As morning light spilled over Ubud’s rice terraces and temples, the second day of the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival (UWRF 2025) unfurled with the confidence of a festival in full stride. Under this year’s theme, Aham Brahmasmi – I Am the Universe, Day 2 brought a radiant mix of ideas, storytelling, and culture — from bold discussions on politics and poetry to immersive culinary walks, sound baths, and after-dark performances that blended Bali’s creative pulse with the world’s literary heartbeat.
Main Programme: Words that Shape Worlds
From 9 AM, the Alang-Alang Stage buzzed to life with “Rewriting Women’s History”, featuring Sasti Gotama, Ratih Kumala, Mirandi Riwoe, and Sally Breen — a powerful opener reframing how women’s stories have long been sidelined in traditional histories.
An hour later, the crowd leaned in for “Ladies of the Booker Prize”, with Banu Mushtaq, Deepa Bhasthi, Jenny Erpenbeck, and Gil Westaway, discussing literary success, womanhood, and the weight of recognition in global publishing.
But it was the 11:30 session, “Artificial Intelligence and Indonesia,” that sparked some of the day’s most animated debate. Moderated by Steve Stine, with panelists Akhyari Hananto, Annisa R. Beta, and Marissa Saraswati, the discussion explored how AI is reshaping the nation’s creative and civic life. As Annisa R. Beta observed, “AI doesn’t just reflect us — it amplifies who we already are, for better or worse.”
The audience erupted in thoughtful applause, a testament to the session’s resonance in a world negotiating between technology and humanity.
By noon, the Alang-Alang Stage kept its momentum with “Capturing South East Asia’s Collective Memory”, where Juli Sastrawan, Omar Musa, and Ronny Agustine reflected on how memory shapes modern storytelling across borders.
At Indus Restaurant, conversations on “The Critical Role of Independent Media” and “Israel and Palestine: Pathways to Peace” showcased the festival’s intellectual range, featuring global voices like Adit Sukma Savitri, Ian Yee, and Omar El Akkad. Over at the Valley Stage, the morning belonged to history and resistance — David Van Reybrouckdelving into Revolusi, followed by “Warriors of Writing: Resistance through Poetry” featuring Jazz Money, Stebby Juliantoan, and Eva Fernandes.
The afternoon deepened with standout sessions such as “The Power of Women” (with Devi Asmarani and Virginia Haussegger) and “Women and Creativity” (with Agnes Christina, Courtney Collins, and Jenny Valentinsh), both celebrating how women transform art, family, and community. At the same time, Haidar Bagir’s “Religion and Imagination” drew a full house, inviting reflection on how faith and creativity can expand our shared horizons.
Special Events: Intimate Encounters with Story
Festivalgoers looking for something more immersive found a packed roster of Special Events across Ubud.
Early risers joined Darryl Jones for his popular Birdwatching Tour at Tjampuhan Ridge Walk, spotting kingfishers and Java sparrows amid the morning mist. Over lunch, Heirlooms: Literary Long Table at Herb Library offered an edible reflection on storytelling, family, and time, with Lech Blaine, Luna Vidya, and Rio Helmi around the table.
At 3:30 PM, tea lovers gathered at Dragon Tea Temple for “The Art of Tea,” guided by Antoinette Lafolay Nope Tekenand Laksmi DeNeefe Suardana, blending ritual, flavor, and philosophy.
Later in the day, Bello Li and Wayan Wardika led “Discover the Magic of Fireflies Village”, a sunset journey through rice paddies and Balinese folklore. The evening’s historical highlight, “History Duet: Cosmos and Kingdom,” paired David Van Reybrouck and Herold van der Linde at Honeymoon Garden, while the late-night reflection “What Do We Do Now” at Luma Cucina featured Banu Mushtaq, Faisal Tehrani, and Steph Hormann, closing the night on a note of hope and urgency.
Masterclasses: Craft, Culture, and Confidence
Friday’s Masterclasses combined the cerebral and the practical. At SenS Hotel & Spa, Indonesian journalist Harry Surjadi led “The Power of Storytelling in Personal Branding,” urging writers to align authenticity with voice.
Across town, Adi Suwetya guided a poetic exploration in “The Poetics of Border Ethnography,” while Gilang Proppagia’s “Print, Protest, Punk” dissected zine culture and grassroots expression. At Alila Ubud, podcast producer Iyos Lowrence demystified sound storytelling in “Master Your Podcast with Makna Talks.”
Each session brought together emerging and seasoned creatives seeking not just knowledge, but connection — one of the festival’s strongest undercurrents.
Cultural Workshops: Immersed in the Island’s Soul
Beyond panels and papers, UWRF’s Cultural Workshops celebrated Bali’s sensory richness. At Dharma Kula Ubud, guests began the morning with “Bahasa Indonesia Breakfast,” learning language basics over coffee and fruit.
Meanwhile, the “Hands-On Tempe Culinary Experience” at Tempe Experience Ubud invited visitors to roll up their sleeves and learn Indonesia’s protein-rich staple from scratch. Afternoon saw artisans gather for “Exploring Indigo Tie Dye with Threads of Life,” transforming traditional techniques into modern art pieces.
As the day unfolded, the workshops became spaces of mindful learning — bridging art, food, and community in tangible, heartfelt ways.
After Dark: Where Stories Become Sound and Shadow
When the sun slipped behind the palms, the festival came alive in neon and rhythm. Although Thursday had hosted the Women’s Poetry Slam, Friday’s energy turned toward anticipation for Saturday’s main slam — and spontaneous performances across Ubud’s cafés and courtyards kept spirits high.
At Honeymoon Garden, laughter and light carried over from the previous night’s Empire: Rooting for the Anthropocene, while storytellers and musicians prepared for the weekend’s Wayang Women: Wewe Gombel. The night air was thick with poetry, gamelan echoes, and cross-cultural dialogue — a living embodiment of UWRF’s mission to connect stories and souls.
Film Programme: Stories on Screen
For film lovers, Friday offered two exceptional screenings at the Alang-Alang Stage.
At 4 PM, audiences were transported into mythic grandeur with “Gayatri: The Majapahit Trilogy (Episode 1)” by mhyajo, blending opera and cinematic spectacle. Later that evening, “The Last Accord: War, Apocalypse, and Peace in Aceh” by Arfan Sofyan and Ida Fitri provided a sobering counterpoint — a moving reflection on war and reconciliation in Indonesia’s northern province.
As the credits rolled and applause echoed under Ubud’s tropical night sky, the connection between page, screen, and soul felt seamless.
Day 2 in Reflection: The Universe in Motion
By sunset, it was clear that Day 2 of the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival 2025 had captured the full essence of its theme — an unfolding universe of imagination, intellect, and intimacy.
From the quiet precision of tea ceremonies to the fiery exchanges on artificial intelligence and activism, every moment pulsed with inquiry and empathy. The festival’s strength lay not just in its programming, but in its people — readers leaning forward, artists laughing over coconut ice cream, translators swapping notes in courtyard cafés.
If Day 1 was arrival, Day 2 was immersion. Every corner of Ubud seemed alive with dialogue and discovery. As the night closed, one could almost hear the island whisper:
“The stories we tell are the universes we create.”
