Then there were terrorist attacks in 2002 and 2005, which literally paralyzed tourism on the island. Most of the inhabitants, who have turned to tourism since the 1990s, have realized how risky investing in it is.
A few driven individuals returned to the land, this time determined not to exploit the land but to work with it.
A new start
"When one bomb goes off, it seems to be an isolated incident," says John O'Sullivan, director of the Four Seasons Resort Bali in Jimbaran Bay. "When the second one explodes, there is a fear that it is a target. People start asking: Is Bali safe?” With more than three million guests annually, Bali is the engine of Indonesia's tourism industry, which is the most profitable branch of the Indonesian economy after oil and gas. Another important fact is the majority religion of the Balinese, which is Hinduism, which in the country with the largest Muslim population in the world has encouraged Islamic extremists to carry out acts of terrorism. "Bali is like a container of sweets," claims the owner of the restaurant - the raid in Jimbaran, where the bombs went off in 2005, "ants are besieging it from everywhere." The economic consequences also reverberated in the magical interior of the island and affected the growers who supplied food to hotels and restaurants. In keeping with their religion, however, the Balinese did not look elsewhere to blame, but instead turned to themselves. There are good and evil spirits in the world. We cannot defeat the evil spirits, we can only keep them in harmony with the good ones, which is also shown by the traditional black and white clothes on the island. The terrorist attacks threatened the harmony and although the disaster came from elsewhere, the blame lies with the Balinese who may have been too busy with success to stop caring about balance. After a series of purification rituals, balance is restored, with the important difference that the new plans never alienate residents and visitors from nature. Even the big hotel chains and the most famous names have invested their efforts in the reborn Bali. Como Shambhala Resort became a holistic spa center, and the Pansea chain opened a resort in the center of the island, reminiscent of hanging gardens, shortly after the 2005 attacks. As water is a purifying force in Hinduism, Bulgari's newest hotel is near the Pura Luhur Uluwatu temple. Damai Lovina Villas is one of the first ecological resorts on the island. The entire settlement is 100% organic, from water consumption to organic produce. The hotel is surrounded by a vegetable garden that grows everything they need in the spacious outdoor restaurant. Even the very location in the middle of rice fields with a view of Lovina Bay and beautiful Indonesian furniture made the eight bungalows famous far beyond the borders of the magical island.
Green, I love you green
Renowned American yoga teacher Rodney Yee first came to Ubud, which is in the heart of the island, in 1993. He was immediately charmed by the hospitality and grace of the inhabitants. He regularly returns to Ubud, which is becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination, mainly due to the extremely respectful attitude towards nature of both the locals and many immigrants. According to Yee, Ubud is one of the most spiritual places he has had the honor of visiting. Balinese culture is not centered on the beaches, where most of the hotel complexes built in the 1990s are located, but residents traditionally gravitate inland. The Hindus believe that the mountains are sacred, and on their slopes they created one of the most magnificent cultural landscapes in the world - the rice terraces, which are an example to the whole world mainly because of the efficient way of irrigation. The best demonstration of cooperation and confidence in the future of organic production is the organic market in Pengosekan, just a stone's throw from the center of Ubud, where 11 small local producers gather every Saturday morning. The crowd of locals, immigrants and tourists are enthusiastic about the local food and the way to make people aware of the care of nature.
Jewelry is also a part of nature
Leading recycled jewelery maker John Hardy claims that we can look perfect and feel perfect too, referring to our relationship with nature. The Canadian-born jewelry designer and maker was brought to Bali by the hippie wave more than 30 years ago when, full of idealism and faith in a better world, he decided to stay on the island and learn local jewelry making. Today, near Ubud, he runs a multimillion-dollar business and a company with more than 600 employees, and his jewelry is made mainly from recycled metals and natural materials. His enthusiasm for materials changes, which is also visible in his masterpieces. Right now, Hardy is obsessed with bamboo. Even the showroom where his products are on display is made entirely of bamboo. His dedication to nature is so great that employees and visitors can sit down to lunch every day in the communal dining room, which is prepared only from biologically sound products of the organic farm next to the company. Last August, he also opened a small hotel called Bambu Indah, which means beautiful bamboo. He moved four 150-year-old Balinese cottages to the hotel grounds, taking care not to destroy the forest, and furnished them with Indonesian antiques. At the hotel, guests can swim in the natural pool, stroll through the rice terraces and dine by candlelight in a beautiful setting on the edge of the Ayung River.
Stop harmful rituals
The Indonesian authorities also support the efforts of local and foreign investors. This year, the Balinese were delighted by the news that the capital city on the island of Denpasar will be the first in the country to get a power plant that will produce electricity by burning waste. How difficult it is sometimes to convince people that their actions are not in accordance with nature, felt Ketut Sarjana Putra, a Balinese who has been advocating for the survival of Balinese turtles for many years. Its main opponent was almost invincible - it is a centuries-old ritual of sacrificing turtles, which are an important symbol in local mythology. The religious ritual, which until recently was a central part of Balinese Hindu ceremonies, meant the death of more than 35 thousand turtles annually. Putra was successful in negotiating with the government, but he knew that only a radical change in deep-rooted habits would save the endangered turtles. Through skillful negotiation, he achieved what many considered impossible: he convinced 37 of the island's most important religious leaders to ban the sacrifice of turtles. Despite the resistance of some communities - for a while protesters even carried placards calling for the jail term of an environmentalist - the trade in turtles and their sacrifice has almost disappeared in Bali. Putro's example, which has been awarded with several environmental awards, shows that the Balinese are really determined to pass on their paradise island unspoiled to their grandchildren.
