Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The body
Despite tolerating skimpy dress in the beach resorts, most Indonesians are extremely offen-
ded by topless and nude bathing, and by immodest attire in their towns and villages. You'll
command a great deal more respect if you keep your shortest shorts, vests and bare shoulders
for the seaside. This is especially true in central and eastern Lombok, where Sasaks do not
subscribe to the relatively relaxed attitudes of their compatriots in Senggigi and the Gili Is-
lands.
The Balinese and Sasak people themselves regularly expose their own bodies in public
when bathing in rivers and public bathing pools, but they are always treated as invisible by
other bathers and passers-by. As a tourist you should do the same: to photograph a bathing
Balinese would be very rude indeed. If you bathe alongside them, do as they do - nearly all
Balinese women wash with their sarongs wrapped around them - and take note of the segreg-
ated areas: in public pools, the men's and women's sections are usually clearly defined, but
in rivers the borders are less tangible.
According to Hindu beliefs, a person's body is a microcosm of the universe: the head is the
most sacred part of the body and the feet the most unclean. This means that you should on
no account touch a Balinese person's head - not even to pat a small child's head or to ruffle
someone's hair in affection; nor should you lean over someone's head or place your body in a
higher position than their head without apologizing. You should never sit with your feet poin-
ted at a sacred image (best to sit with them tucked underneath you) or use them to indicate
someone or something. Balinese people will never walk under a clothes line (for fear of their
head coming into contact with underclothes), so you should try not to hang your washing in
public areas, and definitely don't sling wet clothes over a temple wall or other holy building.
The left hand is used for washing after defecating, so the Balinese will never eat with it or
use it to pass or receive things or to shake hands.
Social conventions
As elsewhere in Asia, Indonesians dislike confrontational behaviour and will rarely show
anger or irritation. Tourists who lose their cool and get visibly rattled tend to be looked down
on rather than feared. A major source of irritation for foreigners is the rather vague notion of
time-keeping in Indonesia: lack of punctuality is such a national institution that there is even
a word for it - jam karet , or rubber time.
Since the downfall of Suharto in 1998, and the subsequent democratic elections, Indonesian
people seem to have become much more confident about discussing political issues and
voicing critical opinions of the state. This is mirrored by a more open press. Religious beliefs,
however, are a much more sensitive issue, and it would be bad form to instigate a debate that
questions a Balinese person's faith.
Search WWH ::




Custom Search