional. The face and head massages? So intricate and thoughtful you might just tear up a little (we did). Why we picked Faces Spa We visited Faces Ubud five […] - [A Day in the Life](https://modernwomenbali.com/coolhuntress/a-day-in-the-life/): You are one of the coolest and wisest women we know in Canggu, and your life story is fascinating. Let’s start with a challenge — describe yourself in one sentence.  I’ve had more reinventions than Madonna!  Tell us more! At 54, I just shifted my professional attention from women towards men to address the increased polarisation between genders I have been observing since the ‘Me Too’ movement. I am now helping men overcome their pressure to perform at work and in relationships, as they face a growing number of challenges. Modern men want to level up and be better partners […] - [Wellness to the People: Unified School of Healing](https://modernwomenbali.com/coolhuntress/wellness-to-the-people-unified-school-of-healing/): Just when the wellness and spirituality scene in Bali started to feel like an obnoxious MLM scheme, constantly drawing you into another level of consumption, the Unified School of Healing appeared as a refreshing alternative. Here, it’s not about glamour, exclusivity, or turning wellness into a privilege for the few. At the Unified School of Healing, the philosophy is simple: healing should never be dictated by your socio-economic status. The call for a new culture is unmistakable—one founded on the principles of unconditional giving and receiving. The Unified School of Healing believes that true transformation comes from consistent, dedicated practice, […] - [Moksa: Love You Back](https://modernwomenbali.com/coolhuntress/moksa-love-you-back/): I rock up to Moksa, late for my date and struggling to make change for the Grab. The profile of this restaurant is one with which I’m familiar. Words such as ‘permaculture’, and ‘raw food’ abound. I’m ready for another health food zealot who wants to tell me my sensualism is secondary. But boy, is he pretty! I gulp and feel nervous as I stop to look around. I’m immediately surrounded by a scene straight out of a fairytale. There are flocks of birds and hanging vines to get me in the mood. Moksa transports me back to a simpler […] - [Foodporn: Grumpy Butcher](https://modernwomenbali.com/coolhuntress/foodporn-grumpy-butcher/): Hello Sweethearts! Or should I say Sweet Tarts? When talking about food, people are always cautioning me not to get too dirty. Use a napkin they tell me, sit up straight, and mind your p&q’s. Let me speak truth to power. Food is sensual. Dare I say, sexy? Experience the right dish, and it’s a full body experience, comparable only to, well… you know. I can’t possibly help it if the chicken I’m served just happens to be the most succulent breast that has ever touched these not so virginal lips. If somebody feeds me a cherry, it would be […] - [Is Carnivore The New Vegan?](https://modernwomenbali.com/reality-check/is-carnivore-the-new-vegan/): In Bali, where the quest for healing turns many visitors into wellness crusaders, going vegan has become a rite of passage. Yet, a surprising twist emerged over the past couple of years: the rise of the Ubud Carnivore Club and a wave of new steakhouses marking a retreat from plant-based obsession. Why is proclaiming a craving for steak no longer an unspeakable offence in the spiritual sanctuary of Ubud? How did eating meat morph into a symbol of unwokeness to begin with? And what has ego got to do with our dinner choices?  We all know meat is bad. Today, […] - [The Grill at Luke – An Affair to Remember](https://modernwomenbali.com/coolhuntress/the-grill-at-luke-an-affair-to-remember/): How do I love thee, let me count the ways. How do I love thee, let me count the cribbing from classics. I’ve got to meet this restaurant where it lives. Their concept of old – school luxury doesn’t end with the name. Walk past the kitchen and into the haven of tranquility. Where soulful songs, white tablecloths, and tasteful flower arrangements abound. Too young to remember the days when good days delighted in the art of slow seduction?Don’t cry in your cups, LUKE is here to introduce themselves. This is a medium -rare instance where there won’t be enough […] - [Death In Paradise](https://modernwomenbali.com/love-and-life/death-in-paradise/): Having decided to live your life in Bali – has it occurred to you that it’s also the perfect place to think about your death? Chances are the answer is no. Most of us, brought up in Western cultures, have turned away from death. We no longer have family members dying at home, let alone wash their cold bodies or talk to them once their hearts have stopped beating. Dying has become awkward, impolite, morbid – and largely delegated to medical staff and undertakers. We have, quite literally, lost touch with death, including our own. That makes it unfamiliar and […] - [Why I Quit Astrology](https://modernwomenbali.com/love-and-life/why-i-quit-astrology/): I stared at my astrologer’s computer screen. ‘You can see ALL of that from my date of birth?’ I was fifteen. It felt like I’d discovered some kind of magic. Those intricate lines and mysterious symbols held the answers to all my questions – what career should I choose, where should I go to study, is that boy right for me? I’d been exposed to healers, astrologers and mediums from an early age. By my early teens I was setting new moon intentions every month, wishing for good luck, health and love for my family and friends. I discovered auspicious […] - [Unpaid Paths to Success](https://modernwomenbali.com/love-and-life/unpaid-paths-to-success/): I am what you would call a career success. I have multiple companies, each earning a significant annual sum. Whenever anyone asks me the most impactful decision I’ve ever made in my career, I tell them: working for free. I relocated across five countries, embarking on new ventures or securing high-level positions in a different industry each time. How did I manage these transitions? By first volunteering my time and skills for free. I have contributed to over 30 events and festivals, organized countless community gatherings, written for print and digital media, and managed numerous social media accounts. I’ve also […] - [Is The Bali Dream Over?](https://modernwomenbali.com/reality-check/is-the-bali-dream-over-2/): For almost a year, the hot topic in Bali has been the skyrocketing rental prices. How much higher will they go? When will things settle down? Is it time to move on? Or maybe time to cut the losses? Yes, we knew that with the borders reopening tourists would flood back into Bali looking to “eat, pray and love” even harder after two years of lockdowns and restrictions. We all expected prices to return to pre-covid levels and perhaps, a temporary spike until tourism levelled out and things returned to the pre-pandemic normal. But almost a year later and prices […] - [Body Politics: Fat Girl Braving Canggu](https://modernwomenbali.com/love-and-life/body-politics-fat-girl-braving-canggu/): One day I was working out of a cafe across from the Body Factory, and a guy sat next to me. We started chatting. He said that he loves Bali, he likes the quality of the gyms here, and that he hates fat people. I choked on my soda. “You…hate? Are you joking?” “No. I really hate fat people, they’re obviously lazy, like, I mean – you’re not fat.” Ahhh little did he know that I used to be 30 pounds over what my doctor would have gently recommended was my ideal weight. And I’m 5’2”. In no universe could […] - [Ghostbusters!](https://modernwomenbali.com/reality-check/ghostbusters-2/): Hi Mama Bali, what do I do if someone “ghosted” me? Do I just say nothing? Or do I ask why and hopefully get some answers? Ladies, when we’re driving down the road and men shout “hello!” from the side of the road, what do we do? Do we skirt to a stop, and ask them why they shouted? No. We just keep driving and roll our eyes at their lack of maturity (and creativity!). Sayang, if someone has ghosted you, I want you to picture this: me, your Mama Bali, in my best kebaya, in the middle of the […] - [Voices Unleashed: Where Expression Meets Encouragement](https://modernwomenbali.com/coolhuntress/voices-unleashed-where-expression-meets-encouragement-2/): A mix of nostalgia and gratitude takes me back to my very first night at Voices Unleashed in July 2020. Stage fright nearly gave me a heart attack on the drive from my house in Uluwatu to Canggu. The night before, I’d hardly slept. I was a bundle of nerves. When I arrived, I literally flew into the arms of the founders, who greeted me with warm smiles. Andrea, Roel and Nicole had started these creative gatherings during the pandemic, ten weeks earlier.  