Minister Terawan encourages Usadha Bali development under Traditional Balinese Medicine branding

In Bali, Study of traditional herbal medicine is known under term Usadha, derived from Sanskrit word Ausadhi means healing plants. The ancient wisdom of botanical medicine texts has been compiled on Lontar (Dried-Borassus leaf) under name Lontar Usadha. Traditional Balinese Usadha treatment is carried out by a shaman called Balian; whether Balian Ketakson or Balian Usadha. Usadha practice on the island of Bali is strongly related to herbal plants' existence. Herbal medication has been proven in Bali as a primary treatment for the patient since ancient times. However, due to current medication service, people no longer prefer a botanical-based therapy as the first option. As a result, the number of herbal plants on the island of Bali has been plummeting over the years. Although on some occasions, the central government and provincial government had suggested cultivating herbaceous plant as a decorative plant on a household level, yet the program did not make any significant impact. In December 2019, Governor of Bali, Wayan Koster expressed his deep interest on indigenous health service industry to be provided by hospitals, both state and private. On occasion, Indonesia minister of Health, Terawan Agus Putranto, showed his support for the development of health tourism, travelling medicine, and complementary traditional services with local genius. They both agreed that the service would be promoted under 'Traditional Balinese Medicine (TBM) service' branding. In future, it is expected that TBM would be available as an alternative service on Bali hospitals. The facility would promote herbal industry development as well as herbal plant preservation through the availability of local herb farms to be established in ​​Bangli, Karangasem, and Tabanan areas.

Topeng Sidakarya Dance; A Man who made it a success

Topeng Sidakarya dance is a masked wali dance originated from the 16th century. A typical old art performance that utilises a mask to express the figure's character. It is believed the art was choreographed after a brief visit of Brahmana Keling, a sage from eastern Java to Bali at the time King Dalem Waturenggong was reigning Gelgel Kingdom. The tour of Brahmana keling to the grand ritual held in the 16th century by king Dalem Waturenggong gave birth to Topeng Sidakarya dance; An art to dedicate Brahmana Keling’s service for Gelgel kingdom. His service had led Bali to reach its prosperous time for an extended period. The dance is recognised by its unique mask characteristics: a white-based colour mask, squinting eyes, black or white moustache, smiling expression and exaggerated overbite teeth. Topeng Sidakarya dance served as a complement of religious rituals based on king Dalem Waturenggong’s decree for the future generation. It is compulsory to perform the sacred art as it carries a symbol that the ceremony has been well-acted, and the organiser would meet their expectation for the ritual.

The 2nd Balinese Language Month: to raise Society awareness on the Balinese Language

On February 1st, 2020, Bali Governor Wayan Koster scheduled to open the 2nd Balinese Language Month at the Ksirarnawa Building, Art Centre, Denpasar as an implementation of Bali Governor's Regulation No. 80 of 2018, concerning the Protection and the usage of Language, Literacy, and Balinese Literature & the Implementation of the Balinese Language Month. The Balinese Language Month imbued the spirit of language preservation. The event is strongly related to the apprehensive fact that the Balinese's interest in using their native language is plummeting significantly over the years. The festival was successfully held and gathered significant attention from the public. It is suggested to conduct follow up research to measure the public's heed after the Balinese Language Festival or any similar events. Should the public's favour in learning and using their native discourse increases, then the program should be treated as a frontline in preserving the language. However, when the festival turned out did not make any significant change in society, perhaps a better strategy should be considered in generating social awareness in their mother language. Furthermore, the research might be as well acts as input for the committee; on this occasion, the provincial Government of Bali to keep on improving the quality of the language preservation festival.

Bali Included as ‘No List 2020’, a Shocking news on the end of 2019

A US-based tourism magazine ‘Fodor’ includes Bali as ‘No List 2020’. The news infuriated Bali Governor Wayan Koster. Koster presumed the action was an example of foul play in tourism competition. Meanwhile, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Wishnutama Kusbandio claimed he did not bother with the Fodor's review. The news might be the Fodor’s strategy as a media to reach a wider audience. Fodor’s included Bali as "No List 2020" due to three major factors namely poor waste management, clean water existence, and foreign tourists’ disrespectful attitude. Findings showed what the media wrote apparently reflects the todays reality on th Island of Gods. However, the local Government has been starting to make significant improvement from waste management, and tourism standard. Tourism stakeholder in Indonesia especially Bali, might be infuriated by Fodor’s No List 2020. Rather than to negatively response to the news, it is better to consider it as positive feedback for Bali tourism. In addition, a good quality feedback from media as one of society control would be well appreciated if it is providing problem-solving solution instead of only focus on critics.

Hidden Potential of Arak Bali to be The World’s Seventh Spirit; from religious purpose to negative investment list

In a joint meeting between Governor and Bali Regional House of Representatives on 11 February 2019, Bali Governor Wayan Koster expressed his interest to promote arak as a trademark of Bali, a traditional Balinese spirit. Arak is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage, generally produced in Southeast Asia and South Asia countries. Each region has its distinctive method in selecting the most delicate raw material as primary ingredient, to its patients and meticulous preparations in producing the best liquor. Religious activities becomes chief reason the art of liquor distilation present in the island of God, especially Arak. It serves as tetabuhan in traditional and religious ceremonies, a recreational beverage for adults or even utilize to make herbal paste. Some traditional farmer use Wariga as a reference to determine the perfect day to produce arak, therefore, the process becomes its distinctive feature. Realizing its hidden potential, Governor Koster expressed his interest in making Balinese Arak legal as a prospective industry to improve the communities economic welfare, by promoting it as a heritage-based product. Through departments in Provincial government, he prepares standardisation as well as legal basis to promote the liquor in tourism industry. However, the distilled spirit is classified as Alcohol type C on the law thus its distribution in full scale is strictly regulated by the law. Furthermore, Presidential Regulation which adds alcoholic beverages as negative investment list, become a high wall to climb before the customer could safely sip the product.

