After two quick months of fundraising among local, foreign-owned businesses and with the assistance and land donation of the Balinese, our group of about 30 businesses and local leaders were able to do a first in this part of Bali:…
This month we have been under the Covid-19 siege and so we have been in lockdown. Our one set of guests have been with us throughout this strange time, but mostly Ohana feels quite empty. Still it is an inspiration…
We planted grape vines about 7 or 8 months ago, with the goal of creating a shaded yoga / wedding space. I imagine we’re at least 6-9 months from getting enough shade to keep an event from overheating. In the…
Jessi & Daniel joined us on March 15 and they are planning to stay with us throughout this very unprecedented situation of the coronavirus. Being German they have had the option of flying back to Germany on special outbound flights.…
The future is unknown except for one brutal fact: it is divorced from the past. Yet there has usually been a continuum from the distant past to the more recent past, and from a few weeks ago to yesterday. In…
About 2 weeks ago I went out to lunch with a couple of friends and due to its noisy atmosphere (Sisterfields in Seminyak) I raised my voice more than usual and came home with a scratchy throat. I began googling…
Concept: Older people seeking vibrant communities and connection As we grow older new needs arise. During this particular phase of life, our responses to these new needs can either enhance how we live, or they can become detrimental. If older…
While still under construction, my wife and I moved into an unfinished apartment here at the future site of Ohana Retreat Bali. Most of the guest rooms did not have windows or doors installed. Staircase railings were strewn across the…
It’s always a welcome sight to see the locals enjoying their Sundays at the beach. As you can see from the above photo, the contrast between Sunday evening and Monday morning is extreme. In fact, after sunset the crowds start…
Galungan marks the beginning of the most important recurring religious ceremonies. The spirits of deceased relatives who have died and been cremated return to visit their former homes, and the current inhabitants have a responsibility to be hospitable through prayers…
The word MacGyver has entered the Oxford dictionary: make or repair (an object) in an improvised or inventive way, making use of whatever items are at hand. Origin 1990s: from Angus MacGyver, the lead character in the television series MacGyver (1985–1992), who…
Bali has been subject to tsunami-style waves of change for a very long time. You would think that the Balinese would be overwhelmed, but remarkably, they absorb the best parts of the changing landscape, keeping their own culture pretty well…