As a proud Balinese, I’m excited to share a piece of our vibrant culinary heritage with travelers visiting Bali, Indonesia. While souvenirs like batik or wood carvings are popular , chili sauce (sambal) and instant spices are unique, practical, and deeply authentic choices. These flavorful treasures capture the essence of Balinese cuisine, making them perfect for gifting or bringing Bali’s taste home. In this article, I’ll explain why these culinary souvenirs are special, share my personal experience using instant spices, recommend specific seasonings, compare paste and powder forms, and offer tips for buying them at local supermarkets and mini markets.
As a Balinese local , the Ogoh-Ogoh processions are a yearly spectacle, a powerful display of our spiritual beliefs. This year, the "Bibi Anu" Ogoh-Ogoh, crafted by Banjar Tengah Sesetan, stood out, its pregnant figure amidst a chaotic array of monstrous forms. It wasn't merely a visual spectacle; it was a profound representation of our cultural values, a mirror reflecting the delicate balance between life's fragility and the internal battles we all face.