Bungklang Bungkling: Desa (Village) by Wayan Juniartha

Taken from ‘Bungklang Bungkling’, ‘Desa’, a column by I Wayan Juniartha, published in Bali Post, Sunday 05^th February 2012. Translated by Putu Semiada.

Desa (Village)

What is really the ‘enemy’ of Balinese traditional villages (desa pekraman) in Bali?

“Our enemy is ‘globalization’; that is all the bad influences from overseas that can ruin our culture and villages as well,” says I Made Getap Ngetor (I Made Coward).

I Made seems imitates the big mouthed high ranking officials or Bali traditional leaders who often say bad things about western culture but drink French wine, eat Australian steak, use mobile phone made in Finland, Canada or Korea, and pay with American credit card.

“Where do you think the Chinese coin come from? Never say bad things about culture from overseas when you import your god-effigy material from other countries. Do you think you can survive without technology? You might have died of cholera, polio or malaria,” comments I Nyoman Negakin Gedebong (I Nyoman Takes Advantages of Others).

“Well, it means that our enemy is the Javanese: they take all of our jobs, they buy our lands and build mosques here as well,” replies I Made.

“Westerners and Chinese also buy large amounts of land here and they become managers and directors. Have you ever seen our Balinese brothers do vandalism against them, burn mosques or deport them?” asks I Nyoman.

“Are you saying that the enemy is own Balinese?” asks I Made.

“You should be open-minded. Your real enemy is ‘money’.

Everyone laughs loudly. It is the fist time for them to hear someone say money is an ‘enemy’, as for them, money is their ‘good friend’.

The current situation is that everyone is so desperate for money that he forgets his relatives, wife and parents. As money does a lot of things, it becomes one’s God.

“Now I get it, most problems in villages are caused by money; some people have no money at all, while some people have too much.”

It happens that a village isolates its member who cannot afford to pay monthly due (peturunan) to the banjar. One village fights another due over a village border when as a matter of fact, it’s really all about seizing more land so it can be sold for money. A village protests against a hotel when the hotel gives small contributions. A village fights the local government for control of a place of interest, as it gives big income. So, it’s all about money.

A Villager fight each other for positions such as bendesa (village traditions leader) or village bank (LPD) chairman. Both are good positions in terms of accumulating money as the government and mayors give financial support. Villages fight against their members who insist on separating and making their own new village. By having new village, they will get financial support from the government. It’s a fight for money!

“Imagine what would happen to our village if the mayor gave each village one billion Rupiahs ($1,000,000. Ed.)?”

Everyone is stunned. Everyone has a different idea about how they will use the money; whether to renovate temples, meeting halls (bale banjar), or to make a cockfighting arena, a swimming pool, buy new cars for bendesa, etc., etc, etc.

Bungklang Bungkling: Jalan (Road) by Wayan Juniartha

Taken from ‘Bungklang Bungkling’, ‘Jalan’, a column by I Wayan Juniartha, published in Bali Post, Sunday 15^th January 2011. Translated by Putu Semiada.

Jalan (Road)

Bali is known for its tourist-industry which gives good income for its people. The thing is: why are most of the roads damaged?

“Well, it’s all about creativity; it’s nothing to do with money,” says I Made Nyuh Kuning.

“In Gianyar, where I live, we are promoting eco-tourism. All are made to look natural so that tourists can feel the real Bali.”

Anywhere one goes in Bali he can see roads in bad condition: the idea is to make roads like the old days in order to attract more and more tourists to come.

“In Buleleng where I live, they leave the roads in bad condition purposely,’ says I Wayan Grogak.

“The people of Buleleng are known for their “craziness”. One doesn’t ride one’s motor bike very fast on good roads as there is no challenge.”

“One prefers to ride one’s motor bike very fast on bad roads.”

That’s why we ask the local authorities to leave the roads like that.

In addition, Buleleng will soon have its own airport so it might not really need better roads.

“In Denpasar, there are no bad roads. Some are being renovated to be better,” says I Made Kertalangu.

