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Island Curio

Island Life & Lore

Objects, buildings and habits — the older Bali that sits underneath the villa market, and why it is worth understanding before you book anything.

3 pieces in this section
Living History: The Role of Curios in Balinese Cultural Identity

Living History: The Role of Curios in Balinese Cultural Identity

The carvings, textiles and offerings sold to visitors have complicated origins. Understanding them makes for better buying and considerably…

Sita Mahendra · 22 April 2026
Coastal Sentinels: The Architectural Lore of Uluwatu’s Clifftop Temples

Coastal Sentinels: The Architectural Lore of Uluwatu’s Clifftop Temples

Bali’s sea temples were sited according to a logic that predates tourism by five hundred years. Once you can read it, the whole…

J. Ellery · 15 April 2026
The Curation Philosophy: How We Choose What Appears Here

The Curation Philosophy: How We Choose What Appears Here

A short and deliberately unglamorous account of what gets written about on Island Curio, what does not, and…

J. Ellery · 8 April 2026