as published in Bali Post, Sunday, 11th October 2009. Translated by Putu Semiada
FOREST
There are no longer any spooky places in Bali because the forests have been diminished, lakes have been spoiled, as well as the mountains.
“Before nobody dared to cut trees in the forest. They were already afraid just when they tried to enter the forest,” says I Made Nyali Cenik (I Made Coward)
When they entered the forest during the day, a Sang Mong tiger might wait for them, ready to eat them. If they entered the forest during the night, the God Banaspati Raja might have cursed them.
“Now, if you enter the forest during the day, a truck full of wood load might hit you, but if you enter the forest during the night, a security who guard a villa where a western guy lives, may warn you,” says I Nyoman Polo Mbuh (I Nyoman Big Talk but No Brain).
But now you will find that the God Banaspatiraja and the Sang Mong tiger no longer exist.
“Now if there is a tiger seen in the forest during the day, it will be killed and its fangs will be used for magic thing, its skin will be used for souvenir and its sex organ is for tonic,” says I Nyoman.
On the other hand if God Banaspatiraja shows up, people will come with their handycams to filming Him. The film will be sold to the tourists who really enjoy things like that.
Whatever you can sell just sell, that’s the new slogan of the Balinese,” replies I Made.
In Bali, the rich people are respected very much like gods. The ‘spooky’ thing now is only money. It’s money that makes people ‘surrender’. They are not afraid of the Sang Mong tiger or God Banaspatiraja because both of them have no money. That’s why the Balinese dare to sell everything they have (including forest).
“If you don’t have money at all, you will feel ‘afraid’. You don’t dare to go to warung or café. You will be even afraid of your wife,” says I Made.
If I have to make a choice between seeing leak a (black magic woman) during Kajang Kliwon day (special day for ground spirits) and having no money at all, I will prefer to seeing leak. If you have money, you can even buy a leak.
If you are not afraid of leaks, the Sang Mong tiger or God Banaspatiraja, you will not beafraid of government regulations either.
“Who do you think signs the regulations? They are human beings as well. If you can buy the mother leak, ‘sell’ Banaspatiraja, dealing with humans is nothing,” says I Made, laughing.
Consequently, mountains are getting spoiled, forests have gone, and the lake has less and less water.
Ironically, Balinese are getting cleverer in talking about Tri Hita Kirana, Tri Mandala, Tumpek Bubuh and other old religious teaching, but the fact is that their environment is getting damage, rubbish everywhere, forest becomes villas, lakes changed to hotels.
It’s much easier talking than doing.
“Didn’t they know if you keep spoiling the mother nature, in return you will get natural disaster,” says I Made.
“You should never be afraid of natural disaster as long as you have money? If you have a lot of money, you can have a big ‘mecaru’ (appeasement rite for negative influences), pekelem, tawur and aci-aci, says I Nyoman.
When everything has been sold, then you bribe the gods.
“Don’t they know that the forests have gone, the lake is dry, and there is less and less water,” says I Made.
There will be no problem if there is no water as long as you have money. Just buy yourself Aqua as much as you want, or you can drink bottled tea everyday as much as you want.”
If you like selling things you will of course have lots of money. If you have money you can buy anything you want. But how much you get profit from selling things and how much you spent is something you need to rethink.
It looks like that the Balinese have suffered a big loss, and that they are going to be bankrupt.
If the forest is finished, the broker will die soon.