“Perhaps that’s why materials of some streets in Denpasar are changed all the time; not until one year a washed pebble road was removed and changed to paving block ones. There is a possibility it will be changed to marble one day when budget available.”

I Ketut Mengwi is going to say his opinion but his friends stop him.

“We people from Badung regency do not need to express our opinion on bad road. We are the “best”. It is just not roads, we even often demolish “candi bentar” (temple gate)”, says I Made sarcastically.

Everyone laughs, except the palm toddy chief.

“You all give strange opinions regarding the roads. Are you sure that it doesn’t have connection with money?”

Everyone shakes their head. Actually they quite understand that the road problem has a strong connection with money. They know that the people’s money has been ‘stolen’ by the authorities.

“The thing is that no matter how loud your voice is, in criticizing them, they keep stealing the money for their own interests while the roads will remain in bad condition.”

“The best thing we can do about it is to laugh.”

Bungklang Bungkling: Kalendar (Calendar) by Wayan Juniartha

Taken from ‘Bungklang Bungkling’, ‘Kalendar’, a column by I Wayan Juniartha, published in Bali Post, Sunday 8^th January 2012. Translated by Putu Semiada.

Kalendar (Calendar)

“Do you think ‘traditional calendars are still useful these days?

“I think all calendars are the same, either traditional or modern, it doesn’t do any good to me,” says I Made Daki Dibawah Ketiak Istri (A Coward Husband).

Everyone quite understands that I Made often gives controversial comments. He is the kind of husband who is too scared of his wife.

“No matter how auspicious the day is, in terms of ceremony, when his wife wants to go shopping, he can’t do anything.”

“Whatever she wants, she must get it, especially when there is a sales in the shopping mall.”

People are shopping-addicted these days. They easily just spend money for things they do not need.”

“I totally agree. In another case, I can see now if we are too attached to the traditional calendar,” says I Ketut Pangus Mayus.

I Ketut used to work in a villa. He often took days off due to various village religious ceremony activities. Consequently he was fired. He breeds ducklings now.

“We Balinese are too busy with ceremonies while our bosses are too money-oriented.”

“They hate us for asking too many days off. We are doing the ceremonies to preserve our culture and that’s what make tourist come to visit Bali. Our bosses are happy we are doing this but they don’t want to contribute or take part.”

“The point is that if you want be financially better, you shouldn’t be too attached to traditional religious calendar, instead you follow the normal calendar which doesn’t have too many religious holidays,” concludes the palm toddy association chief.

Ni Luh Makin Digosok Makin SIP (The more you rub the more she likes it) has been following the conversation become mad.

“You all talk too much: you talk about a duty you never do.”

Nobody dares to comment. Everyone knows that if they do, they might be in trouble as there will be nobody to serve palm toddy for them anymore.

“If you think that our traditional calendar is no longer useful, you think you will stop celebrating your Full and Dark Moon ceremony, or “Galungan” or you think you won’t plant rice anymore? You just talk but it is us the Balinese women who do the ceremonies. It is us who stand for the Balinese culture. If we didn’t exist you would be finished.”

Everyone claps their hands and they completely agree with what Ni Luh says.

Bungklang Bungkling: Panes (Hot) by Wayan Juniartha

Taken from ‘Bungklang Bungkling’, ‘Panes’, a column by I Wayan Juniartha, published in Bali Post, Sunday 11^h December 2011. Translated by Putu Semiada.

Panes (Hot)

It has been very hot these days. I Made Dot Nawang (I Made Wants to Know) wants to do some research in relation to this. He tries to look for some experts to interview.

He asks the same question: “Why is it so hot these days?”

The high ranking official says: “It’s all due to global warming: the people do not care about their environment today; trees are cut down; they litter; and everyone wants to have more than one car that creates pollution.”

That’s a typical answer from high ranking officials; always looking for excuses without trying to improve the situation: they don’t give solutions or take real action.

