Taken from ‘Plesiran’ in Bali Post, Sunday, 19 October 2008 by I Wayan Juniartha
Translated by Putu Semiada
Nowdays there are more and more young Balinese working overseas. They are not only going to Java or Jakarta but even to outside the countries.
The sekehe tuak members listening to him are just nodding. Let alone Miami, most of them don’t even know a place called Bangkiang Sidem (which is in Bali).
Pekak only went outside Bali once when he joined the farmer association of his village to Jakarta. When he returned from Jakarta, he always talked about the place; about the national monument, West, East, North and South Jakarta. As he is getting older what he has been able to remember was North and South Jakarta.
“Wow, what kind of job is he doing there? Are there any ducks and rice field there? Why is he working very far away? Why wouldn’t he just become a farmer? Pekak asks a lot of questions.
They all are laughing. Pekak might not know that now most of the rice fields in Bali are not done by the Balinese, but by men from Banyuwangi, even the harvesters are Javanese and Lombok as well. Most of young Balinese do not want to do ‘rough’ jobs that make their hands dirty or sweating.
“My sons are working in cruise ships. He is a waiter, he is taking care of guests having fun in a big big ship. He earns a big amount of money. It is in dollar, not Rupiah, nor Ringgit,” Made further says.
Since both of his sons worked in the cruise ship, Made’s standard of living has been improving, His house roof has been changed from thatched roof to tile roof, clay wall changed to smooth red brick, bicycle changed to car. As he is having a lot of dollars, even his house temples has been renovated to make it look better than the Kahyangan temples. Made is really enjoying his life, always smiles thinking of money he receives from his sons.
“More and more young Balinese working in cruise ships nowdays. Because you work only for one year, then you can build a house. Most of the young in this village have registered to be able to work in cruise ships. They want to follow my sons,” Made says.
Pekak is very surprised after listening what Made said. All they young will go working overseas?
“So if all go working overseas, they might marry and have western wives? Who then follow our Hindu? Pekak asks.
All the sekehe are laughing. However they understand that Pekak must not be knowing that western women love to follow Balinese Hindu religion. They see that Hindu is a good religion. That’s why more and more tourists would like to have sudhi wadani ceremony to become Hindu. As they are too eager to become Hindu, they even make houses very close to Kahyangan temples.
“No worries, Pekak, if they marry westerns, it is them who convert to our religion. The more young Balinese work overseas, the more westerns will convert to Hindu. We might call it ‘Hindu Globalisation’.
Now Pekak feels relieved. But there is still one question he would like to ask.
“If all the young work overseas, who will carry out the Balinese tradition and culture, Who will work in the temples and banjars? Who will carry the badé when one day my dead body be cremated?
The sekehe is laughing loudly. What an old way of thinking of Pekak. What can’t money buy today? You can buy the offerings, you can pay people to replace your duty at the temple; the people frorm Banyuwangi and Jember are capable in making offering, so why do you need to think hard?
“Take it easy, Pekak. How high will your badé? You pay fifty thousand Rupiahs to the Javanese labours and they will happily carry your bade to cremation ground.”
Now Pekak is able to smile!
“So the more modern Bali the more better the culture and religion of the island, where you need do nothing because others will take care everything!
As long as you pay!
Glossary
Bade : cremation tower
Kahyangan temple: very important temple.
I Ketut Kimpul = refers to a quiet and shy person
Komang Dengang = refers to a person who never look down when he walks.
I Pekak Pocol Ongol-Ongol = refers to ugly old people but smart
Made Santé Ajé = refers to a person who always take everything easy.
