Mark Wales
Dear Roy, Bert and Sanurian,
I humbly suggest that you enlighten us on the Flora and Fauna of Bali.
[i](Note: Language - hangover from the British Raj!).[/i]
I am sure that many of us would be very interested in knowing more about this subject and whether there are any on the verge of extinction.
Namaskar brothers.
Mark
Roy
....and you forgot to add Phil that "Sanurians" are another endangered species. :P :P :P :P :P
Roy
I’ve always found it fascinating that Bali is the end of Asia and just east of Bali, Lombok begins Australia....from the point of view of species. This makes for Indonesia as having the most diverse flora and fauna to be found anywhere in the world. New species of plants and animals are discovered here with great regularity.
As far as already extinct animals on Bali, for me the Asian tiger immediately comes to mind. There has not been a tiger sighted in Bali for some sixty years. Bali was as far as the migration of tigers from Asia got.
Close to extinction is the Bali starling...a highly prized and rare bird that can fetch several thousands of dollars on the black market. There is a secret preserve for them here on Bali, and from I hear from experts like Victor Mason, the species is still considered endangered but population numbers are increasing.
The sea turtle is another species that has received well deserved attention to protect it from the harvesting by man. There is a particular Balinese ceremony where the meat of the sea turtle is required, but the quantity used for this has been greatly diminished.
Bomb fishing, and the destruction of the coral reefs that is caused by this kind of fishing has been, from I hear anyway, all but totally eradicated on Bali. Some years ago there was a huge public awareness campaign on Indonesian TV showing the destructive nature of this type of fishing and the long, long term negative effects it has on the underwater environment. Unfortunately, many coral reefs had already been heavily damaged or destroyed, and it will take centuries to restore some of these reefs.
One thing about Bali that has always amazed me is that there are not that many venomous critters here. For snakes, both the spitting and king cobra can be found, as well as the more deadly crate, (or is it krate?) as well as vipers. But encounters with these are infrequent, at least in my neck of the woods. There is a species of scorpion to be found here...a rather tiny fellow that can give one a nasty sting followed by a strong burning sensation, but unless one has a particular allergy to its venom, its effects are largely discomfort, and that’s it.
In west Bali they have problems with the very cantankerous salt water crocs. Stories pop up in the various Bali newspapers of children being taken off by one of them, or other attacks made by them. I’ve never heard of a shark attack in Balinese waters, but surely they are here, and such a thing must happen from time to time.
As for the flora to be found on Bali...where does one start and where does on end such a discussion? Well, the best place to start I guess would be with rice...the most important and the staple crop of Bali. Legend in Bali has it that originally there were four distinct varieties of rice grown on Bali....black, red, yellow and white. Today there are three, as yellow rice is of course normal white rice colored by the use of spices. The legend is that somehow the Balinese made Dewi Sri, the Goddess of rice upset, and she took away yellow rice as punishment.
Even if Bali where thrown into a world wide economic collapse, it would be hard to imagine the Balinese starving. So many crops grow here, and the climate remains pretty consistent year after year.
Anyway, not having much more important things to do this beautiful Monday morning, I thought I’d share my little insight into this topic.
Roy
Daniel, you may be right that the salt water croc stories that periodically come out of West Bali are nothing more than urban legends. The stories could well start out that a large Teko bit a kid’s finger, only to emerge later in the Bali press as a large salt water croc devouring a poor kid with a single bite.
I’ve only heard of these stories emerging from remote areas of West Bali, so who knows...fact or fiction?
Sanurian
Nothing to add here, off the top of my head that [b]Roy[/b] hasn't mentioned already.
But if one has enough technical knowledge of these things, (which I don't), I am sure there are many more endangered living things than have been touched upon so far. Some butterflies, some spiders, some worms, some other birds apart from the famous (and beautiful) Bali Starlings, etc. I haven't seen the magnificent giant metallic blue scorpion around Ubud for 10-13 years.
