What an American Sees in Bali That We Might Forget
- Feb 27
- 2 min read
One afternoon in Sanur, we met John an American who grew up in Hawaii. He’s not just a short-term visitor. He married into an Indonesian family and has been connected to Bali for many years.
When we asked whether he considers himself a tourist or a local, his answer was simple but powerful :
“I’m always a tourist… because I wasn’t born here.”
For him, being a “foreigner” is not about paperwork. It’s about attitude. It’s about remembering that when you step into someone else’s home, you come with respect.
Why He Fell in Love with Bali
John didn’t fall in love with Bali because of beach clubs. Not because of cheap living. Not because of Instagram views.
He fell in love with something deeper.
“Family value… this is why I fell in love with here.”
Growing up in Hawaii another small island with a strong cultural identity he saw similarities. He understands what it means for an island to fight to preserve its roots.
And that’s exactly what he hopes for Bali.
“Hawaiian culture works hard to preserve its culture. That’s what I wish for Bali.”
A Gentle Warning About Moving Too Fast
John understands that change is unavoidable.
“Change is inevitable.”
But he also asked something that made us pause :
“If we take away the rice fields… what happens to the Bali smile?”
For him, development is not the enemy. Losing the heart of the culture is.
He sees the ceremonies. The language. The way family still matters here. And he believes those are the real treasures.
“We don’t take money with us to heaven.”
In other words what lasts isn’t wealth. It’s values.
Bali Is Not Just a Place to Consume
When we asked him to rate his Bali experience from 1 to 10, he didn’t like the question.
To him, Bali isn’t something to “consume” and score.
Instead, he turned the perspective around :
“What are you going to bring here… instead of just enjoying it?”
That line changes everything.
He believes visitors shouldn’t just take from Bali they should contribute to it.
“We need to serve Bali more instead of just enjoying it.”
That’s not something you hear every day from a foreigner.
Bali Is for Everyone, If You Come With Respect
John married into Indonesian culture. He built relationships here. He made Bali part of his life.
But he understands one thing clearly:
“Hopefully this place will accept me if I respect the culture.”
And that’s the key.
Bali is open. Bali is welcoming. Bali has space for people from different backgrounds.
But respect is non-negotiable.
A Reminder for Those of Us Who Live Here
Sometimes it takes an outsider to remind us what makes our home special.
John sees :
The importance of family
The strength of tradition
The beauty of cultural identity
The need to protect what matters
He’s not Balinese. He wasn’t born in Indonesia.
Yet he says :
“My heart started in Bali.”
For those of us who grew up here, maybe the question is not whether Bali is changing because it will.
The real question is :
Are we protecting the heart of it?
Because if someone from across the ocean can see the value in Bali’s culture… surely we can too.
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