With love, we welcome you to a weekend in nature’s assuring embrace: attuned to your wellbeing, and anchored by
the Garden’s community.
31 May & 1 June, Saturday & Sunday
Tropical Spice Garden, Penang
All you need to know about BuMI is on this page.
Shortcuts:
FULL SCHEDULE ↓
TICKETING OVERVIEW ↓
EVENING FEATURES ↓
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To view/save festival schedule and listings in full-res, click here.
nature,
community,
wellbeing,
BuMI FEST.
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Come as you are. Return to what matters.
A little lookback to what we’ve been up to, and a glimpse of what we’re growing into.
What’s in store for you this year?
BuMI is for everyone. Choose your day, pick your path, and join us for a weekend of sound, stillness, and soulful experiences.
To view the schedule in larger format / save them onto your devices - click here.
Festival Schedule
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This year, BuMI Fest invites fewer. We’re keeping it small so the experience can stay deep. No big crowds, no chaos. Just meaningful moments in nature.
With more space to move, time to feel, room to breathe.
It’s a chance to root, rediscover, and reconnect in stillness, in play, and in community.
Ticketing Overview
Intimate by design.
Limited by choice.
ticket-overview
Adult Experiences & Workshops · 31 May, Saturday
Each Adult Festival Ticket includes two (2) paid experiences of your choice on your selected day(s).
Recommended flow: Take some time to look through the experiences. Add your selections to cart. Complete checkout after adding your Festival Ticket.
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Primal Dance: Our Body, The Earth
10.30am - 12pm · Red Grove Deck
Embark on a transformative journey that reconnects you with the innate rhythms of the natural world through the primal expression of dance. -
New Beginnings: Crystals, Sound & Tea
10.30am - 12.30pm · Glasshouse
Indulge in a unique healing process with the combination of crystals, sound, tea, fire & smoke; as you unearth hidden emotions on a simple, meaningful and powerful journey back to you. -
Ulam: 10 Gems from the Malaysian Forest
10am - 1pm · TSG Cooking School
This workshop offers ulam tasting, an introduction to the different types and benefits of ulam, and a chance to enjoy a signature ulam salad. -
Nature’s Hidden Colours: Flower Press Pounding
12.30 - 2pm · Red Grove Deck
Eco-Pounding or Tataki-Zome is a traditional Japanese printmaking and natural dyeing technique that transforms fresh flowers and leaves into stunning botanical prints. -
Breathe, Flow & Ice Bath
2.30 - 4pm · Red Grove Deck
In this 1.5-hour session, you will be guided through a profound exploration of self-enhancement, fostering a deep connection between mind, body, and spirit. -
Shibari: The Art of Self-Tying
2.30 - 4pm · Glasshouse
Rooted in deep presence, self-awareness, and embodied connection, our approach to Shibari and self-tying invites individuals to slow down, tune into their breath, and surrender into the moment. -
Pottery In Nature
2 - 4pm · Garden Nursery
Using stoneware clay to make tea cups or bowls, you’ll learn the guiding principles of pottery and have an opportunity to express your creativity in your own way. -
Natural Dyes: Shibori Fabric Dyeing
4.30 - 6pm · Red Grove Deck
In this hands-on workshop, you’ll experiment with plant-based pigments and explore Shibori, a traditional Japanese resist-dyeing technique, to create unique patterns. -
Singing Bowl & Tea Ceremony
4.30 - 5.30pm · Heart of the Garden
Let the soothing vibrations of singing bowls guide you into deep relaxation, surrounded by the tranquil beauty of nature. The session concludes with a mindful tea experience, allowing you to ground and savor the moment.
Adult Experiences & Workshops · 1 June, Sunday
Each Adult Festival Ticket includes two (2) paid experiences of your choice on your selected day(s).
Recommended flow: Take some time to look through the experiences. Add your selections to cart. Complete checkout after adding your Festival Ticket.
