In Reply to: How about 900 pages that you - posted by Filo on Monday, 9. June 2008 at 07:27 Bali Time:
Filo, I have sat and read your pages. I am sure that everything you have written about restaurants, watering holes, hotels, day-trips, toilets, etc, is well researched and of invaluable help for the holiday maker who needs this kind of info before they make a move. For that, much praise!!!
But...after reading your comments about the history, culture, and religion of Bali, it is painfully clear that you have too little context or background, and perhaps you should just drop the whole thing.
Just to bring up a few examples: You mention Java Man (Homo Erectus) and imply that rice cultivation could be 750,000 years old. Java Man couldn't even speak. The oldest evidence for rice cultivation in Asia has been found in China and is about 7-8000 yrs old.
In discussing Hindu Temples, you invite us to picture the Taj Mahal.
The Taj Mahal is universally considered to be the absolute pinnacle of MUSLIM architecture, with stylistic roots that lie in Persia and Asiatic Russia. It was built by a Muslim Emperor whose dynasty, (with the notable exception of Akbar the Great) ruthlessly oppressed Hiduism, destroyed countless Hindu sacred sites, erected Mosques above them, and imposed a special tax on all non-Muslims within their territory. And, of course, it is a TOMB, a mausoleum, and no Hindu would ever dream of building something like that.
Finally (at least for this post) I found your remarks about the artist and ethnograph W.O.J. Nieuwenkamp offensive. He was by no means whatsoever a government official, sent out to spy on the Balinese. First of all, by 1904 the Dutch Colonial Gov't already was in direct control of Buleleng, Jembrana and Karangasem, and indirect
control of Gyaniar. They knew ALL ABOUT the rest of the island. There was steady contact since 1502, and the only reason the VOC did not establish themselves there as well was because they aleady were aware, that apart from selling opium and buying slaves, Bali had nothing to offer. Also, he could not possibly have been in the employ of the Dutch East India company; it had been dissolved in 1799!!!!!!!!!!!
W.O.J.'s only "mission" was to record, visually, what he correctly perceived to be the end of an era. The bicycle is a bit of a myth: he did try, but quickly discovered it was not a very practical idea. So he WALKED all over the Bali. He went ashore in 1906 at Pabean Sanur and was one of the people instrumental in making sure the rest of the world got to hear the true story of the invasion of Badung. He also saved a lot of treasures from Puri Badung that were being looted and burned by the KNIL troops. He was the only Westerner allowed to get close enough the Pejeng kettledrum ("Moon" of Pejeng) and his detailed sketches have been of invaluable importance and help for our understanding of it. I'm sure that W.O.J.would be spinning in his grave if could read your discription of him and his life. Perhaps you will consider doing the right thing and either adjust the information over W.O.J. or just delete it?? (My words you can always delete:)).
Writing history, ethnography etc is not something anyone can just do. Without access to primary sources it is always a gamble. BTW, I thought your post a few days ago about land ownership in Bali was spot on!!!
This was MY 900 pages.