They met coincidentally: A tall Italian with corkscrew curls, Andrea was sitting at a café, writing. Soon, […] - [Bali Dating – Surviving A Bumble Date](https://modernwomenbali.com/love-and-life/bali-dating-surviving-a-bumble-date-2/): I’m on Bumble! Welcome to the place where all the rejects gather to find love, trying to avoid or resolve their past relationship traumas and challenges. That’s probably why so many men make it clear that they don’t want DRAMA.  Now, gentlemen, let me remind you that the best art, inventions or innovations are created following the unfolding of some kind of DRAMA; that the mortar that binds us to each other, despite and beyond all the differences that divide us, is the one we fashion when we face and overcome DRAMA… to – ge – ther. A life of […] - [Screaming in Silence](https://modernwomenbali.com/reality-check/screaming-in-silence-2/): “She yelled so loud,” the Balinese woman tells me. “I didn’t know if I should go in and check she’s okay.” My alarm quickly turns to amusement. She explains that since she rented out one of her rooms to a buff young Russian guy, beautiful girls sleep over almost every night. I’ve known this woman for a few years. She’s one of my Balinese landlord’s helpers. It’s been a pleasure watching Ketut grow in confidence and evolve her business savvy with foreigners. She regularly pops in to my kitchen where we work on mastering her English. “So, this guy has […] - [Washing Your Eyes with Razors](https://modernwomenbali.com/reality-check/washing-your-eyes-with-razors-2/): A hot lesbian I’ve known for a year in Ubud wants me to do a motorcycle trip with her in Thailand. She says I don’t need to get the necessary foreign licence. She’ll rent the bike and do all the driving. All I have to do is show up.  With lockdown followed by a visa that didn’t require me to leave this island for two years, I might be complacent in my Bali routine. I’m getting irritated by things that used to make me feel lucky. In Indonesian there’s a saying for the need for fresh perspectives: cuci mata. Literally, to […] - [INKLUSIV WARUNG: Culinary Crusaders of Inclusivity](https://modernwomenbali.com/coolhuntress/inklusiv-warung-culinary-crusaders-of-inclusivity-2/): Now more than ever, Canggu is bursting with unforgettable dining experiences. This month we’d like to highlight Inklusiv Warung, a place that not only serves quality food, but is also helping to deconstruct harmful prejudices. With an impressive line-up of some pretty unique performances and events, Inklusiv Warung Restaurant has excellent food and social change in a fun atmosphere. These guys are on a culinary crusade to break down barriers and change the world, one delicious dish at a time. Inklusiv Warung Restaurant is committed to providing opportunities for the deaf and queer communities. Here, you see rockstars in the […] - [Healer or Hustler: How To Tell The Difference](https://modernwomenbali.com/reality-check/healer-or-hustler-how-to-tell-the-difference-2/): Once upon a time there were very few foreigners in Bali. The local people sought out balians, or local healers/shamans, to cure their illnesses, contact their ancestors, clear black magic, and address other spiritual housekeeping matters. There were (and are) thousands of balians; some good, some ordinary, some who work on the dark side. People would pay what they could, often just a few rupiah folded into an offering. A handful of these balians who were gifted healers began to be known to the foreign community. Over time, visitors would make pilgrimages to see them, with interpreters because English was […] - [Coach, cat or fortune cookie: who gives better life guidance?](https://modernwomenbali.com/reality-check/coach-cat-or-fortune-cookie-who-gives-better-life-guidance-2/): Making fun of coaches is en vogue. Especially if you live in Bali, where you can’t swing a yoga mat without hitting a 20-something-year-old who’s convinced they’ve cracked the code to your best life. Coaching here is the new yoga, and every second person you meet is some kind of a coach desperately looking for an opportunity to sell you self-improvement. And no one is immune. Just the other day I cringed at an ad in a cafe: ‘Kids life coach. Ages 6 – 10’. What’s next, Express Enlightenment for Toddlers? Why the cringe though? Am I now a member […] - [Taking Off My Hijab (But Not My Faith).](https://modernwomenbali.com/reality-check/taking-off-my-hijab-but-not-my-faith-2/): I was born and raised a Muslim. My parents are strict Muslims, especially my father. As a child, I had to pray on time, recite the Qur’an, and wear a hijab. My authoritarian father didn’t