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Herbal Poultice Workshop
10.15am - 11.45am · Red Grove Deck
Step into the world of herbal wisdom and craft your own aromatic Herbal Poultice. Guided by Xin Tong, you’ll work with locally gathered herbs, each infused with healing energy. -
Natural Beauty Workshop: DIY Deodarant
10.30am - 12pm · Glasshouse
A fun and interactive workshop where you'll learn how to make your own all-natural deodorant using simple, skin-friendly ingredients! Say goodbye to harsh chemicals and hello to a healthier, eco-friendly alternative. -
Art of Fermentation: Tempeh Making Workshop
10.30am - 12.30pm · TSG Cooking School
In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn how to make delicious, homemade tempeh using organic soybeans from scratch! -
Expressive Art for Self-Love
12 - 2pm · Red Grove Deck
This 2-hour art experience guides participants through a journey of emotional expression, renewal, and self-connection using watercolour painting and reflective journaling. -
Pottery In Nature
12.30 - 2.30pm · Garden Nursery
Using stoneware clay to make tea cups or bowls, you’ll learn the guiding principles of pottery and have an opportunity to express your creativity in your own way. -
Inner Earth: Breath & Sound Healing in Nature
2.30 - 4.30pm · Red Grove Deck
Join us as we guide you through a powerful sequence of movements, breathing, grounding and healing in nature; to 'charge', 'discharge' and 'realign' yourself with your 'true vibration' again. -
Art of Fermentation: Vegan Kimchi Making Workshop
2.30 - 4pm · TSG Cooking School
Make your own vegan organic kimchi! Learn the secrets of making vegan kimchi fermentation in this interactive workshop. Perfect for beginners and food lovers! -
Harmonic Flow: Harp Therapy & Yoga
4 - 4.45pm · Glasshouse
Harp therapy utilises the gentle vibrations of its strings to produce sound frequencies that resonate deeply with the body. These soothing frequencies facilitate a holistic internal adjustment, harmonising the mind and body to restore balance. -
Didgeridoo 101
4.45 - 5.45pm · Red Grove Deck
Welcome to an hour-long workshop that takes participants on a journey of discovering the didgeridoo, from its history to health-associated benefits. You’ll also receive one to take home! -
The Big Double Breathe
6.15 - 7pm · Glasshouse
Join us for a powerful breath work journey that starts with a short yoga flow to prepare the body, followed by an immersive 45 minute Double Breathing practice to restore, rejuvenate, and reset your entire system.
Free Experiences for Adults
Every Adult Festival Ticket comes with these added special experiences - register for them when you add your Adult Festival Ticket to cart.
These are optional and separate from the two paid experiences included in your Festival Ticket.
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Energising Morning Flow
31 May · 9am · Red Grove Deck
Start your day in stillness and strength. This all-level yoga session takes place on the Red Grove Deck, surrounded by rainforest and sea, guided by breath and presence. Sessions will be led the Garden’s team of resident wellness instructors. -
An Intro To Acroyoga
31 May, Sat · 4.30pm · Red Grove Deck
Build trust, balance, and playful connection through movement. This beginner-friendly session invites you to explore the fundamentals of Acroyoga in a safe, supportive space - no partner or prior experience needed. -
Forest Bathing Walk
1 June, Sun · 9am · Red Grove Deck
We invite you to join us on a gentle, slow-paced journey through our garden sanctuary, designed to enhance the beautiful exchange between forest and people. This walk is crafted to slow your mind and body, decrease cortisol levels, and lower blood pressure, leaving you feeling recharged, grounded, and reconnected.
Kids Experiences & Workshops: 31 May
Unlike the adult experiences, selections for these experiences are made during checkout of the Festival Tickets, via a pop-up form.
We recommend keeping this page open on a separate tab for easy reference.
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Poi Circus Play
10 - 11am · Bamboo Garden
Learn the basics of circus arts with Ingridflows using real circus props of poi, hoops and fans and whole lot of fun. -
Comic Drawings: What the Ralph?
12.30 - 1.30pm · Bamboo Garden
Ralphy is a 13-year-old artist and comic creator with a passion for bringing stories to life through bold, energetic doodles. He’ll be sharing his process, encouraging others to doodle freely, think outside the box, and bring their own ideas to life! -
Kids Cooking Class: Tang Yuan with a Twist (Asian Cartoon Gummy Balls)
2 - 4pm · TSG Cooking School
Who says Tang Yuan has to be just round and simple? In this fun and creative class, we’re ditching the traditional look and bringing cartoon magic to these chewy delights! Think adorable characters with playful expressions all wrapped in soft, colourful glutinous rice balls.Get ready to roll, shape, and design your own creative edible masterpieces. Whether it’s a cute panda, a cheeky cat, or your favorite animated icon Tang Yuan that are almost too cute to eat… one chewy bite at a time!
