Had to do a little write-up about the This Is Life Festival, on the Gili Air island off Bali, Indonesia.

It’s a seriously chilled event, with calm blue sea surrounding, locals making wind and sun shades, vitamin packed smoothie bowls, wooden beautiful cafe buildings and welcoming all from far and wide.

It’s a place where no doubt wonderful memories have and will be made around a sunset, bonfire, on the sand, drift with progressive to full on psy trance music, does it get any better?

This Is Life Festival is proud and excited to welcome you back to the tropical island paradise and meet once again on the sand floor!

Offering 30 hours of House, Techno & Psychedelic trance. Emulating the Australian doof scene mixed with exotic island spirit. We welcome only those that can embody true acceptance of all people, creatures and environments, free of judgement, awareness of those around them, themselves and the environment of which you Rome. Surrounded by coconut trees, crystal clear waters and pristine white beaches, the festival takes place with support of the local community.

This is Life Festival is determined to produce a unique musical and cultural experience. We aim to show you the magic and beauty of the island - a place where we come together as one big family, a place where you will feel at home and re energised.

Paradise is calling... Offering a diverse serving of Minimal, House, Techno & Psychedelic Trance. Surrounded by coconut trees, crystal clear waters and pristine white beaches.

To our music loving brothers and sisters from around the globe. From the This Is Life team, We would like to thank you for your love and support! Over 1000 people tuned in at some point. All over the world people gathered to support us and to have fun together.

Something to get you through the Covid blues and help manifest the joy we will all have when we finally get to dance with the sand between our feet.

We can’t wait to get back to our island paradise and plan the #TILF reunion! Finally we can feel light at the end of the tunnel!

Lucky's is a cosy friendly beach bar on Gili Air's sunset point, restaurant & bungalows with amazing sunsets, ice cold beers, tasty cocktails and a brand new seafood menu!

Have you ever visited Jakarta city, Indonesia? You'll find one of the city's most popular listening bars- Subo- located in a basement. And, of course, there's a vintage collection of vinyl records. Undoubtedly, music has become to many something of an indispensable accompaniment. Yes, people love listening to music as they go about mundane daily activities when cooking, exercising, or driving a car. It's quite rare, these days, to find busy urbanites listening to music just to enjoy it. With such factors in mind, the creators of SUBO came up with the idea in order to help busy people take some time to immerse themselves "knee-deep" in music. Subo is basically tucked somewhere in the Cipete Utara area of South Jakarta. But Subo does not merely cater to the whims of music lovers. It also serves other classes of people, including photographers who seek out their retro interiors and all kinds of bar-goers for their keenly innovative cocktails.

Note that when visiting Subo, you first need to sign up and secure an appointment. This will help you avoid mingling with large crowds unnecessarily. You'll also enjoy the music Subo offers with minimal distractions. At Subo you'll discover something incredible- you'll find vinyl pieces of every kind of music; this is something unusual-amazing. Thus, you can enjoy the musical experience from many different generations. And you'll find them in their most original form. Why, Subo even provides revelers with a gramophone to play exciting vinyl records going back to the 1950s to the 1980s. Those who prefer newer music that entertains different generations will have a DJ ready to pander to their whims. At Subo you can enjoy different types of music; local music, rock, pop, and classical. Indeed, you can enjoy everything in between, including Pink Floyd's The Wall (1979) and Aerosmith's Rocks( 1976).

Subo also features an in-house DJ, specialized in playing song remixes. The DJ is always ready for any other music ordered by revelers- the music of your choice. It doesn't matter whether you have a private party or a group gathering composed of friends and relatives- Subo covers you. Unsurprisingly, Subo's popularity has always soared- the bar offers everything Jakarta has exclusive; Subo lives up to its name.

As earlier noted, Subo is located in a house basement. You get there by appointment. The space that accommodates the bar has indoor and outdoor areas. Indeed, you can choose to listen to music in the indoor area while feasting on Subo's wide variety of food and drinks in the outdoor section. You can book your slot at the famous establishment by simply messaging the contact details on Subo's official Instagram account. But Subo offers more. You can enjoy a variety of books available at the establishment. Indeed, you can browse the books whenever you visit the bar. You can further enjoy all kinds of foods and drinks, including Vietnamese prawn and Shitaraki soup. There are also meat skewers and Tom prawn noodles- all are moderately priced. And it doesn't end there- Subo has a great selection of cocktails and mocktails; these are keenly prepared by an in-house bartender. Even after you have these, be prepared for more.

