Thread: Bali a "fabricated" paradise

So what does everyone want? Should Bali now be like some museum display that portrays Balinese culture as it was at some point in the past? If one or two villages like Tenganan do this - that's fine, but you hardly want the whole tourist industry of the island working that way.

I admire the adaptability of the Balinese as they cater to tourist whims. European tourists think beach locations should have sun-lounges and beach umbrellas. Hardly a Balinese tradition, but no problem - local workshops create sun lounges of many styles and then they can create fixed umbrellas with alang-alang roofing materials. So then the visitors can bake themselves (Euro Bakar??)

When a trend for action/adventure holidays emerged, Bali could not only cater to the surfers, but also developed white-water rafting, elephant rides, tree-top adventures and more. None of this is part of Balinese history - but why worry.

Think of the agrowisata places offering, among other things, kopi luwak. Then, when you are there, just mention the Jack Nicholson & Morgan Freeman movie "The Bucket List" and watch them all smile. They know that many people, just because they have seen this movie then go in search of Kopi Luwak. This movie has done for agricultural tourism, what Eat, Pray, Love is doing for the healing and spiritual retreats.

So restaurant/bars in Ubud discover that live music brings in the visitors. Just walk by in the evenings and see which ones have crowds and which are empty and see if you can figure out why. They have been through the Bob Marley phase, and now if Salsa is working - then they can do it as good as anyone. And while jazz is not a Balinese tradition, the music at The Jazz Cafe is world class (in my opinion).