Story of Bali, Indonesia

They felt that the Balinese culture underwent superficial changes as a result of culture contact but the Balinese character remained unchanged despite exploitation, violence, and modern technology. Belo stated that culture contact (from outside and tourist influences) in Bali did not necessarily lead to weakening of tradition, but more often to accommodation of new factors to the old ways and her information indicate that ceremonial life, dance, ritual and trance had remained essentially unchanged in the 30 years following her original studies in the 1930s. Muller, anthropologist and long-term resident of Bali, traced all of the people and dances described by Belo in the mid-1930s and was impressed by how they had remained the same 38 years later ( personal communication). Covarrubias similarly observed that the Balinese assimilate new and foreign ideas into their traditional forms. This enables the islander to create new styles constantly, to inject new life staidly into their culture, which at the same time never loses its Balinese characteristics. More recently, Ramseyer stated that Balinese absorbed material culture without a break in tradition and that the basic values shapped by religious and communal social intersections have remained remarkably intact.

Following the advent of taped music Suryani witnessed the temporary decline in village gamelan orchestras, but they made a vigorous comeback a decade later. Since the advent of television, there has been a coincident decline in the number of dance performances in the villages and a disappearance of the traditional itinerant dance groups that visited the villages, including Bayung Gede. In keeping with the tenacity of Balinese customs, the authors predict that there will be a resurgence of dance in the not too distant future. According to Bandem, that renaissance is now in effect. The sacred dances continue to be performed in Bayung Gede, as in many villages. Five years ago the government decreed that only persons who pray be allowed to enter temples, and at the Galungan ceremonies at Kesiman only villagers are allowed to enter the sacred temple, an example of efforts to control tourist and outside intrusions on the culture. Balinese culture is a living system that is dynamic and not static. In spite of Surface changes, especially as evidenced by technology, it is remarkably stable in its basic elements. 'Me reasons for the stability of the customs of Balinese culture are detailed below.

Please access this web site for more Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Bandung, Surabaya and all Indonesia Hotels bali lombok yogyakarta jakartahotels- and Indonesian Holidays Information, hotels and travel reservation indonesia hotels travel holidays