Balinese people

Yeah.

I was told that the Balinese tend to not know where to look when they see tourists wearing bikinis or whatnot.

Yes.

I don't

On an even broader level, the day symbolizes the idea that Earth and the greater universe get purified together.

And the Balinese believe that the harmony between humanity, nature, and the divine must be actively maintained.

It's not just something that happens.

Okay, so for Nieppe, silence is purification.

But I did find one single paper published last year, and it packs a punch.

Here's a snippet from the paper's abstract.

Quote, In the midst of global crises such as climate change, pandemics, and declining spiritual awareness, Niepi has emerged as a cultural strategy that strengthens the spiritual and cultural resilience of Balinese society.

It continues that the holiday's spiritual values act as, quote, forms of resistance to consumerism and global noise while fostering deeper spiritual solidarity, and that they're, quote, contextually revitalized to address contemporary global challenges.

I think they're of similar-ish ages, and she goes back to Bali to hang.

She goes, like, she goes back to teaching kindergarten, and she's like, "I-" Think I'm in love with a Balinese prince.

I don't wanna be here anymore.

[laughs]

Yeah.

You know? Or, or rude to anyone, right? So, but it really, really annoys me, because the Balinese and Indonesians in general are some of the nicest people you'll meet.

Mm.

And they'll do anything to help you, 100%, right? And then someone comes over and, and just yells at them or, or doesn't say "please" or "thank you," because they don't think they need to.

That's the bit that really, really annoys me with, with places, particularly in Asia, you know, like whether you go to Thailand or, or wherever.

Some Westerners believe that they're entitled and, and, and are better than other people, and it does really, really annoy me, but I see it all the time, you know? So, um, yeah.

And the Balinese, I'll ne- I've never really seen a Balinese or Indonesian argue with anyone.

[laughs]

So Bali i- is the island I'm on, and Bali is an incredibly amazing place.

So the, the Balinese, they have this, they have very big, beautiful spiritual beliefs and strong, strong community, and I think this has attracted a massive international population.

There are hundreds of thousands of people from around the world living in Bali, and I know of no place in the world that is this international, that is this relaxing, that is this peaceful.

It, it's really like a little paradise.

... at home.

And I always refer that into to the other sense, is that, you know, when Balinese or other cultures go to a different culture, they like to bring theirs as well.

Yeah.

Because it's how you were brought up, it's how you've grown and you, you do like those things.

... learning Bahasa.

It is so interesting.

Um, we're obviously learning Indonesian Bahasa, but we're trying to learn the Balinese dialect-

Mm

Joko Widodo, Indonesia's president until two years ago, said that he wanted to create 10 new Balis, aiming to bring more jobs and high incomes to his country.

Bali has long been Indonesia's top tourist destination, bringing in vast amounts of foreign exchange and providing jobs to Balinese and to migrant workers from across the country.

High on Mr. Widodo's list was Labuan Bajo and beyond it, the Komodo National Park.

After all, it boasts a unique tourist attraction, the Komodo dragon, an enormous lizard that can grow to ten feet long, weigh eighty kilograms, and lives only on Komodo and a few smaller nearby islands.

But, yeah, still got to tour the island and have a bit of fun.

What's the biggest difference between the Balinese and let's say the Australians? What's the difference?

Well, interestingly enough, Balinese are just beautiful people.

And when I talk about the spiritual side, I'm not fully spiritual in that sense, but I love the peace that that brings.

And I often say the happiest people on the island are Balinese.

And what do they have? They have nothing.

They have very, very little, if you know what I mean.

The countdown to a Bali high wedding has begun.

At the Royal Palace of Ubud, villagers from far and wide are carrying out their centuries-old Balinese wedding traditions.

We've had about six pigs donated so far, but we need two and a half tonnes of pigs.

At the center of it all is the mother of the royal groom, an Australian Balinese princess.

I

was trying to work out how much one pig weighs to see how many more pigs we need.

a whole new world for Happy, a Muslim from Java.

But for Prince Jock Goose, a Hindu, their marriage ceremony is a familiar part of his people's spiritual life.