A POSTCARD from SIDEMEN

Spend the days mid of October 1998, in city of Denpasar, where I live with all the congcrete jungle, poluttions and noise. A daily traffic jammed road, as a daily routine I never expecting. Stuck and trapped in the city with no concept and almost lost of Bali vibe and breeze, its not 100% lost but in percentage might 80% lost concept and Bali vibe. Scary and sad....

Kuta Beach

Born and spent my childhood in tranquil and strong vibe of Bali culture and nature, might effecting my point of view to see Bali ( City) nowadays. Kuta, Seminyak seems no more Bali for me. Fully understand ,we can not stop a development and tourism effect. But learn Tourism in theoritics from College, and work in tourism industry, I have my own theory about Bali Tourism. In the past Bali Tourism based on Cultural Tourism, which went wrong for many years, some people with brilliant idea,sell Bali culture which now becames Commercial Cultures, The Barong Dance, The Trance, The Ngaben, and many sacred Dance and Culture. While some company work in the name of culture preservation try to take much profit from it, but there are zero contribution for local Balinese , and the culture it selfs. Sad but thru....

Cock Fighting, around 1930's

Well, can't tell you one by one the whole story of how I get sick with all those uncontrolled Tourism Industry, which truly ain't give any contribution for Balinese it self. For me, in 10 or 20 years later Bali it will be a Island with complex problematic, caused by consumerism, and comerrcialism of their own as a part of new ages culture of Balinese.

Bali Traditional Market, 1930's

Some People might not agree, even many people not agree with the way I became skeptic, and
pessimistic about Tourism Bali will contribute Balinese, and Bali culture. Okay we can not say Tourism is bad, or fully blame it all into tourism, but it's all not a tourism or tourist mistake...it's all Bali failure, balinese own mistake. Why we blame it to Tourism..to Foreigner???

I write this, because as a Balinese I feel so sad, seeing how Balinese its self freak out and in histeria, of being commercial and Consummerism. How but Big Mall all around Kuta? Is that what we call non Consummerism? Who go there? American? Australian? I thought they have more better, more big and super mall in USA or Australia?!! Who go there is us...Balinese. Its Pethetic....

In Bali, a Village must have three critearia to call their selves village, must have Village Temple, worshiped by Villagers, A cemetery,Banjar or Village hall for gathering and meeting and a Market. It's a Market...where Villagers can socialized with others and built a strong economic among thems. Not A Mall..., which very clear is not owned by Balinese, or local. Where's all Balinese money was took and send over to Singapore, to Jakarta.