Chatting with Ketut Adhi Utama in Kerobokan Bali-part I

Reviewing hotels is part of my job and today I went and checked out the Hotel Bali Ayu, located on Jl. Petitenget in Kerobokan. While there I got to meet the Executive Assistant Manager Ketut Adhi Utama. Ketut is from Tabanan and we got a bit off topic, talking about how Bali is developing and the Balinese culture. One of the things we discussed was the rampant villa construction in Bali and how local people can't wait to sell land to outsiders who build villas for sale or for rent. This development is mostly without proper planning or zoning and it's a shame to see areas like Canggu and Umalas getting eaten up. I reckon 20 years from now those areas will be like Orange County California, one gigantic suburb filled with a twilight-zone of never ending houses.

Ketut was telling me about the banjar, or 'community' that all married Balinese men must attend. The banjar has tremendous power in Bali and forsaking one's duties can get one ostracized. Its no laughing matter, they can shut your business down, burn your house down, whatever they want if they feel you have acted out of line with adat (traditional law). The banjar however can be reasonable as long as you see things their way, so to speak. They want a newcomer to employ locals (usually at least 20% and including some of the least desirable candidates ). Firing a local employee can be very tricky as they might go to the banjar and cry about it. Rather than firing on the spot its much better to amass evidence, getting the employee to sign a letter of complaint by you. Then after the evidence has stacked up you can plead your case to the banjar much better. Interesting and useful for anyone with a large business. The Four Seasons hotel near Ubud has an ongoing dispute with the local banjar, who fell trees to block access on occasion.