Something Strange in Bali
Thu May 07 2020 22:40:00 GMT+0800 (Malaysia Time)
Greetings from my Bali lock-down day 41.
There is something really strange going on in this island.. maybe it holds a clue to escaping Covid-19 - anyway it's becoming clear something is spectacularly odd. I'll explain below.
Last week I was telling you about all the free food here on offer as the local government scramble to prevent starvation and avoid civil unrest. In India, there is less help for poor people - but good people like our agent Mr Chatterjee are working to help in many ways - I was showing you last week Mr Chatterjee's efforts and a message from the orphanage we support there. You can read about it here.
Since then many people emailed me offering support and donations to Mr Chatterjee to enable him to do more. It's amazing how kind people can be even in such difficult circumstances. Maybe I will set up a go-fund page or something..
Today as I write it is a New Moon day in Bali, that means everyone gets dressed up nice and makes offerings in every place, and then troops off to the temple for exotic ceremonies. The wife from the family that owns our warehouse came with a tray of offerings, there is a small temple in the corner of the car-park which she cleaned and refreshed and placed incense and offerings, she came in the office and placed offerings around my new photo-studio, she went in warehouse placed more amongst our packing benches. Ringo said it's all Full Moon offerings, praying success for our business and protection from the virus. When she had finished he went and at distance thanked her profusely.
Full Moon Offerings.
So here's the thing. Six weeks ago Bali was a bustling tourist resort. 740,000 tourists in Bali and a maybe 100,000 of those were Chinese including many arriving on direct flights from Wuhan. Many others from Europe, including not a small amount of Italians and Spanish people busy hugging and kissing everyone they meet. This is a small island with 4 million local population, it is densely populated. It had all the ingredients for a major corona-virus mega-disaster.
And yet.. here are the stats as of today: 287 cases to date, 183 recovered, 4 deaths - 2 of which were Europeans. No new cases yesterday.
Compared to other parts of Indonesia (with very few tourists).. compared to Europe it's simply astoundingly low. Why?
Are they faking the figures (thinking it will protect tourism).. I think it's possible to a degree - but the hospitals are normal, and I know that from Ringo who knows doctors in the central hospital in Denpasar. The mainstream media is not covering this story, but I think they should because whatever the reason it's so low here right now is a mystery. The local spiritual leaders would have you believe the same Gods that calmed down Mount Agung two years ago from a predicted massive eruption, acted again and protected the island.
Maybe, let's keep an open mind.. but perhaps it is something else local to here. Diet for example, the particular level of heat and humidity.. erm I can't think of anything else.
Critics argue it can't be the humidity because Singapore is suffering and it's not so far away and the same weather. Other tropical countries are also bad (eg Mexico) so why on earth is Bali immune?
In Europe and America the curve is past its peak.. just.. and already an un-holy rush to relax lock-downs..So you would think here they would be ultra relaxing now. Some days there are no more cases.. the argument for getting back to normal is strong. And yet.. everyday more stringent rules come, more police and army on the streets. Check points on all major junctions. You must wear a mask at all times outside your home, even in a car. Beaches closed, no public meetings (although I have seen temples open), detergent is been enthusiastically sprayed everywhere with gay abandon. Cars have to drive through detergent washes - streets are drenched twice a day. All ports and airports remain closed, even travel from one part of the island to another is prohibited without reason.
Police check everyone.
Someone, please explain to me what the hell is going on?!!
Meanwhile, in Europe things seem to be picking up.. next week we are getting more people back to work because we need to - although it is a major challenge to keep everyone safe. Tomas and Katka have been tearing their hair out devising safety plans.
We had a container - the first of many - arrive from China so lots of things are back in stock. Including some Soap Flowers.. They have to be the perfect lock-down gift right?. Flowers you can actually wash your hands with!
See below for other stock items.
Here in Bali, we will be dispatching a container in two days... so it's all go.. packing and labelling and QC jobs from morning to night.. Ringo and I are very busy.
Oh yes and another strange thing in Bali.. it's normal that every now and then - every few days you get an earthquake.. mostly little - occasionally a little more scary - I have experienced a few whilst here. Regular readers will recall the worst ones..
In 3 months of corona time.. guess what? - None at all.. it's like the very earth it'self is at peace.
Something strange in Bali..
Take care - stay safe.
More news next week.
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