I'd like to see a reduction in the numbers of rats and "wild" dogs, even feral cats. Cockroaches and mosquitoes still abound, of course. Crabs seem to be getting smaller all the time (or maybe I get to the seafood markets too late). Frogs and toads appear to be plentiful, but I have no scientific information that certain of them [i]might[/i] be fading away.
:P
tintin
Roy,
You write
[quote]In west Bali they have problems with the very cantankerous salt water crocs. [/quote]
Where did you get this piece of information? (This is a serious question). I have done a fair amount of diving around Bali, since 1992, and this is the first time I have ever heard such a claim. My good friend Chris, who is a professional diver living in Bali for the last fifteen years, told me that the only place where the salt water crocodiles (big ones) live is in the Kangean Islands, 130 kms north (ask "Miss Bamboo" about it, she knows from when she sailed there :) ).
I remember, in several discussions with Chris and other divers who reside in Bali, joking that sooner or later, one of these giant crocs will have the good idea of visiting the Island of the Gods :( Nobody knows why they are only in the Kangean Islands (where they feast on about half a dozen of local fishermen annually) and not in Bali, but they are certainly never been seen in Bali.
Mark Wales
Dear Roy,
Much thanks for the info. Am looking forward to meeting the
spitting cobra (should be refreshing after my ex mother in law)
warm regards
Mark[/img]
Roy
In Bali, we have something far more like an ex mom in law, or an ex spouse. The Balinese figured out the ultimate bitch many centuries ago. She's called Rangda. She can make a spitting cobra seem like a purring kitten. :shock:
I kid you not.
tintin
Although a hardcore scientist, I can attest to the power of the Rangda (although I realize “it takes two to tango”), which defies my Cartesian upbringing. I have had several opportunities to observe her at work first hand.
The first instance was in connection with the many Odalan2 I attended at Pura Pegerebongan, Kesiman. From inside the temple, I observed, before the ceremonies, the many people going in trance following a Rangda’s shout, and getting out of the same state as one single individual, once back inside the temple after the traditional three-time circumbulation of the outside [i]wantilan[/i], again upon her guttural command.
The second instance took place at Puri Anyar, Krambitan, during a [i]Tektekan[/i] performance following an evening dinner given in honor of a group of Dutch travel agents, by my friends, the twin princes, Anak Agung Ngurah Oka Silagunadha or "Pak Oka", and Anak Agung Rai Girigunadhi or "Pak Rai." As the performance proceeded to the moment when Rangda’s attendants, in trance, come in under her spell with their [i]kris[/i] drawn, stabbing themselves, one of the Dutch guests apparently passed out and fell from his chair. Of course, we immediately thought of a heart attack as a cause, and what we should do next (Krambitan is almost a 2-hourdrive from Sangla Hospital). But the priest in attendance, not “missing a beat,” approached the guest laying on the ground and sprinkled him with some of his ever present holly water: the guest immediately came back to his senses, wondering what had happened to him (of course, some of his friends suggested the heat or indigestion, as a possible cause :roll: ).
Roy
Daniel, those are some great Rangda stories. I particularly admire your courage in publicly declaring your own encounters with paranormal events that cannot be scientifically explained. When a scientist makes such a statement, one cannot help but to take very serious notice.
Just yesterday afternoon Eri and I were talking with another long time American expat who has lived most of his life in Asia. We talked quite a bit about this topic, and well into our discussion I broke out in a laugh and said, “you know, if we were most anywhere in the states and anyone was overhearing our conversation, they would likely call the men in the white coats!”
My “close encounters” with Rangda have happened only when I’ve been at an all night calonarang at a Pura Dalem. I remember well the words of my Balinese host the first time I was escorted to a calonarang. I asked him, “why does this ceremony have to go all the way until dawn?” His reply, which I later discovered to be true was simple and to the point. “Because we will all be too scared to walk home in the dark.”
If Bert reads this, maybe he would consider adding a new subject board to this forum. He could borrow from Fred Eiseman and call it “Bali Niskala, share your stories.” Daniel, if you think that’s a good idea, your encouragement would be very meaningful. I know some expats on this forum who could, if they were willing, offer up some amazing stories, and in general, this whole aspect of Bali is fascinating.