The legislative members say: “We will try to find out what is really the problem and set up a special committee to summon the parties who are responsible. We will use sophisticated methods to solve the problem and do ‘comparative studies’ to the USA and Europe in dealing with global warming.”

If this all they can do the problem doesn’t get resolved: they just keep spending the people’s money for their own benefit.

The priests say: “God is angry with us; the world is ‘dirty’. You need to hold a consecration ceremony in every village.”

The traditional village leader for ceremonial affairs (Bendesa Pekraman) says: “My ceremonies can accommodate hot climate, this must be our neighboring village’s evil conduct. They have always wanted to make trouble for us — from border issues to irrigation system conflicts. Now they complain about global warming. I want their village to be blockaded and make the cemetery not available for them when they have a corpse to bury.”

The business-oriented fortune teller says: “The hot climate is due to a powerful black magic: Just buy lots of incense that I have ‘recharged’ with magical power (pasopati) and drink lots of the mineral water that I have imbued with magical power as well.”

The AC and Fridge suppliers say: “Global warming means good business for us; more and more people will buy our products.”

Rich men say: “Hot? No, it’s not. It’s cool in my room and in my car too, let alone in my and office. What makes me feel “hot” is my secretary who often wears a mini skirt.”

I Made gets confused with these different answers.

The last person to give opinion is the mayor.

The mayor says: “Don’t talk about global warming: think about me first. I am upset having been accused of wanting to change the bhisama on the building height. I am a ‘real Balinese Hindu’, you know; Bhisama has to be followed. The things is that I was just asking if we could change the mandatory distance between an urban area and a ‘sacred area’ (temple) from 5 kilometers to just ‘10 meters’ .

I Made gets frustrated: now he himself feels hot.

Bungklang Bungkling: Gengsi (Image) by Wayan Juniartha

Taken from ‘Bungklang Bungkling’, ‘Gengsi’, a column by I Wayan Juniartha, published in Bali Post, Sunday 4^th December 2011. Translated by Putu Semiada.

Gengsi (Image)

Everyone looks happy because the new year is coming soon. They are all thinking about what they will do during the new year’s eve.

They become more happy as they hear the news that they will be given iPad each.

“I hear that the legislative members will be given iPads to support their job. After that, it’s our turn,” says I Nyoman Desas Desus (I Nyoman Rumour).

“It doesn’t matter whether you can use it or not, the thing is that people will be amazed seeing you carrying IPad,” adds I Nyoman.

This is typical of a Balinese: No matter how stupid someone is, he wants others think that he is smart. No matter how poor he is, he will always try to look rich; even though one has nothing, one doesn’t seem to want to work hard.

That’s why probably most jobs available in Bali are done by people from other islands; from working in the rice field to selling rice.

Even some suckling pig food stalls now are run by people from other islands.

“There are lots of jobs you can do, but why do you just sit here and get drunk?” asks I Pekak Pocol Ongol-Ongol (I Pekak Nod Off) angrily.

“You know, you can be a flower vendor: the Balinese need tons of flowers for offerings everyday. Iisn’t that a good business opportunity?”

They might not listen to I Pekak. The Balinese (men) don’t seem to care about flowers (bunga) growing in their yards. They just interest in three kinds of things (bunga):

Firstly, one is more interested in beautiful girls (Bungan Rurung) he sees on the streets. When one sees such a girl, one wants to take her to bed and drop her back at the same place.

Secondly, one is interested in ‘bank interest’ (Bungan Bank), too. One deposits his money he gets from selling his ancestor’s land or other inheritance. By doing that, he doesn’t need to work hard and he can go through easy life. And for some men, they spend their money for girls (Bungan Rurung).

And the last one is that one is interested in borrowing money (Bunga Berbunga). There are lots of banks offering money to borrow for long term period with low interest. Today, it’s common that everyone buys something by credit; mobile phone, motor bike, car, rice, prostitute, anything one wants. One thinks that nobody will ask him where he gets the money from as long as he looks neat, wears expensive clothes, and drives a shiny car.

