Balinese show their creativity

Balinese show their creativity

For the sensitive souls among us, a visit to the island of
Bali at the end of the year, which happens to be also the end of
the millennium, will inevitably evoke inside their being the
spirit of creation. It is easy to guess why. Wherever you are and
whatever you look at -- a piece of furniture, a stone or wooden
pole, a gate, a house, a government building -- it has become an
ornament in itself, born from a creative heart and mind.

In Negara, some 20 miles west of Denpasar, innovative minds of
the people are evident. One even can see mosques, churches and
other public buildings styled with Balinese ornaments, for
example carvings and sculptures on the entrance gates. I think
these innovative minds should also be possessed by the government
officials and the Cabinet ministers in particular, so that they
never stop creating and recreating for the benefit of the people
as a whole.

It seems that the people of Bali are irresistibly drawn by a
force to create and recreate whatever they see or touch. Once a
Balinese becomes a painter or a sculptor, he or she will not stop
producing until they can work no longer. He or she will die if
they stop creating and recreating.

No wonder that their music and dances are dynamic as if
restlessly searching for the eternal value, the source of all
creation. Their religion -- Hinduism -- calls for every human
being to give some offerings to their many gods (wise people
call the one Omnipotent God by many names), throughout the day
almost without interruption by all members of the family.

The island of Bali has fascinated tourists from all over the
globe since the first foreign visitor landed here. Attracted by
thousands of temples (Balinese pura), a number of foreign
painters decided to stay and die among the Balinese who gave them
inspiration for their work. One of them (Anthony Blanco), an
Italian, recently died at the age of 88. He was survived by a
Balinese wife and 13 grandchildren to think of his legacy.

There are young people from around the world who just want to
have the experience of lying down on Kuta beach and watching the
sun set. On my recent visit to the island, I did not see many
beggars. I believe that in rural areas there are people who still
live below the poverty line. The tourist sector until now mainly
benefits investors in hotels, banks and the fishing (cannery)
industry. Yet I noticed that in general a degree of prosperity
prevails, judging from the fact that most Balinese own a
motorcycle.

I would think that the crime rate is low in this particular
province, perhaps due to the firm adherence of the people to
their religious teachings which include the principle of karma
pala (the fruit of the deed or one will reap what one sows). Also
there is no fee imposed on the residents for the neighborhood
security arrangements.

GANDHI SUKARDI

Jakarta