Who doesn't know Bali? A tropical island that is a favorite tourist destination for international tourists. People sometimes even know Bali better than Indonesia.
Bali is home to the Hindu community in Indonesia. More than 80 percent of Bali's population adheres to Hinduism. However, Balinese Hinduism is somewhat different from Indian Hinduism. Indian Hinduism is considered purer, while Balinese Hinduism has been mixed with the culture of the Indonesian archipelago. The difference can be seen from the shape of the temple, temples in India tend to be closed, while temples in Bali are open buildings.
Bali's economy is supported by the tourism sector: hotels, restaurants, gift shops, etc. So, it is not surprising that when the Bali bombing occurred, Bali's economy, which depends on tourism, was hit hard. But the heaviest blow to Bali's economy comes at this time when a global pandemic has stopped all tourism activities.
These photos show the atmosphere of Bali in 1971, when tourism was not yet booming, when Bali was still a virgin. These photos show traffic conditions, the atmosphere in a market, and rice fields.
Photo: Joost Evers/ANEFO