14/12/2025

ON SUNDAY December 14, 2025 theSunday Special V

The Pavilion … a lodging in Nuanu.

Wellness and spirituality No destination in Bali would be complete without wellness and Nuanu integrates it deeply into daily life. The Hati Centre offers yoga, meditation and sound healing sessions, while outdoor spaces DUH GHVLJQHG IRU ZDONLQJ UHÀHFWLRQ DQG connection with nature. Wellness here is framed less as luxury spa treatments and more as community wellbeing. Group rituals, sunset gather ings and even collective cooking sessions are emphasised, aligning with Bali’s spiri tual traditions of balance and harmony. For Malaysian travellers seeking more WKDQ D VSD UHWUHDW WKLV R̆ HUV DQ DYHQXH to experience holistic practices in an authentic, communal setting. Food and community Nuanu’s culinary spaces mirror its phi losophy: Organic, sustainable and diverse. The community kitchens often double as event venues where chefs, farmers and guests interact. Local Balinese ingredients are celebrated alongside international FXLVLQHV UHÀHFWLQJ WKH FLW\¶V FRVPRSROLWDQ mix of residents. Interestingly, this kind of communal dining also taps into a trend among young Malaysians. According to a 2023 survey by Statista, 62% of Malaysians in the 18–34 age group prioritise experiences such as shared dining and travel over material purchases. Nuanu’s food culture – based RQ VKDULQJ DQG FRQQHFWLRQ ± ¿WV QHDWO\ into this experiential lifestyle. What to do as a visitor While Nuanu is designed primarily for residents and long-term collaborators, short-term visitors are welcome to engage. Options include:

• Attend an event: )URP ¿OP IHVWLYDOV to live concerts, there is usually some thing on the cultural calendar. • Join a workshop: Sustainability practices, art classes or wellness re treats are open to outsiders. • Explore the architecture: The bamboo structures and eco-buildings alone are worth seeing. • Connect with locals: Many events encourage interaction with Balinese artisans, performers and community members. • Enjoy the landscape: The site’s FOL̆ VLGH YLHZV ULYDO %DOL¶V PRUH IDPRXV beaches, but with fewer crowds. This isn’t a “checklist” destination like Tanah Lot or Uluwatu. Instead, it’s about immersion – spending time in a living community experiment.

Balinese environment. Why it matters for Malaysians For Malaysians considering their next trip WR %DOL 1XDQX R̆ HUV PXFK PRUH WKDQ MXVW VLJKWVHHLQJ ,W LQYLWHV UHÀHFWLRQ RQ KRZ cities, communities and individuals might adapt to global challenges such as climate change, overtourism, and the digital shift in the workplace. With AirAsia and Batik Air offering IUHTXHQW GLUHFW ÀLJKWV IURP .XDOD /XPSXU to Bali (often under three hours), the island remains one of the most accessible international destinations for Malaysians. Nuanu, located about 90 minutes from Ngurah Rai International Airport, is close HQRXJK IRU D ZHHNHQG YLVLW \HW GL̆ HUHQW enough to feel far removed from Bali’s usual tourist hubs. The question is whether Malaysian travellers are ready to embrace slower, more thoughtful forms of tourism – experiences centred on participation and community rather than consumption and sightseeing. As Bali continues to redefine itself post-pandemic, destinations like Nuanu Creative City illustrate a broader trend: the island is no longer just about beaches and nightlife. It is experimenting with cultural innovation, sustainability and alternative lifestyles. Whether Nuanu will succeed in the long run remains to be seen. But for visitors, LW R̆ HUV D UDUH RSSRUWXQLW\ WR ZLWQHVV the birth of a new kind of place, one that blends art, ecology, technology and spirituality in a single experiment. For Malaysians seeking a different kind of Bali story, one beyond Instagram sunsets and crowded beaches, Nuanu Creative City may be worth a look.

It would be incomplete to present Nuanu as a utopia. Like many inten tional communities, it faces scrutiny over inclusivity, cultural sensitivity and D̆ RUGDELOLW\ Some Balinese locals question whether projects like Nuanu truly benefit the surrounding villages or primarily serve expatriate lifestyles. Land development in Bali remains contentious, with farmland increasingly converted into villas and gated communities. There are also broader concerns: Can experimental eco-cities scale to address Indonesia’s larger sustainability chal lenges? Or are they destined to remain niche enclaves? As with any emerging project, Nuanu is still evolving. Its long-term impact – posi tive or otherwise – will depend on how it integrates with local communities and the

Aerial view of Nuanu’s educational hub overlooking the sea.