[本文亦提供 中文 版本。]
Ubud was originally known as Ubad, the Balinese word for medicine. Historically it was a sanctuary for those seeking a system of return. While the crowds today swarm the Royal Palace, a deeper and more silent connection to the royal lineage exists just a few hundred meters away.
Tirta Usada: The Confluence #
Hidden near the Campuhan Ridge, protected by silent guards, lies one of the most sacred spots in Bali. It is the Campuhan Valley, the place where two rivers meet. In Balinese Hinduism, this confluence is a powerful symbol of energy and purification.
Arriving here the temperature drops. The jungle breathes. The atmosphere is one of absolute, unshakeable peace. This land (which is part of the Ibah estate) is managed by the descendants of the Ubud Royal Family. When I visited the remnants of a wedding ceremony still adorned the temple. A reminder that these sacred spaces are not museums, but living foundations for life’s most intense transitions.
Within this oasis is Tirta Usada, run by Tjok Gde Kerthyasa. It is a center for holistic health that produces remedies from herbs grown in their own mountain gardens at Mount Batukaru in central Bali.
My anchor here is the Tartusada cream. It is a chamomile-infused formula designed for small wounds and to calm and heal infected or stressed skin. It is a reminder that healing is a relationship between the earth and the skin.
Hormesis Attire: The Alchemy of Batik #
«We live in interesting times. It is glorious, progressive, and intense. But it’s also daunting because we have lost touch with the natural world. And we oh so dearly need that natural world.» — Oliver Lang
Long before I reached Bali, I was captivated by the mastery of Batik. In the West, a suit signals status. In Indonesia, you wear Batik to signal your connection to the sacred.
Hormesis Attire works against mass-produced polyester for local, high-vibration fibers. Linen, Bamboo and Hemp. The colors are pulled from the earth. Indigofera for blue, Mahogany for black and Mango leaves for yellow. The patterns are hand-applied using beeswax stamps (Cap) or pens (Canting). The wax protects the fabric from the dye and once removed by heat, the «Truth» of the pattern remains.
This is not mass-produced fashion. It is a slow, organic transformation of plants into art. Every piece at Hormesis is unique. Small runs for those who value longevity over the disposable.
Transforming a plant into a garment or a medicine is the realest thing I can imagine. It is a way to stay connected to the natural world in an era that feels increasingly daunting.
These rituals marked the end of my time in Ubud. I didn’t just leave with objects. I left with a reinforced internal structure.
Sonic Layer #
Visual Logs #
Operational Notes #
Hormesis Attire
Ladies: Jalan Hanoman No.18
Gentlemen: Jalan Bimamuka No. 1
hormesisbrand.com
Tirta Usada
c/o Ibah Hotel, Jalan Raya Campuhan
tirtausada.com
Ibah Hotel
Jalan Raya Campuhan
ibahubud.com
If you want to dive deeper into Batik it’s worth checking those boutiques and manufactuers aswell: Hamzah Batik (Yogyakarta), Alun Alun Indonesia (Jakarta & Bali) and Batik Keris (Cemani).
