Cacad (Handicap)
Every one is busy discussing the article “Holidays in Hell” featured in Time Magazine last week which describing Bali today.
“The writer knows nothing about Bali. How could he say there are heaps of rubbish everywhere in Bali and no rubbish collecting?” says I Made Jele Melah Gumi Pedidi (Right or Wrong it is My County).
“Where can you see rubbish here? Which part of Bali is dirty? Didn’t he know about Tri Hita Karana’s concept. It’s one the best concepts: that the Balinese have. No way that rubbish everywhere in Bali,” adds I Made as he has one more steamed chopped pork (pesan celeng).
He eats it and throws the wrapping under the table.
Everyone nods. Some have pesan celeng and the others have packed rice (nasi jango). Once they finish, they just throw the wrapping under the table.
“And how could he say Bali undergoes water shortage. Didn’t he know that there was so much water in Bali that it flooded our houses and the streets? It rains almost everyday, so how can we lack of water?” comments I Komang Ajeg Bali (Sustainable Bali).
“No matter if we are lacking of water as long as we have enough stock of palm toddy (tuak), palm wine (arak), and rice wine (brem)” says I Wayan Sengal Sengol (Rubbish comment).
When Bali often has power blackout, city water problem: it is just the Balinese “strategy” to use power and water economically, so that the world can be saved from global warming. Balinese are so serious in implementing Tri Hita Karana.
“What a stupid journalist he is. Doesn’t he know that Bali has been awarded as the world’s best destination six times? How dare he say bad things about Bali?” says I Wayan.
Everyone agrees with I Wayan. One of them beats his chest saying Bali is the Island of Gods, a paradise, an Island of Ten Thousand Temples. His friends try to hold him tight as they are afraid that I Wayan might be going into trance and claiming himself as “King of Bali”, or even worse, “the God of Tourism.”
The journalist must be idiot: He likes talking about traffic jams. I never had a traffic jam when driving my motorbike because I often drive on the sidewalk when I’m struck in traffic jam. The sidewalk is wide enough,” comments I Putu Kebut Maut (High Way Star).
“I would say that only the blind, deaf and idiots cannot enjoy the beauty of Bali: only ‘handicapped’ people consider Bali is like hell.”
That’s probably why there are some Balinese who don’t agree to have a school for the handicapped people in Denpasar: they might be afraid that they will find out that this paradise island is actually a hell,” comments Ni Luh Makin Digosok Makin Sip (The More You Rub The More She Likes It).
Everyone is quiet. It can be understood that ‘normal’ people do not want to be close’ physically, with handicapped people: if they do, they are afraid that other people know their own ‘handicaps’ too, especially envy, greed, and stupidity.