“Do you understand, Kak? Today is very different. Why should we bother ourselves selling flowers (bunga) here and there, while we can enjoy our life with the three things mentioned above?”

“Well, there is the fourth one; that is “Bunga Politik” (financial rewards obtained after getting a political position). It means that one will collect money from any sources possible to return money spent during the campaign. That’s why the legislative members ask for lots of ‘facilities’ for their own. One day, they might ask for underwear and condoms for free.

That’s how the situation is, when one wants too many things for ‘image’ (gengsi) without the motivation to work hard.

Bungklang Bungkling: Tapel (Mask) by Wayan Juniartha

Taken from ‘Bungklang Bungkling’, ‘Tapel’, a column by I Wayan Juniartha, published in Bali Post, Sunday 21^st November 2011. Translated by Putu Semiada.

Tapel (Mask)

The meeting of the palm toddy association members has been delayed. It was scheduled for 6 o clock, but it’s already 9 o’clock and only 3 of them have arrived at the meeting place.

The chairman is wondering where everybody is; usually when there is free palm toddy, most of them come.

“I guess they are tired of drinking tuak,” says I Wayan Emplegan SBY (Sing Bani Ngudiang) or Slow in Making Decisions.

“It’s not quiet right, chief. Most of them are late due to the ASEAN Summit,” says I Made Kuli Mapi-Mapi (I Made Pretends to Know Everything).

“What is really the connection between our members and the Summit? None of our members are high ranking officials,” the chief argues.

The chief may have forgotten that when high ranking officials gather, the first to suffer is common people.

When a minister pays a visit, lots of cars and police are involved to block the road.

What would happen if 15 presidents visited the island? All the roads would probably be blocked. It might even look busier than a karya (big festival ceremony; and everybody knows what happens when the president of the United States visits the island.

“I couldn’t go anywhere. Any direction I wanted to go to was blocked and they asked me for some identification. That’s why I came late,” says I Made.

I Made might be luckier than I Ketut Nyamprut whose house is in Nusa Dua. Just when he went out, a police sworn at him as he carried a sickle in his waist.

“He was going to cut the grass before attending the meeting. He had been interrogated for 3 hours in the security post. They might think that a sickle might endanger a plane.”

The police and the army seem to be scared of an old man carrying a sickle. It reminds us of Pak Minta, the gardener who was passing and carrying a sickle in front of the president.

After his interrogation, I Ketut can’t go anywhere; the roads around Nusa Dua are blocked due to the visit of President Obama. The people who live there and can go nowhere while Americans can go anywhere there and block the roads.

“Under these circumstances, I find myself watching ‘mask’ dances for hours,” adds I Ketut.

Everybody is surprised to hear this. As far as they know, no mask dance is performed at Nusa Dua during Obama’s visit.

“Everywhere there is a ‘mask dance’. The police and the army are wearing ‘masks’; they pretend to be strong and tough. As a matter of fact, they are so upset that they have to stand by day and night without any chance to see their wives and children. They want to go home actually.”

President Obama is also wearing a ‘mask’. He smiles and pretends to be a good friend of Indonesia. Actually he wants our oil, coal, timber and our other natural resources. On the other hand, Freeport, KFC, etc have all ‘occupied’ us.

“Our high ranking officials are also wearing ‘masks’. They say that they hold the summit in the name and for the people’s sake.”

“As a matter of fact, they are all happy being able to hold the summit using people’s money. The summit is more like a ‘project’ that in some cases they ‘share’ the money and we don’t quiet know where the money goes.”

“And they are happy too because they can use people’s money for ‘holiday’, guarded by the police.”

“In addition, when dealing with Americans, everyone seems to be happy to be ‘slaves’; as if they are ready to ‘lick ass’; for them. Shares and commission seem to be much more important than the people.”

“They think that the people are stupid. We too often see people wearing ‘masks’ — we know what they are like behind the mask.”

Bungklang Bungkling: Bisama (Agreement) by Wayan Juniartha

Taken from ‘Bungklang Bungkling’, ‘Bisama’, a column by I Wayan Juniartha, published in Bali Post, Sunday 27th November 2011.
Translated by Putu Semiada.