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Jungle Survival: Water, Fire & Food
4 - 6pm · Bamboo Garden
A seriously fun way to learn basic jungle survival in 2 hours. This workshop will teach kids the basics of surviving in the jungle.
Learn how to:
- Find water, treat it and drink it
- Identify plants that you can eat, start a fire with and use as medicine
- Cook a meal with bamboo and banana leave
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Nature Den: Hapa Zome Eco-Printing Bookmarks
31 May · 10 - 11am
Bamboo Garden -
Nature Den: Rainbow Wands
31 May · 11am - 12.30pm
Bamboo Garden -
Nature Den: Flower Crowns
31 May · 12.30 - 2.30pm
Bamboo Garden -
Nature Den: Flower Pots
31 May · 2.30 - 4pm
Bamboo Garden -
Nature Den: Friendship Bracelets
31 May · 4 - 6pm
Bamboo Garden
The Nature Den is a space curated for kids situated at the Bamboo Garden. It is a space where we encourage kids to play independently outdoors, connecting with nature in a real way. Each Nature Den session will feature an eco-inspired activity led by our friendly team of den volunteers who have held this space throughout the year. Suitable for kids aged 4 - 12 years.
Kids Experiences & Workshops: 1 June
Unlike the adult experiences, selections for these experiences are made during checkout of the Festival Tickets, via a pop-up form.
We recommend keeping this page open on a separate tab for easy reference.
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Jungle Survival: Comfort In Camp
10am - 12pm · Bamboo Garden
Being comfortable in the wild doesn’t mean packing more gear—it means knowing what to do with what nature gives you. This hands-on session teaches your kids the skills needed to create practical jungle tools using nothing more than rope, bamboo, and their own two hands.In this 2-hour workshop, you’ll learn how to:
- Tie essential survival knots
- Use lashings to build strong, stable structures
- Craft functional items like water containers, tripod tables, and kitchen utensils -
Comic Drawings: What the Ralph?
10am - 12.30pm · Bamboo Garden
Ralphy is a 13-year-old artist and comic creator with a passion for bringing stories to life through bold, energetic doodles. He’ll be sharing his process, encouraging others to doodle freely, think outside the box, and bring their own ideas to life!
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Nature Den: Rope Dolls
10am - 12pm · Bamboo Garden
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Nature Den: Palm Leaf Weaving
12 - 2.30pm · Bamboo Garden
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Nature Den: Fairy Pots
2.30 - 4pm · Bamboo Garden
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Supervised Nature Den Free Play
4 - 5pm · Bamboo Garden
The Nature Den is a space curated for kids situated at the Bamboo Garden. It is a space where we encourage kids to play independently outdoors, connecting with nature in a real way. Each Nature Den session will feature an eco-inspired activity led by our friendly team of den volunteers who have held this space throughout the year. Suitable for kids aged 4 - 12 years.
Evening Features
As day turns to night, we gather for ceremony, rhythm, and release: a surge of energy to conclude each day at BuMI.
Evening Features
NAUNGAN (Live Performance)
31 May, Saturday · 7pm · Red Grove Deck
Blending the rich sounds of Malaysia’s many cultural roots, NAUNGAN
is a boundary-pushing instrumental ensemble on a mission to unite through music. With instruments like the guzheng, ruan, tabla, rebana, sitar and sape’, their performances are a powerful fusion of tradition and experimentation — telling stories of harmony, identity, and shared heritage without a single word. As Saturday night’s headline act, the band will bring a soulful crescendo to the Garden: a celebration of rhythm, heritage, and what’s possible when cultures move together.
CHAKARUNA (Cacao Ceremony & Ecstatic Dance)
1 June, Sunday · 8pm · Red Grove Deck
Ecstatic Dance is an invitation to express yourself fully - without judgment, choreography, or words - allowing music to guide you into a state of flow, connection, and embodied freedom.
The name Chakaruna, meaning “bridge person” in Quechua, reflects his mission: to bring worlds together. His eclectic sets - spanning organic house, tribal bass, shamanic downtempo, and disco bangers - have resonated with communities across Australia, Asia, and North America.