Land Conversion Versus Subak : How Bali’s Face Gradually Changing Throughout History

Land conversion occurs globally as a result of population dynamics, infrastructure and agricultural expansions, as occurring in the island of God, Bali. Apparently, the land shifting phenomenon in Bali is not as simple as it sounds. It creates a complicated situation in which detrimental to the environment that subsequently affects the socio-cultural aspect in the long run. albeit Balinese rice field, with its Subak System, received UNESCO World Heritage title. The title seems unable to halt the conversion entirely. High demand and limited supply of land in Bali are resulting in skyrocketing price of the estate that slowly pushes the community to liquidate their essential asset. Every year, the horticultural industry is shrinking bit by bit and transforming into real estate. Once an area is transmuted into a residential property or tourism destination, its neighbourhood would be most likely to experience a similar way. As the land composition is changing, migration would follow and boost the conversion process. Though Government is strictly regulating about land conversion through Law Number 41 of 2009 and Law Number 26 of 2007, yet society consciousness plays a vital role to determine whether Bali ricefield with its Subak would survive in the future.

Polemic of Indonesian Criminal Code Bill on Bali’s Tourism Industry

Indonesian Criminal Code Bill proposal, suddenly became a hot issue after Indonesia commemorate their 74th Independence Day. The executive and legislative accelerated completion of Indonesian Criminal Code Bill (ICCB) at Fairmont Hotel, Jakarta. Many parties have been urging the government to revise some outdated articles since the penal code was a product of Dutch colonialism in the past. Three crucial topics were discussed and added to the draft regarding blasphemy to president, crimes against morality and decency, as well as specific intent crime. Apparently, some parties were unsatisfied with the draft. Waves of uproar sprang up between mid-September and early October 2019. the demonstrators considered that there are ten controversial articles in the ICCB that have vague enforcement parameters. To reduce the public tension, the government agreed to delay the ICCB ratification that, according to public includes multiple problematic articles. President Joko Widodo stated that more input would be conducted before disseminate the latest ICCB information to public. The postponement would be evoked after the new set of parliaments is inaugurated. Albeit being postponed, Tourism practitioner in Bali experiencing significant loss of tourists visit due to the issues. It is expected in future; the government would involve tourism practitioner in group discussion before setting new regulations that may affect the vital industry of Indonesia.

To survive or perish, Nyoman and Ketut existences at stake!

Governor of Bali, Dr. Ir. I Wayan Koster, M.M. recently instructed his regents through Governor Instruction Number 1545 of 2019 to promote Krama Bali Family Planning (KBFP); a ‘four children policy’ instead of National family planning program (FPP) a ‘two children policy’. The central government deployed FPP as an effective way to prevent population explosion in the last fifty years; which is highly crucial to ensure the society’s welfare in future. In contrast, apparently, from the Governor of Bali, Wayan Koster’s perspective, the program is subduing Balinese society growth, and threatening the survivability of the third and fourth child generations (Nyoman and Ketut). Through the Instruction, it is expected the Balinese family would decide to have more than two children, as the Governor’s wish to protect the ancestral noble heritage. In these times, there are several things that a family should be taken into account before deciding to follow KBFP program; from the female side agreement, family’s cashflow condition, and recent demographic situation of Bali that has been expanding rapidly for years. Nevertheless, the instruction is not sternly applied, since there is no sanction for the society who wish not to follow the government’s suggestion. As a verdict, a Balinese family still own the power to decide independently what they may find suitable for their future.

Palelindon: Unravel the hidden meaning of earthquake

On the history of humanity, multiple approaches and methods have been conducted to determine reliable formula on predicting when and where the earth would release its seismic pulse. Many quests have been conducted for more than century to forecast the quake occurrence, yet failed to meet the expectation for long run prediction. Earthquake in a simple term is defined as convulsion on the earth’s surface. Based on its trigger, the quake could be classified into two namely seismic activity and tremor. A vast horseshoe area covers 40,000 km square in the shore of pacific ocean is notorious for its title as The Ring of fire (ROF); an area that has been experiencing continuous series of lithosphere seismic activities. Living within the geologically active area, Bali as part of Indonesia since ancient times seemed to experience multiple quakes. While most research relentlessly sought to predict the earthquake accurately, Balinese local wisdom claimed to be ably predicting the aftereffect of earthquake as compiled in Palelindon manuscript. The script proposed detailed explanation of earthquake effect on nature that subsequently affects human behaviour. This idea may seem as old myth, and could not be suggested publicly worldwide as scientific explanation. Balinese life is firmly bound by local belief and custom. Nevertheless, the text explanation occasionally is taken into account as precaution to prepare any upcoming upheaval on the island.

Introduction of Keris; an ancient weapon from Asian peninsula

Out of many weapons possessed by myriad inhabitant tribes of southeast Asia, Keris is probably the most unique and well known. The dagger is a common weapon along the Malayan Peninsula, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Keris can be classified into two types based on its shape, namely straight Keris and Luk (wavy) Keris, which always odd in number. Empu, the name given to the Keris maker, hardened iron as the core material in making the knife with particular techniques passed from their predecessor. An object can be classified as a Keris if it has fulfilled the strict prerequisite of Keris. Today’s society put Keris as heritage that should be preserved. Its function progressed from the weapon into antiques, part of the traditional ceremony or even considered as a sacred relic by in Balinese communities. In addition, Keris is also hunted by collectors who put interest on it. The weapon was made throughout a long and challenging process. To keep its durability from the natural oxidation process, therefore, the Keris owner is compulsory to do regular cleaning to preserve its shine and durability.