Bisama (Agreement)

For the first time the sound of the kulkul (wooden bell) in swarga loka (the world of gods) is too loud. Since the war against giant-king Mayadenawa, there has been no kulkul sound and the gods live happily ever since as the people keep doing ceremonies and praying to them.


Then, one day, the divine kulkul sounds vey loudly; all the gods come out, each carrying a weapon.


“What is going on?” asks God Wisnu.

It is Sang Suratma who hit the kulkul.

“We are all in danger,” says he loudly.


“Why is that? Who is our enemy? Or are there drunk bad people coming here?” ask God Brahma jokingly.


“Well, actually all the mayors in Bali and the legislative members will omit the ‘bhisama’ (unwritten regulations) on space planning (i.e. permitted distance to build commercial building from important temples) and building height.”


“If the ‘bhisama’ is omitted, the temples will be surrounded by hotels, cafes, bars and discotheque. If the regulations on building height are omitted, there will be many building higher than meru, which is not good for the gods,” Sang Suratma (the secretary god) further says.


All the gods become discouraged, having heard what Sang Suratma said.


“Don’t panic, you know my position when we talk about tourism in Bali, says Bhetara Rambut Sedana (The God of Money).


Bhetara Rambut Sedana has the same mind-set—like the legislative assembly members and the mayors—that is how to increase the local income (PAD). If there are more hotels and other buildings, more money will come. And when there is more money, more ceremonies will be done.


“How can this little problem give me such a headache; I get bored of taking care of the Balinese; they keep talking about ‘Ajeg Bali’ (Sustainable Bali), but they are too greedy to achieve that,” says God Wisnu.


“What things are not sold by the Balinese? From their ancestors’ land to their culture, and even their own dignity?”


“I have nothing to do with bhisama: If all the temples in Bali are gone, it would not affect my divine power at all.”


“It is the Balinese themselves who will face problem, if the forests are lost, and with abrasion, social conflicts among themselves due to land acquisition and money from tourism business owners. Most of them will just become “slaves” on their own island; and how they will look after temples with no gods in there.”


“Whatever happens on the island, the gods will remain living peacefully in nirvana.”


“Shouldn’t ‘important people’ such as agung (kstaria) and dalem descendants (anak agung, cokorda), and mayors who should look after and defend Bali?” says Sang Suratma rhetorically.


All the gods laugh loudly.


“Don’t be too romantic: everybody is equal before me. You see, in Bali many of them claim themselves ksatria descendants but their mind is more business-oriented,” interrupts God Siwa.


“You just write down the names of legislative assembly members and mayors as well. If I have time I will see them one by one. I want to see their reaction when they see Banaspati Raja (the God of Death),” says God Siwa laughingly.

Bungklang Bungkling: Mudah (Cheap) by Wayan Juniarta

Taken from ‘Bungklang Bungkling’, ‘Mudah’, a column by I Wayan Juniartha, published in Bali Post, Sunday 6^th November 2011. Translated by Putu Semiada.

Mudah (Cheap)

“How much is a life of Balinese worth? How much money do you need to ‘kill’ a Balinese?” comes a question.

“It depends,” says I Made teluh Desti Terangjana (I Made The King of Black Magic).

I Made is a black magic broker. He has no black magic power but has lots of friends from black magic world. His friends range from the ‘beginner’ to ‘advanced’ ones.

“It depends on how you want one die, suddenly or slowly; or how strong one is; or what kind of ‘black magic’ one wants to use to hurt other people.

“A low quality ‘poison’ costs 5 million Rupiahs, while the good one even cost 50 million Rupiahs. With a good one, your victim will die like someone who has heart attack.

“It is expensive, but you can pay in installments. Many shamans receive payment by credit cards. They even give you one year guarantee. As long as you pay, they will give guarantee that the victim will die. If they don’t, the shamans will do themselves.