This transformative experience will begin with a sacred Cacao ceremony, honouring an indigenous tradition from South America to deepen our connection to ourselves, nature, and each other.
Flying in from Australia to close the weekend with a set designed to move your feet and open your heart, get ready to embark on a journey deep within your soul, guided by rhythm, energy, and freeform movement.
A Note from Katharine
Festival Director & Custodian,
Tropical Spice Garden
Every day we are still able to stand, to breathe in and breathe out at the Garden is a gift. We have kept our promise to simplify life and live as closely to this earth as possible bringing as many with us along the way.
BuMI 2025 is the perfect glimpse of the Garden’s pulse: of what we’re growing into as a community and a deeper exploration of our true selves and our place in this big, wonderful, natural world.
So come away with us this weekend to disconnect and reconnect with what truly matters: to ground and go within. There will be not one, but two headlining acts in NAUNGAN, a world ethnic fusion band from Kuala Lumpur and Chakaruna from Melbourne for a cacao ceremony and ecstatic dance to cap off the week. This, amongst a host of brand-new experiences from fermentation and natural dyeing classes to a didgeridoo-making and jungle survival workshops!
We present nature and wellbeing to you, from our little pocket of paradise, right here in Penang: BuMI Fest.
With love,
Katharine
FAQs & A Few Gentle Reminders
What does the Adult Festival Ticket include?
A: The Adult Festival Ticket (RM99) includes:
- Entrance to the Garden
- Two (2) paid experiences of your choice on your selected day(s)
- Access to the day’s Evening Feature
- Access to talks & screenings
- Access to festival vendors
Bonus Access (first-come, first-served):
- Energising Morning Flow (31 May)
- Intro to Acroyoga (31 May)
- Forest Bathing (1 June)
What does the Kid Festival Ticket include?
A: The Kid Festival Ticket (RM40) includes:
- Entrance to the Garden
- Access to kids activities on your selected day(s)
- Access to Saturday’s Evening Feature
- Access to talks & screenings
- Access to festival vendors
Note: Sunday’s Cacao Ceremony & Ecstatic Dance is for adults only.
Is RM99 the final price for the Adult Festival Ticket?
RM99 is our early bird special a super value deal! This price is only valid until 2 weeks before the festival. After that, workshops will be bookable as individual experiences, but subject to availability.
Who is the Kid Festival Ticket for?
A: Children aged 4 to 12. Kids under 4 enter free.
How do I book experiences with an Adult Festival Ticket?
A: After selecting your ticket, add your two paid experiences from the main festival page before checking out. Only experiences that match your ticket date are allowed.
How do I book experiences with a Kid Festival Ticket?
A: When you add a Kid Festival Ticket to your cart, a pop-up form will let you select activities. We recommend having the main festival page open in another tab for easier selection.
Can I book more than two experiences for my child?
A: Yes! There's no cap on your child’s experiences. But we recommend aligning them with your own for ease.
Can I select activities outside the date of my ticket?
A: No. Activities must match your ticket date. Extra bookings may be removed.
Are tickets refundable or transferable?
A: All tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. If you’re buying for someone else, enter their name during checkout.
Can children attend the Evening Feature?
Yes! NAUNGAN on Saturday evening is child-friendly and open to all ticket holders. However, the Cacao Ceremony & Ecstatic Dance on Sunday is strictly for adults.
What should I wear or bring?
The festival runs rain or shine, so pack your raincoat or umbrella just in case. We recommend light cotton clothing and comfortable, flat shoes to move freely around the garden.
Friendly Reminders for Festival Goers
1. This is a rain-or-shine event. Bring a poncho or umbrella just in case. Follow our socials for live updates.
2. Carpool or use the free shuttle to avoid parking stress.
3. No outside food or drinks, unless you have dietary restrictions. Our food vendors have you covered.
4. Treat the Garden with respect—tread lightly and leave no trace.
5. Bring your own tumblers and picnic gear if you plan to stay longer. Showers are available on-site.
Got more questions? Drop us a line (via WhatsApp message) at +6019 420 3797 or email admin@tsgspicefam.com - we’ll get back to you at the soonest!