Are these the real issues in Bali?

DENPASAR – Long time Bali resident Made Wijaya – aka Michael White – has written an interesting piece in the October issue of Now! Bali magazine.

Wijaya takes issue with an article in the Bali Post which joined in the chorus of Indonesian indignation at Tourism Malaysia’s portrayal of the pendet dance in its Malaysia Truly Asia ad campaigns.

Indonesia claims the dance as its own.

Wijaya said those getting in a lather over the pendet dance should turn their attention to other issues impacting on Bali.

“Why can’t students and the Bali Post raise their fists against the truly deplorable conditions tourists face at the (Bali) international airport, or the fast disappearing ‘green belt’ on the new eastern distributor, or Australians drinking in the streets of Kuta and Sanur during the Holy Month of Ramadan.”

And he added, “With its depleted culture, Malaysia get around 20 million tourists a year while Bali, widely considered the world’s most gorgeous culture, gets only two million.

“Perhaps some introspection is called for….” Wijaya says.