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RE: The Bali Paradox
Nope...no outstanding bets with Bert. Bert doesn't owe me a thing, and visa versa.
Bets, maybe it's time we move on to this issue...found that book yet? You could easily order over the internet, and have it by the weeks end to read. :shock:
RE: The Bali Paradox
OK, Mats, one "mercy" post. The million rups that Bert referred to, was the cost of the exit permit for him to depart Indonesia.
Sorry we were talking, and "funning" around you. Ma'af I called you "Bets" it appears you reminded me of my ex-wife. :oops:
RE: The Bali Paradox
Nope, I've never shopped "on line". I don't feel comfortable about giving my credit card details over the net; heard too many horrific stories of credit card fraud.
Call me an old-fashioned girl, but I like to see what I'm buying first! :wink:
(Had to edit the spelling, drives me crazy!)
Re: RE: The Bali Paradox
Yikes!! :shock:Originally Posted by Roy
RE: The Bali Paradox
Yikes indeed and I'm sorry. :oops:
RE: The Bali Paradox
Matsaleh,
Oh yes, I am a frequent visitor. I will be in Bali again over xmas and new year, and wil be taking up residence next summer I hope. Re your comment about eccentricity, absolutely! I was probably the only sane one on the island!!!!
Roy,
You know Captain Jack as well? Don't tell me he is still there.
I will put together some impressions of Bali in the mid 70's, and post them in a couple of days. I am away on business for a while.
RE: The Bali Paradox
Looking forward to your memoirs, Chris. 8)
I know this is a rather old post, but just felt the need to reply. I am from Hawaii and coming to Bali seemed the most natural thing to do. Perhaps it's the island boy in me. I am bule and know from many of my Hawaiian friends that Hawaii has changed enormously through tourism. I also can say that there is a push to revive many of the Hawaiian traditions and customs. Hawaiian immersion schools have become an alternative to western style schools. My point here is that although Bali is changing and at an alarming rate. I believe that the soul of Bali will never allow it to become lost forever. In Hawaii we have the "Aloha spirit" -love - a feeling and outward projection of kindness towards all. This is not a tourism gimmick but a true embodied feeling. Like Bali, Hawaiians also believe in a personal/spiritual attachment to the land, sea and heaven that exist in life as well as death and that they live on all planes simultaneously. This belief I believe will keep Balinese grounded in their traditions.
Having said that, anyone that has lived here for any amount of time knows you can only push a Balinese so far off center before they push back. And lets hope it always stays that way.
One of the main things that first impressed me about Bali and the Balinese was their strong sense of identity. What does this mean? Well, most other Asian people are terribly keen to be seen as "Western" in dress, manor and outlook and this leads to a pretty hasty loss of their traditional cultures, but not so the Balinese.
They seem to be able to segregate their personalities into 2 areas - Us and Them.
"Us" is full-up with Balinese customs, religion and family.
"Them" is that area that we get let into to see a bit of and is responsible for their open and accepting attitude towards what we do and say. But only up to a point and this point seems to be rock-solid.
Ask any Pakistani, Indian, Thai or Sri Lankan if they would like to move to American/Europe/Australia and 90% of the time the answer will be "show me the exit!".
Not the Balinese.
I'm not worried for the Balinese culture as long as things stay like this.
Markit - thank you, very well said and I couldn't agree more. Sorry couldn't find the applause or like button.
I also forgot to mention how much I enjoyed reading the original post (article) by I Ketut Surya Diarta. It was interesting and though provoking to say the least.
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