9 posts | Started 1 year ago by Barrie | Latest reply from longqi |
A lot of tourists plan their holiday so that they avoid the ‘day of silence’; Nyepi - this year falling on the 5th March. I for one happen to enjoy the whole 3 days that encompass Nyepi and the various celebrations.
What's your take on the 'Day of Silence'. Do you love it or hate it?
Barrie i'm with you. i enjoy and believe i benefit from the inaction/reflection of Nyepi.
i have no time for those bules who bitch and complain about it.
it's a seminal event on the Hindu calendar. it's their country.
what would be the reaction if we said christmas, easter, anzac day, thanksgiving, imlek, id al ada, yom kippur etc were bullshit?
We have made 4 trips to Bali, all with Nyepi Day in the middle of the trip. We leave 1 March and will arrive 3 March just in time for Nyepi - love it.
when i first came to Bali i was horrified by the thought of being "imprisoned" for the day. and would head for a hotel, now i enjoy it and stay at home, well stocked up with goodies
I think when some people do have complaints about Nyepi, it's more to do with the restrictive nature of the rules imposed on them during that period. It can often feel like being a prisoner in your own home.
Bali tries to promote understanding across cultures, but often only when it suits themselves. They are happy to receive tourist dollars but to try to give the illusion they are still in control of their own culture, and not corrupted by all the outside forces of greed and mass development, they often impose some unreasonable expectations. I guess this is fine if they wanted to cut themselves off from the rest of the world, but they don't do they? They are actively encouraging more foreign visitors.
To shut down the international airport, along with radio and TV broadcasts, also cutting electricity (PLN) supply for many areas, may be a little overkill. I mean, has it really improved the spiritual standing of the Balinese community? Has it stopped crime? Improved honesty? Cleaned the beaches? Fixed infrastructure?
@Shorty, non of the holidays you mention include marshall law, you are still free to leave your own home if you so desire. But yes, people who use such a strong word as "bullshit" are pushing it.
Nyepi can be fun if you do enjoy solace in your own home, or the chance to spend a relaxing few days in a hotel. I've done both and both have been an adventure. But I'm sure a simple tourist on a 5 or 7 day holiday would prefer to have that time spend at the beach, shopping or exploring out and about.
I think tourists should avoid it, unless they know about it in advance and are good with staying within hotel grounds for the duration. No one here is saying Nyepi (or Christmas, Easter, Dewali, Holi, Double 10 Day, 2/28 Day, Lunar New Year, Ramadan, Labour Day, Groundhog Day or whatever) is bullshit.
sorry there was a double post , something to do with my internet connection i think , please delete this mods
i see that this year indosat are closing their satelite services for the day,
The only thing that gets me is the hypocrisy of the whole thing
You are supposed to stay in your room a meditate on Nyepi day
[facing fines/trouble if you dont]
Yet every single hotel/resort has huge advertisements asking you
to stay there with your friends and enjoy communal lunches and swimming etc
Still This is
Money talks
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