There is Subo's signature mocktail; the youthful jolly is prepared from pomegranate syrup, coffee, sparkling water, and passion fruit syrup. This is also quite popular with many patrons. And yet there's another signature Subo cocktail- Stubbornness; this is made from white wine syrup, dehydrated lemon, and espresso. So, while visiting Subo you'll experience unforgettable music nostalgia- indeed, you'll experience much more. The bar's homey vibe and retro look allow patrons to reminisce over various old-school music played from vintage vinyls. And you'll have this while simultaneously enjoying different delicious meals and exciting cocktails meticulously prepared by Subo's in-house bartender and chef. And in these days of a dreadful pandemic, you won't have to mingle with crowds while visiting the establishment. The bar's thoughtful appointment system limits the number of patrons who visit on any given day.

So, do you love music, especially the vintage type? Do you remember with pleasure the vintage music of the 1960s, 70s and 80s that people swung around as the vinyl record turned romantically? Do you love the pop star Michael Jackson's Thriller played memorably from the nostalgic vinyl record? Why not make a point of visiting Jakarta's famous Subo listening bar? And- don't forget to book your appointment; it's your exclusive ticket to Jakarta's vintage music paradise- Subo bar.

Have you ever heard of the Indonesia Raya or Great Indonesia? Well, it has something to do with the Indonesian national anthem. Do not confuse the Raya with Indonesia Jaya, the famous song by Harvey Malaiholo. The Indonesian Raya was composed in 1944 by the Surkano-led National Anthem Committee. The Raya was essentially derived from the 1924 musical composition by Wage Rudolf Supratman. It was originally adopted as the Indonesian National Anthem on August 17th, 1945 (when the country proclaimed its independence from the Dutch). The Raya is a symphonic rendition by the renowned Jozef Cleber. Supratman, the Raya's composer, first introduced the song during the Second Indonesian Youth Congress. The Raya marked the inception of the Indonesian all archipelago nationalist movement. The movement fiercely supported the concept of a single Indonesia to succeed the Dutch East Indies (instead of splitting the country into several independent colonies).

The Chinese Indonesian weekly Sin Pro soon became the first national newspaper to publish the Indonesian Raya's musical notation and lyrics. This was an overt act of defiance directed towards the colonialist Dutch authority. The Raya's first stanza officially became the new country's national anthem at independence in 1945. As mentioned, in 1950, the Dutch composer Jozef Cleber was honoured to create the tune's arrangement for philharmonic orchestra. Till today, Jozef's arrangement is widely used.

The Raya is routinely played in all Indonesia school's flag-raising ceremonies, usually held on Mondays. The national flag is generally raised in a deeply solemn, timed motion to reach the top of the flagpole just at the time the anthem ends. In order to commemorate the national independence, Indonesia holds the main flag-raising ceremony every August 17th. The country's president leads the independence ceremony, which is often held in Merdeka Palace. During the national anthem's rendition and singing, everyone present (except the uniformed ones) is required to stand at attention, face the music and pay due respect. The Armed Forces Personnel and others uniformed officers and school-going children generally render the military salute in honour of the auspicious occasion.

Since the 1928 Youth Congress, the Rays has been esteemed as the most important song for the Indonesian people. The Raya was primarily born at a momentous occasion when the nationalist movement and patriot feelings reached a peak. After a 300-year-long process of economic and political expansion, the former Dutch colonizers managed to build a king-sized colony comprising 17,000 islands. So, by 1928 these constituted the present-day Indonesian territorial boundaries. Indonesia is (famously) the 15th largest country in the world – in terms of land size. It's also the world's largest archipelago. Of course, the country's wide geographical expanse means Indonesia has enormous amounts of cultural diversity that could possible reside within the borders of a country. Indeed, when comparing the Acehnese Muslim in the Western part of the expansive archipelago to Papua's tribal animist family in the far eastern part), you're likely to find more differences than similarities. But there's an important unifying factor for all Indonesia's regions: subjection to colonial rule (regardless of the degree of colonialism).

The Raya contains-in essence- the following patriotic words: We, the daughters and sons of Indonesia, acknowledge that we have one motherland. We, the daughters and sons of Indonesia, proudly acknowledge that we have one nation composed of the people of Indonesia. We, the sons and daughters of Indonesia, respect this language of unity: Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia). The Raya's composer, Supratman (1903-1938) was a renowned musician, journalist and teacher. He wrote the famous song in the context of the Indonesian Youth Congress. Since the Youth Congress was essentially a subversive movement of Indonesia's late colonial days, the authorities considered the song's lyrics to be too nationalistic. Note, however, that the Raya's original version did not have the words merdeka or independence. Despite this the authorities quickly banned the song. But the nationalist movement only gained momentum. The colonial regime reacted with fierce acts of suppression.

