The Sunday Six: Things You Might Not Know About Bali
1: Everyone Has The Same Names
If there’s one thing you’ll notice on Bali holidays, it’s that everyone seems to have the same names: Nyoman, Wayan, Komang… Why? Well, in a system of beautiful simplicity, every child, male or female, is called by the order of their appearance in the family. So the first-born is called either Wayan or Putu, the second is Made or Kadek, the third is Nyoman or Komang, and the fourth is Ketut. Once a family gets up to five kids, they start all over again.
2: The Island Shuts Down For One Day Every Year
Denpasar airport is the only international airport to close for 24 hours every single year. On Nyepi, Balinese New Year, all flights to Bali stop, and the entire island shuts down for a day of meditation and contemplation designed to fool the demons into believing that everyone has left. Hotels and hospitals still work, but you are not allowed to leave your room – and can be fined hundreds of dollars for walking the streets.
3: People Tell Directions By The Sacred Mountain
The Balinese don’t use the traditional compass points – North, South, East and West – or, for that matter, left and right. They tell directions by the sacred volcano at the heart of the island, Gunung Agung, which is traditionally the home of the gods.
4: The Ancient Temples Are Not That Old
One of the most stunning aspects of Bali is the sheer number of temples, many of them covered in moss and apparently very, very old. It’s true that some temples have been there for many hundreds of years. But each will be rebuilt every three or four generations – often in stages. Why? Because the stone used to carve the amazing sculptures is so soft that it erodes rapidly in the humid climate.
5: Bali Has A Caste System
Hindu India is famous for its caste system. And in Bali, although the Hinduism practised is a fusion of animism and Buddhism with traditional Hindu beliefs, a caste system still persists. There are three different levels of Balinese language, high, middle and low, each with different words for common objects, and each caste will use a different language. At a cremation in Bali, only high caste families can burn their deceased in a sarcophagus shaped like a bull.
6: The Tallest Building In Bali Is Not Very Tall At All
Looking for skyscrapers? You’ll be disappointed. The tallest building in all of Bali, which sits in the East Bali national park, used to be a watchtower for rangers to look for poachers. Now the Inna Beach Hotel holds the crown, with a whopping nine storeys.
I find the naming systems in Bali incredibly confusing! Especially when someone starts trying to explain the relationship between castes and names. In fact, I find most of the cultural goings on in Bali confusing. 🙂
Yes. I should, really, have delved into the caste thing with the names. Also, the relationships between caste and languages. I think the lower caste talks up, the upper caste talks down, but the aim is not to use the middle language? I’ve had it explained to me on a number of occasions, but still can’t get it.
fascinating! esp how the stone goes so quickly. who would have thought it?
I was amazed by that, as well. All the Balinese stuff for export tends to be made in concrete, precisely because the local stone would wear so quickly in even savager clients.
Wow, I love that everybody has the same names, I imagine it must get pretty confusing though!
You tend to end up with a lot of Komangs in your phone, for some reason…
Great post about Bali. I love learning about its culture. It is such an interesting place. I’ve only been there twice (and loved it, of course), but my father lives there, so I hear about Bali all the time!
Lucky you to have a father you can visit there, though. I would really like to settle in Bali, but Z’s pretty definite the future lies in Europe.
Yes, it’s a great place to visit, and my dad really loves living there. We took our son there in 2009 and hope to go back in 2013 with our little one is 2. But I think I might agree with Z– Europe is where I’d want to settle down, too! 🙂
Balinese names can make anyone confused unless you remember them from their last family names.
I thought the tallest building was the hotel in Sanur where I stayed 30 years ago. It was then called the Bali Beach Hotel and is now the Grand Inna Bali Beach. It’s about nine stories high. Google it for some pics.
WHOOPS. You’re right, I do believe. I’ve just Googled it, so I guess I’ll need to amend the piece. Thank you. Gah. That’ll learn me to believe what I read in a) guidebooks and b) on restaurant menus….
hi theodora 🙂
i’m indonesian..
i loved to read your posted..
it’s cool 😉
let’s travel on another side of Indonesia(Central sulawesi island)
it’s my home town 😀
We loved Sulawesi! We went to the Toraja and the Togians, Makassar and Manado, Danau Tempe… What is your home town, Ai?
It’s so strange and fascinating at the same time! 🙂 but the caste system is less intense actually. In a not longer past, it was most present in Balinese or even most of Asian society.
Yes you would not find any skyscraper in Bali, not ever. Even 5 stars hotels such Westin, Grand Hyatt Bali, Conrad, Aston were built just 4-5 storey.
The tallest building in Bali should not be higher than Coconut tree or Pura in Bali.
Believe it or not, Inna Grand Bali Beach hotel (9 storey hotel) was mysteriously burnt in 1993. Urban legend said it was because they didn’t follow the ‘rule’ in Bali. I’m Indonesian and I think all Indonesian knows about that.