Think quickly: can you describe Indonesia without
mentioning Bali?
Most Indonesians who have lived or travelled abroad
are acquainted with this kind of exchange: a foreigner asks where they are
from, but the world's fourth most populated country remains so mysterious for
some that they must cite Bali in order for the questioner to get their
bearings.
This has been a point of contention since former
President Megawati Soekarnoputri criticized Indonesia's lack of international
popularity.
“Whenever I travel to a foreign nation and someone
asks where I'm from, and I tell them I'm from Indonesia, they ask: where is
Indonesia?” During a recent virtual event, the chairperson of the ruling PDI-P
party stated.
“I usually ask, ‘Do you know Bali?' [to make sure they
understand]. Consider how absurd that is. This is due to the fact that Bali has
retained its native cultures and regional values.”
It's an age-old question, really, and everyone has an
opinion. Why are foreigners more familiar with Bali than with Indonesia as a
whole?
It doesn't seem to matter that Indonesia is a
Southeast Asian giant; Bali, as a beautiful island and popular tourist
destination, simply stands out more to outsiders. The previous president seemed
to believe that indigenous Balinese culture is important, but is there more to
it? Is it even Indonesia's fault?
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