In Reply to: bali posted by bobandninik on Tuesday, 31. August 2010 at 15:38 Bali Time:
I for one, although taking on board all the concerns expressed, don't think that the vast majority of Balinese have sold their souls. They, like the rest of us, want the modern trappings of life like TVs and DVDs and fridges etc. and why not? Bali is not a museum of anthropology it is a living growing and changing society. It was never going to remain and agrarian society for ever.
I still maintain that even in areas like Kuta/Legian which have been "invaded" by tourists for decades now if you care to scratch the surface you will find traditional beliefs holding sway in spite of modernisation. If you don't believe me just go back 1 or 2 gangs from Jln. Legian or wherever and take a look around you. Life is going on much as it does in the rest of Indonesia. The "village" concept is still very much alive and well.