“Well, it is still expensive though, as it costs you millions of Rupiahs. If you want to kill a Balinese, you don’t need to pay that much or use your credit cards,” says I Ketut Tanpa Jaminan (I Ketut No Guarantee).

“What you need is 500 thousand Rupiahs. It’s quick; you don’t need to go to Prajapati Temple (The Temple of Death), nor offerings to Goddess Durga (The Goddess of Death).”

“You just need to go to a motor bike shop with your 500 thousand and pay it for deposit. Then you can go home with a brand new motor bike.”

“After that, you give the motor bike to the person you want to kill. It won’t take long.

“He might get killed because someone might hit his bike on the street or vice versa; or he might fall into a ditch and get killed.”

“Today everyone seems on the rush on the streets; motor bikes, cars, trucks, all of them are rushing.”

“Nobody seems to be tolerance to each other on the street. Each thinks that the other is enemy so that they don’t need to give a way to the other. Even when a ‘god’ crosses the street, they might just hit.

“More people get killed on the streets than due to black magic. All kinds of black magic are much less powerful in killing people compared to people who may get killed from driving their motorbikes crazily on the streets.”

“Look at the young people, how crazy they are on the streets. What they want to do is to ride as fast as they can. That’s why the chance they get killed is much higher.

Given above, how cheap a Balinese life is.

Bungklang Bungkling: Raja (King) by Wayan Juniartha

Taken from ‘Bungklang Bungkling’, ‘Raja, a column by I Wayan Juniartha, published in Bali Post, Sunday 30 October 2011. Translated by Putu Semiada.

Raja (King)

The palm toddy warung looks different today. There are four decorative bamboo poles (penjor), hanging coconut leave decorations (paku pipid), and a carved chair in the middle of the warung.

I Madé Obsesi Megalomaniak (I Madé Full of Obsession) is sitting on the chair.

“Starting from today, I’m the King of Kediri for Bali, West and East Nusa Tenggara,” says he.

Next, he puts on a crown and a royal costume with golden trim which he has bought. He is so rich that he doesn’t even need to pay for the costume by ‘credit’ like one who claimed himself a king named Raja Kumis Babakan Pulé (King with thick moustache but has no money).

“My royal name is Abhiseka-Jayadini-Jayaditu I Gusti Ngurah Nyem Lalah Demen Nampah,” he adds.

Everybody claps their hands. The association members are democratic people. There has been a rule that only the chairman should be elected by voting. Anyone who wants to claim himself as king or priest is welcomed as it is their personal right and must be respected.

“Why King of Kediri, instead of Sriwijaya which is more historic, or a Chinese King with lots of fortune,” asks I Wayan Campah Kelur (I Wayan Never Thinks Twice Before Talking).

“Well, Sriwijaya has no close relation to Bali. Actually I prefer Majapahit. Majapahit is still much respected by the Balinese.”

I Madé is right. A lot of Balinese are still amazed by the golden era of Majapahit Kingdom. They want the golden era back. They might not understand that, if it came back, they would become common people and will be oppressed by the king and local rulers as well.

“Besides, there is already one who claims himself as King of Majapahit for Bali area.”

“And Kediri has been chosen as it is much older than Majapahit.

“So I will be the highest one in Bali. Most of Balinese Kings are descended from Majapahit Kingdom. I’m ‘descended’ from Kediri.”

Everyone claps. I Madé has given them a packed rice lunch each, palm toddy and beer for free and a T-shirt, plus transport allowance. The Balinese are quiet happy when they are treated like that.

“What is it special for you to be a ‘king’ when you don’t have your own people nor kingdom? Who do you expect to recognize that you are a king? Who would believe you?” asks I Wayan again.

“I’m sure you do not really understand the current situation. You can ‘buy’ anything you want as long as you have money, including ‘recognition.”

“You can pay journalists to get yourself be featured in newspapers. If you are featured in newspapers every day, you can go here and there to do your job as a king. At the end people will believe that you are a king.”

