Hati- Hati: (be careful)
Are Balinese people just amazingly optimistic? Is there an unspoken widespread death wish in
the culture? No one in Bali thinks that
bad things can happen to them. Judge for yourself: motor cyclists
driving the wrong way on 1-way streets, balconies have rails that are no higher
than your knees, open manholes along the sidewalk, everywhere. That is
not exactly tourist friendly policy to encourage return travel.
We had a wonderful young man install Internet for us the other
day. He shimmied along the edge of the tiled roof, barefooted, to place the
radio receiver. No helmet, gloves, ladder, or safety cable. Later he spliced electrical wiring without
bothering to turn off the power to the house.
He’s fine; I’m still taking deep breaths.
Ergonomics have not made much headway. Local women carry cement and bricks on their
head. Their shoulders are bigger than
mine. They carry loads that would give a buffalo a hernia.
Farmers and gardeners jab coconuts with 20 foot poles and
hop out of the way as they crash down.
No protection. Perhaps they need to genetically modify the
trees to make soft coconuts in the interest of worker safety.
As beautiful as Bali
can be, you have to be mindful. Manholes, falling coconuts, and dare-devil drivers are reminders to stay in
the moment.
P.S. Since I’m not the most optimistic person, and do not have a death wish, we had the
rail replaced in our house. I am not ready to be one with the universe.
No comments:
Post a Comment