Jimbo
The first time I visted Bali in '83 I was actually in a restaurant eating Turtle meat. When I look back on those times I actually cringe.
In Jayapura and in Merauke in Irian Jaya I ate dog meat with gusto.
In Nigeria I have eaten Bush meat (large rat) Crocodile tail and in Zambia live monkey brain.
I also witnessed Nigerian "niskala" and actually saw a man walking under water for over 20 minutes and have no logical explanation for how.
Takes a lot for me to believe in a supernatural experience but really it should not. As a committed believer in God all such things can be accepted.
Roy
Daniel, if you read some old posts, specifically exchanges between Dr. Bruce...a full on doctor of anthropology and me regarding what you say, and our views regarding Margaret Meads’s “erroneous interpretations” of all things Bali we would likely end up at Nuri’s embarrassing each other with hugs. :P :P :P :P
Another great story from you, and one that I savored every word.
tintin
Yes Roy, I think a "Bali Niskala, share your stories" would be quite interesting. There would be, I am sure, many weirdo stories, but also some genuine experiences. The discussions and comments, interpretations, theories, all in all, it would make for nice exchanges.
I remember meeting with Jean Houston, the adoptive daughter of Margaret Mead, several years ago, as she was visiting Bali, leading a group of about 50 people. My first conversation with her, not knowing who she was, consisted in putting squarely my foot in my mouth. Somehow, in no time and for some unknown reason, we were discussing Mead's anthropological theories, and I was criticizing, not her excellent field work in Bali, but what seems to be her erroneous interpretations (now, I am a physicist, not an anthropologist, so I was in somehow above my head :oops: ). Well, Dr. Houston, who happens to be a very imposing figure both physically and intellectually, turned on the dime into somewhat of a Rangda version, and if looks could kill, I would now be writing this from Hades. Luckily, my wife was by my side, and by shear coincidence had just finished reading a book about Mead’s work in Bali, which she had picked up in a used book store back in Boston, and read just before our departure for Bali. Since Marsha’s brain is like a mix between a tape recorder and a camera, she came to my rescue, diverting Ms Houston’s attention with sounder and more diplomatic arguments, somewhat in the fashion a matador diverts with his cape the bull’s attention from a fallen picador. This was the closest encounter I have had with a Western Rangda. :cry:
Following this incident, Ms Houston and I became good (temporary) friends, and I knew better than bringing her mother’s name in her presence ever again. :)
For those of you who may not be acquainted with Dr. Jean Houston, she is a prolific writer, and a leading figure in the cross-cultural study of spirituality and ritual processes. Of course, she is also more popularly known, as a good friend of Hillary Clinton, for having encouraged Hillary, when she was occupying the White House, to carry imaginary conversation with the late Eleanor Roosevelt. :roll:
Mark Wales
Dear Jimbo,
[quote]I also witnessed Nigerian "niskala" and actually saw a man walking under water for over 20 minutes and have no logical explanation for how.
Takes a lot for me to believe in a supernatural experience but really it should not. As a committed believer in God all such things can be accepted.[/quote]
I have had many personal experiences in Madras when I visited the Goddess Kali's temple. The offerings of meat and liqour and the scary instances of people in trances piercing parts of their bodies and not feeling any pain even the day after when sanity prevailed. And the time when in our teens we visited the banks of the Hooghly to collect body parts (bones) from the cremation site to carry home as trophies. The misery these actions brought was like mental masturbation when having a migraine. It was a Mullah who came home and drove the spirits out.
This sounds unscientific, I know, but who can explain the "Other World".
Has anyone read Colin Wilson's The Occult ?
On another train of thought I have noticed that no Deer/Buck/Antelope
has been mentioned. Are there any Barking Deer there?
I suppose Wildlife in Bali incompasses everything in Bali!
Roy
Ah yes, the kijang. A good question Mark. Personally, I've never seen a wild deer in Bali, and sadly, the only kijangs I have encountered here have a Toyota trademark. :cry:
