My intention is not to tell you to learn Indonesian or to follow the ceremony calendar. Instead, let’s discuss appropriate dress in public places.
While it’s a great idea to know which hand you use to hand someone money and how to tie a sarong the proper way, these are the things everybody can learn along the way. Learning basic words in the local language is considerate too. However, nothing will beat basic human decency.
I am not the most outstanding example of a respectful expat, even though I am trying my best. I used to park my bike next to a freshly built little temple next to my building for a while. Once, I met a man there, and he seemed quite angry. In a few English words, he explained to me that I shouldn’t park my bike there. He wanted to make it clear, so it took several minutes, even though I was apologizing and promising it would never happen again the whole time. It is okay not to know something or make mistakes as long as we are willing to improve.
It’s normal not to know certain things about a culture that is new to you. However, some things are common for the whole of humanity. Be appropriately dressed in public and quiet, especially in sacred places, follow the instructions, remove your shoes, and wear proper clothes. You might not know you have to wear a sarong in the Balinese temples, as in a Christian church, for example, it’s enough to just cover your body. But as you go to the Balinese temple, you will be told that a sarong is a must regardless of what you wear. There is no other reason for it except for the fact that the Balinese do it this way, and you should too.
I would like to address going to sacred places naked and wearing a bikini to Pepito, but I don’t know how to explain that it’s wrong to the people who don’t think it’s wrong.
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