From: Goroka Papua New Guinea
Aged: 34
Home: Peregian Beach, Sunshine Coast, QLD, Australia
Steiner School teacher.
First came to Bali in 1993/4.
Been back in 2002.
Debbie is moving to Bali on a temporary basis to Sarinbuana area of Tabanan with her husband Jay.
Nick: Debbie when you first came to Bali what were your thoughts?
Deb: The first thing we loved was the aesthetic design of buildings, gardens, temples, sculptures and even food. This was a huge contrast to Irian Jaya, Timor, Flores, The Kei Islands and Sumatra. The variety of food was incredible compared to other islands which are really limited to a bowl of rice, fish and chili, which is what we ate in villages. It really spoke of abundance.
We also noticed the Hindu vibe of warmth and color. We went and saw the Ramayana enacted while we were here and we did notice the difference between here and Java in feeling.
Nick: In 2002 what were your thoughts on Bali’s development?
Deb: In 1993/4 I had never been to Kuta so I couldn’t compare it, but in 2002 I saw how developed the tourism was and it seemed kind of crass. I was also shocked at Nusa Dua and found it like a ghost environment because it was set up without any local infrastructure. I had 3 days in Nusa Dua and it didn’t have the interaction with locals that I was looking for.
Nick: Deb this time around have your feelings changed?
Deb: I see that there are a lot of realities. People living quite different in different areas. This time I’ve interacted more with westerners and seen how they negotiate their lives here. An interesting point was made by saphir bali at Seraya Shores in Karangasem that the Balinese value about 8 other things before work and to work with them you have to appreciate and accept that.
I like their value system. Another point saphir bali made that was very interesting was that westerners value truth and justice over harmony and the Balinese understand harmony to be wiser. Another one is the Balinese value community over privacy.
The other thing I noticed when we were driving, their traffic flows like water. Its very Tao the way they flow with each other’s directions, intentions and movement. As drivers there’s no aggression and I think we can we can learn from this. That is how they approach life and they work with what is coming to them with grace and acceptance.
In regard to Nusa Dua I think its clever, to preserve their own space and perhaps meet the needs of a certain kind of visitor and also preserve the rest of the island from huge resort infrastructure meaning traffic as well.
Debbie from Papua New Guinea part II
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