as published in Bali Post, Sunday, 17 January 2010. Translated by Putu Semiada.
BARANG TUA (Old Stuff)
Most Balinese don’t like preserving their heirlooms. When there is a chance for them to sell, they will or barter it for something new. If it’s not, they just keep it in the storeroom.
That’s what A.A.A. Jaya Parikosa (Anak Agung Sell Everything You Have) says. He once sold the rice fields belonging to the palace and used the money to buy luxury cars, such as Land Rover (the land ‘changed’ to Land Rover), Mercedes, and Hummer.
“Today nobody really cares how much land you own, they will still call you a farmer. But if you have many cars, people will respect you because your status is higher, the same level as a businessman,” he says.
Even ancient pavilions are sold. To be able to sell in pieces, they renovate the pavilions and then all the pavilion parts are brought to antique dealers to sell.
“There is a bulé who is willing to pay a good price: he will use for his villa in Jimbaran,” says A.A.A. Jaya Parikosa laughingly.
They are not really interested in listening to him. They know that this kind of person only comes to them when he has a certain agenda, otherwise he will be a stranger. They just pretend to listen to him because he brings 2 bags of peanuts and some wrapped Balinese steamed pork meat (tum). He also promises to buy them 2 jerrycans of palm toddy.
At Jaya Parikosa’s palace, some labourers are busy building a big pavilion in the Italian style, as seen on TV. The shrines in his royal house temple also have been replaced using andesite stone (black). The palace looks like a hotel now.
“That’s what we call ‘modern’. Why do we bother using old wood that has been spoiled by termites?” That’s what you should do so that people will call you ‘modern’.
They all nod even though they don’t really agree. It’s a very difficult situation for them: if they agree with his opinion, they know that they can not afford a modern house. If they don’t, they will feel guilty as they have been given peanuts and pork meat. The situation in the warung looks like a political rally: the politician keeps talking while people listen and wait for some rice.
Finally Agung says what he really wants the sekeha (group), to do.
“There is an antique broker who is ready to pay for the manuscripts that belong to the palace. The problem is that the manuscripts now are stored at Pura Desa Temple. Now I need your help how to get them returned to the palace,” he says.
Now they understand what is Agung’s agenda.
“I think it is better for us to sell the manuscripts to western countries because we can not even look after them properly. I am sure the museums or universities in the West can look after them well,” he continues.
They don’t really listen what Agung says because they are drunk. They don’t even know how to get home.
“The most important thing is that we should get money as much as possible. In future if our children want to learn about manuscripts they can study overseas. When we have money, we don’t have any problem sending them overseas.
They all nod.