hesitate to hit me if I missed a prayer. If I didn’t wake up before the adzan (call) for subuh prayer, my father would soak my face and head with water. From the age of 13, I went to a pesantren – an Islamic boarding school where I began my deeply religious education into the history of Islam. But today, though I’m still a devout […] - [Ask Mama Bali](https://modernwomenbali.com/reality-check/ask-mama-bali/): Mama Bali is an all-knowing, gentle spirit that watches over Bali with a smirk on her face. Like an old granny watching her favorite soap opera, she’s fully invested in all the drama. She knows all of our patterns, and she sees past all of the bullsh*t. Due to a recent uptick in bad advice circulating around (hello pesky “life coaches”), Mama Bali feels compelled to open her DM’s to all of your troubles so she can impart her eternal wisdom. Now remember, Mama Bali is an old crone with sass. She’s the Alpha-Ibu that keeps the whole damn island’s […] - [Ibu Rucina: Falling in Love with Balinese Man](https://modernwomenbali.com/love-and-life/ibu-rucina-falling-in-love-with-balinese-man/): “I don’t know why he married me. He knew he was marrying a strong Western woman.” Falling in love with a ‘beautiful brown man’ in Bali in the 1980s wasn’t in Ibu Rucina’s life plan. Nor was living a life full of challenges, suppressed within a patriarchal society and an unhappy marriage to boot. But when she tells me about her career, her family, and her thoughts on Balinese culture and society, I can see this absolute powerhouse of a woman has decided that it was all worth it. Her love of traditional dance brought her to Bali in the […] ## Pages - [modern women bali](https://modernwomenbali.com/): MODERN WOMEN How builds an inclusive, thoughtful space for women to connect, reflect, and create together. OUR TOPICS Whether you’re scribbling for fun, trying to find your personal voice, building your business brand with words. NEWSLETTER Join our newsletter for curated bali’s best - [Available On](https://modernwomenbali.com/available-on/): Where to Buy or Read Modern Women Bali Magazine Fresh Beauty Lounge – Jl. 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Оставьте свой e-mail, и мы пришлём его вам, как только он будет готов! - [How we help brands](https://modernwomenbali.com/how-we-help-brands/): How we help brands Beyond Advertising: Strategic Growth for Your Brand We started by offering advertising on the pages of our magazine. But over time, we noticed a pattern—brands investing in marketing but struggling to connect effectively with the right audience. Resources were wasted or misallocated, advertising effort fell flat, and opportunities were lost. So, we went beyond ads. We developed expert consulting services in marketing, branding, and communication to help businesses make smarter, more effective decisions. Whether you need brand strategy, audience engagement, or F&B consulting, we provide solutions that ensure your investment works harder and delivers real results. […] - [About Us](https://modernwomenbali.com/about-us/): ABOUT US We are the women who left home. We left because we wanted more. More opportunities, bigger opportunities, bigger life. Different life. We wanted deep connections. Deep understanding. We wanted to be seen, to matter. To stay true to who we are in whatever we are doing. To discover what else we could be. We are the Ubud girls, dressed in divinity and incense smoke. We are the curious Indonesian women, half here, half there, cautiously optimistic about ourselves and the future. We are the unsubtle kitties of Canggu, ready to blow minds, hearts and bank accounts. The mermaids […] - [Magazine](https://modernwomenbali.com/magazine/): OUR MAGAZINE Issue 6 Issue 5 Issue 4 Issue 3 Issue 2 Issue 1 Join our newsletter to stay updated - [HOME](https://modernwomenbali.com/home/): TRENDING OUR MAGAZINE MWB Issue 5 Issue 4 Issue 3 Issue 2 Issue 1 REALITY CHECK ” In Bali, where the quest for healing turns many visitors into wellness crusaders, going vegan has become a rite of passage. Yet, a surprising twist emerged over the past couple… ” Read More EXPLORE TOPICS LOVE AND LIFE Latest Posts 1.MWB CURATED: Restaurant Pick Of The Month – Fuego.2.Yes, Bali Has Music Bands. And They’re Really Good3.A Facilitator’s Guide To Leading With Authority And Compassion4.The Bule’s Guide to Bali: Understanding the Unspoken Rules5.Journey To The Afterlife [comment]: # (Generated by Hostinger Tools Plugin)