The outsiders effect

Throughout history, the people of Bali have maintained a distinctive culture and way of life. Hindu kingdoms in other parts of Indonesia, dating back as early as first century AD, are said to have coexisted with the native Balinese, establishing the first Hindu colony on Bali in the 1300s. In the following century, however, the introduction of Islam in Indonesia and its growing power, particularly in Java, caused many artists, noblemen and priests of Hindu faith to flee to Bali. Those who sought refuge adopted many Balinese traditions and customs, resulting in the unique culture and practices, a blend of Hinduism and animist beliefs, found there today.

According to Bagi (the bicycle tour owner and operator and native Balinesian), crime is not an option on Bali, at least not for the Balinese. Any Balinesian who commits a crime is reported to the village head and faces extensive punishment. Whatever was taken or harmed remedied, the individual punishment and the subsequent family humiliation serve as the main deterrents against crime. Accordingly, most of the crimes committed and reported are attributed to outsiders. Whether fact or fiction, Bali has unfortunately been dealt its fair share in the last several years.

In 2002, three bombs on Bali, claimed by an Islamic terrorists, killed 202 people and injured 209 more. Just about 40 of those killed were Indonesian, the remainder foreign nationals. At that point, Australians were not granted insurance if traveling to Bali, which has been one of their frequented vacation destinations. Tourism on Bali suffered, as did its people. Again in another attack in 2005, suicide bombers killed 26 people, most Indonesians, and injured 126 others. The terrorists concentrated their targets on tourist locations, and in the first bombing, the US Embassy. According to Bagi, not a single person arrested or involved in the attacks was Balinese.

The islands have seen a slow but steady return of tourists since the bombings. And those who've visited the islands notice increases in room and board and activities alike. But the Balinese maintain that tourism is not what it was prior to the attacks. While the Indonesian government recognizes the economic benefit of a place like Bali, the religious differences and Western tourists have made the islands an attractive target for terrorists. One can only hope that Bali's beefed-up security may prevent future violence and help restore prosperity to such peaceful place. But for the Balinese, more than anywhere else I've seen, the good is taken with the bad. In that same vein, the men convicted of the 2002 bombings (all from Java) were executed by firing squad last year.