The Strength of the Balinese Family

One of my very first impressions from our very first trip to Bali, was the strength and unity of the Balinese family.

I remember our first Sunday, having the luxury of sitting is a restaurant in the late afternoon, overlooking a busy street that lead to the beach. We were bemused and amused to watch the truckloads of families , sometimes 20-25 people crammed into the back of a small truck, leaving the beach after a family day out. Each truck held multiple generations and were obviously extended family. They were all so happy and relaxed.

We commented to each other that even though these people work such long hours and usually 6 days a week, there sense of family was so obviously stronger than ours in the western world.

Over time we have become friendly with a few families in Bali, and my opinion on this has only gotten stronger.

We love the simple pleasure of spending a Sunday sitting on the front patio of their family compound and greeting all the extended family as they constantly stream through the front gate and come and go all day. The natural flow of the conversations and the inclusion of every member of the family is really something to appreciate. It doesn%26#39;t matter how old or young, each family member is important.

And how the older men reach out their arms to take the new babies and nurse them, or sit with the older children and really listen to what they are saying with interest.

How if the father of a family dies, the uncles take on the responsibility for the family left behind. It%26#39;s not a hassle or burden it is just done in a matter of fact, totally natural way.

The only point of reference for me, until we discovered Bali, was my family who seem to only get together for things like funerals. And my husbands family who are even worse and haven%26#39;t seen each other for decades in some cases.

I would be interested to hear your opinions on this subject, whether you agree or disagree, and what experiences you have all had.

The Strength of the Balinese Family

such a great topic whinnie. One of the highlights of my trips to bali is being able to meet up with my friends who i regard to be members of my family now. I can%26#39;t express the admiration i have for these families and the balinese in general who struggle financially and live in sometimes unfavourable conditions yet still manage to smile and be happy and appreciate every thing they do have despite what they need to help them. The locals always take time to welcome us and make our holidays memorable and some of the best we have ever had. on my last trip i met up with one of my dear friends each day then one day she turned up with her son who would normally be at school for the day. when i asked her why Agus was not at school she told me how her house had flooded overnight and all she could do was paddle in water and go to the beach as usual to sell her goods hoping the water would have drained away by the afternoon so she could clean up. She said ';it is all ok do not worry we are used to this happening to us when there is heavy rain'; and continued on smiling and enjoying her time with us.

I also admire how a son will work 2 jobs to care for his older parents. (no centrelink here!) Another friend of mine does this. his parents are old and his dad is unwell. they cannot afford medical treatment but once again continue to enjoy every day.

I think the balinese hindu religious beliefs and a strong sense of family and belonging, pride and celebrating the many festivals and joys of their religious calendar ensures strong family values. i would love to spend more time in bali I love being immersed in the culture and the people. we all have a lot we could learn from the balinese.

The Strength of the Balinese Family

I know what you mean about the Balinese becoming one of your family. We have a daughter in Bali that I didn%26#39;t have to give birth to and her children are our surrogate grandchildren. In fact they had a big celebration for the baby in early February (the one where at 6 months they touch the floor for the first time) and as we had been there in January, we couldn%26#39;t make it. Apparently the entire village was asking where we were and why we weren%26#39;t there.

It also doesn%26#39;t help when another friend insists on calling me ';mom';. It is my mission in life to have him call me by name, but he is just as stubborn as I am and it has become a game now that neither of us wants to lose.