Balinese culture
Right at the heart of Balinese culture is the believe that if the gods are treated with disrespect and angered, they will seek a terrible revenge on the Balinese people. The Balinese culture is based around thanking the gods, asking for their continued blessing, and appeasing them to avoid their wrath. Many of these gods are essentially manifestations of natural forces, so the system of worship was in many ways sensible environmentalism. It encouraged integration with the natural world, respecting both the land and all living things that share it.
Modern mass market tourism and the advent of western culture has started to steam roller the island — and with it many local beliefs and customs. Although developers and entrepreneurs sometimes pay lip service to Balinese beliefs, and are happy to package and market some aspects of the culture, they have undoubtedly ignored many of the basic principles that required respect for the land. The ‘gods’ may yet extract a terrible revenge: this paradise can easily be destroyed.
Visitors can be forgiven for believing the environment is still clean and green. The emerald rice terraces and turquoise coastal waters of offer a persuasive vision of health — but the pace of change in most parts of the island has been swift and constant and there has been a price to pay. With their ready smiles and natural warmth the Balinese charm even the most cynical visitors, and their customs and religious heritage are both fascinating and amazingly accessible. It is also tempting to believe that the seamless integration between their culture and the natural world is understood by them all, but this impression is misleading. But their involvement is on a deeply spiritual level and does not take account of the practicalities of dealing with the conflicting social and cultural influences they face today. A simple example of this is the immediate results of their increasing reliance on plastics in packaging. In the past, many foodstuffs and ceremonial articles were carried within the natural folds of a leaf, but there is now a much greater acceptance of plastic as an alternative. Unfortunately, the traditional practice of just discarding the used leaf containers on the ground is entrenched and unchanged by the fact that the plastic replacements are much more harmful and long-lasting.
Fortunately there are many signs of positive action. Various organizations and foundations have been set up to establish environmental conservation and promote ecotourism, but at present, while many operators are striving in the right direction, there are still few practical examples that demonstrate all the essential principles.
One man’s approach to the challenge-of making ecotourism work can be seen at Permuteran, in the northwestern corner of Bali, an area which has previously seen little tourism. The last untouched areas of mountain forest are nearby in the West Bali National Park. The reefs offshore were little-known and locals had started dynamite fishing until the resulting damage suddenly began to impact fish stocks dramatically.