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The Changing Culture in Bali

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There is a cultural group in Bali known as Bali Aga (Old Bali) where most association with “outsiders” is prohibited. Because these people’s isolation keeps them away from updates and progress due to travel, technology, and other influences, it is believed by historians and anthropologists that they may hold the keys to our understanding the way of life in Bali that existed hundreds of years ago. However, the Bali Aga is the exception to the rule when considering the Balinese communities throughout the island. Most communities, while still unique in their heritage, religion, and other traditions, are beginning to show the impact of the tourists that flood Bali every year, the technology that introduces new ideas and lifestyles into the culture, and other outside influences that threaten to change forever the historical way of life in Bali.

Changes in Balinese culture are also evident in the way that the Balinese find work. Most citizens of Bali are, and have always been, agriculturalists; the fertile lands make this a possibility. Many Balinese are also fishermen, and artisans are common. Dexterity with stone and wood is natural among many of the people, as is talent in painting, dancing, and more. These arts are part of their tradition, religion, and daily life. However, as recent years have witnessed the growth of the tourism industry in Bali, many workers have abandoned their former occupations to pursue tour guiding and other work in the tourist field. Though it is not in keeping with the traditional lines of work and culture, many Balinese are finding that it pays better and exposes them to new people and progressive ideas, something that they embrace.

The changing culture in Bali is even seen in the people’s languages. Most Balinese people speak at least two or three languages. The primary languages are Balinese and Bahasa Indonesian, and English has become a common third language for the Balinese because of the interaction that they have with tourists daily. While the languages in the country used to be greatly influenced by the caste system, recent years’ modernization of the island has lessened this dominance.

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