“You can even cheat the gods. If you come to the spooky temples every night, give some donation and pretend to be in trance, and when you are in trance, say that you’ve got messages from many different gods that they have approve you to be a king; eventually the temples’ custodians (pengempon) would believe you.”

“If you are often featured in newspapers and in trance, you will soon become popular. Even though you are from lower caste or not really smart, you will look like a smart one; from nothing to something.”

“You already have everything, Madé; you are a successful businessman, you have lots of wives and lots of money; why do you want to be a king?”

“Today, the most important thing is ‘status’. No matter how much money you have, it won’t guarantee that people will respect you. No matter how bright you are, if you are from a lower caste, nobody will listen to you.”

“And the Balinese are a bit feudalistic. Everyone will listen to the person as long as he is from higher caste and all they can say is ‘yes’ (nggih).”

“That’s why I want to be a king. Nobody wants to be an ordinary person in Bali. Most want to be a ‘king’. The thing is that, some say it frankly, others don’t.”

Everyone laughs. Actually everyone wants to be a ‘king’. It is much better indeed to be a king compared to an ordinary person, like Pak Minta, the gardener who was caught by the president’s personal guards as he passed riding a bike in front of the president during an event in Bali.

“If Pak Minta were a president, the guards would respect him.

Bungklang Bungkling: Wayang (Shadow Puppet) by Wayan Juniartha

Taken from ‘Bungklang Bungkling’, ‘Wayang’, a column by I Wayan Juniartha, published in Bali Post, Sunday 23rd October 2011. Translated by Putu Semiada.

Wayang (Shadow Puppet)

Why does less and less Balinese have names inspired from characters in the shadow puppets (wayang)?

“People used to name their children or grandchildren by characters in wayang,” says I Made Abimayu.

His wife will be delivering a baby in two weeks and he has been busy preparing a name.

“It’s been difficult to find a child’s name taken from characters in epics.”

Everybody nods. They know that it’s much easier to find a child named ‘Kevin’ instead of ‘Yudistira’ or ‘Natasha’ instead of ‘Srikandi’.

“Parents nowadays are getting clever,” comments I Putu Joblar.

I Made gets upset. He wants to name his future child taken from “wayang’ characters. But now his own friends tease him that parents naming their children characters from “wayang” are stupid.

“What did you say?” asks I Made.

“If you read Mahaberatha or Ramayana carefully, you won’t name your child taken from a wayang character.”

“Who wants to name his child ‘Yudistira’? In Mahabrata epic, it is said that Yudistira is wise and kind. But when he gambles against the ‘Kurawa’ his personality is totally changed. He even uses his brothers and wife as bets for gambling. If one does so, how could you consider him a wise man.”

“And who wants to name his child ‘Arjuna’? In the epic it is said that Arjuna always claims himself single anywhere he goes to attract girls. He can’t stand when seeing a beautiful girl. He is good at meditating but becomes week when it comes to girls. Who wants to have a son like that never dares to fight but always chases girls.”

Let alone ‘Gatotkaca’ or Abimayu. No parents want their children to die young. No parents expect their children to be heroes. Heroes dies.”

Today, wayang is not popular anymore. Cinetrons, infotainment and political news are preferred,” comments Ketut Cenk Blong.

“If wayang was still popular, people would follow God’s orders properly and respect the truth (dharma) no matter what it takes.”

“Who wants to do that now? One would like to be rich as soon as he can — have a big house, a lot of cars, a beautiful wife, secret lovers everywhere, famous like cinetron stars, or like artists or politicians seen on television.”

“Today money seems to be the most important thing for everyone which makes one greedier. One sells anything one has (including parents’ lands) sacrificing one’s self-respect and cultural prostitution is now common. No matter if it makes one fight one’s own brother, or friends, or ignore ancestors’ messages (to save the land, etc).”

“They want their children to be good-looking, rich, and famous, like cinetron stars. That’s why one names children like cinetron stars such as: Julia, Pasha, Steve, Ruben, Selena, Justin and no more names such as Bima, Rama or Sahadewa.

“The thing is that it is difficult now to find someone whose behavior is as good as his name.