Cucu Betutu: When Tradition Finds a New Table. In Bali, food has always carried meaning. Many traditional Balinese dishes were not originally everyday meals. They appeared during ceremonies, family gatherings, and important moments, prepared with time, knowledge, and a connection to place. The opening of Cucu Betutu brings an interesting shift. Food that was once […]
Ancient Wisdom, Modern Living, and the Launch of the Usada Supper Club At Usada, wellness lives at the intersection of practice, culture, and lived experience. This May, we welcome Ayurvedic author Ulli Allmendinger for the launch of her new book The Power of Ayurveda, alongside the introduction of a new experiential series, the Usada Supper […]
At Usada, cultural programming continues to grow through ongoing collaborations with practitioners who bring lived experience into the space. David Metcalf, photographer and visual anthropologist, joins as a community partner, presenting regular photography highlights alongside cultural talks drawn from his travels. His work offers a grounded lens into place, culture, and continuity. This month, we […]
Nyepi: Stillness and the Renewal of Balance is part three of a three part series based on a talk by Anthropologist and cultural expert Jean Couteau ‘Nyepi Uncovered’ at Usada Bali. After movement, procession, and expulsion, Bali enters stillness. People often describe Nyepi simply as the Day of Silence. Within the wider ceremonial cycle, however, […]
Exploring Bali and its culture with John Couteau Pengrupukan and Ogoh-Ogoh: The Expulsion of Disorder is part two of a three part series based on a talk by Anthropologist and cultural expert Jean Couteau ‘Nyepi Uncovered’ at Usada Bali. Following the cleansing of Melasti, the focus shifts. If Melasti returns accumulated imbalance to its source, […]
Exploring Bali Culture with Anthropologist and cultural expert Jean Couteau Melasti: Reutrning to the Sea before Nyepi is a three part series based on a talk by Anthropologist and cultural expert Jean Couteau ‘Nyepi Uncovered’ at Usada Bali. A Shift Begins. In the days leading up to Nyepi, something begins to shift across Bali. Villages […]