At this point, Indonesia's young nationalist leaders, including Mohammed Hatta and Soerkana were soon arrested and confined to jail. Taking the cue, Indonesia's political and student organizations clandestinely distributed the Raya's popular lyrics and melody.

The domestic press, which steadily developed since the late 19th century, went on to play an essential role in the Raya's development. Several newspapers (including the Sin Po and Soeloeh Rakjat) were brave enough to publish the Raya's lyrics. The influence of Indonesia's fledgling media may well be compared to the influence of the earliest printing press and the modern social media influence on authoritarian regimes.

Well, the many renowned hospitable Indonesian entertainers always keep hordes of foreigners from leaving Jakarta. The emigrant community is so friendly that you can meet and socialize in many environments. Here's a sampling of the best bars in Jakarta where you can have unforgettable and wild nightlife.

Eastern Promise, also known as EP (in photo), is one of the famous bars for foreigners in Jakarta. It consists of 4 rooms: A sports café, a restaurant, a small bar and a beer garden with a live band. EP is widely considered the ideal hunting ground by most Indonesian revelers. Weekends are always packed with expatriates of all ages, gender, and nationalities. It's part of the Bugis group that owns other bars globally. De Burse, Frank's, De Hooi, Double Doors, and Carbar are same-class bars that many recommend.

McGettigan's is another modern Irish sports pub situated in Mega Kuningan, just a few meters from Ritz-Carlton. Most of the people that come here are upper-class emigrants, including Indonesians. The bar features live band on Wednesday and a ladies' night up to Saturday. New York and Singapore are among the 20 other locations where you can find such bars. McGettigan's forms a part of a larger group of bars located worldwide, including New York, Singapore, Dubai. Its entertainment is primarily for sports watching, consisting of 12 LED TV screens and a projection screen in the same venue.The pub mainly operates from noon to midnight on weekdays and from noon to dusk on weekends.

Another suitable bar to visit in Jakarta is Masters Sports Bars Mega Kuningan. This bar and restaurant offer the best venue to football lovers due to their massive projector screens for watching sports. Being one of the dedicated sports bars in Jakarta, Mega features around six different types of TVs, excluding two giant high-definition projection screens near the entry. You can watch any event going on around the world, whether football, racing, rugby and many more. The bar is owned by a group of expatriates who have their jobs well cut out. They come from different nationalities but share a joint objective.

Also, you can visit BATS Sudirman anytime you feel like doing steaks. This ";American establishment"; is a trendy bar among married emigrants. It has many imported live bands, such as the Quebec, which plays the top 40 songs. Live music is played for visiting businessmen, foreigners, and Indonesian enthusiasts. The dancefloor is always crowded, making it is possible to find a place to sit if you wish. Of course, the entry fee is a bit expensive, but one is always served with a free large beer as well. The bar opens from 5 pm to 3 am.

Aphrodite bar and restaurant is among the most popular; it neighbours the Taman Rasuna towers that serve expatriates. It's much recommended for anyone looking for exceptional western food. The entertainment includes live music, pool tables, and live sports. Most of the customers come to watch the English premier league, Formula 1, and other sports. It's located a few meters from the Taman Rasuna tower. This is another popular hangout for Indonesian enthusiasts. On ladies night, all girls get free drinks from 8 pm to 1 am. Live bands play rock and pop songs on most of these nights.

The last bar to consider visiting in Jakarta is Basque and Loewy in Mega Kuningan. It's a union of two restaurants under different management but with a distance of around 300 meters separating them. Most of the ex-pats that come here are in their 30s or 40s, single and seeking. Basque is a Spanish bar and restaurant with good food and a great design. Most of the emigrants hang out there more than in Loewy. This is also a pick-up place for Indonesian enthusiasts. It opens daily, playing a mix of popular songs from the past 10 to 20 years. Loewy is a French bar where half of the customers are Indonesians between 30 and 45 years old while the other half are foreigners. Most of the customers are from the upper class. It's has been in operation since it was opened in 2008 where people go for lunch or parties. It's opened every day starting from 11am to 2am.