How People in Kuta Get Along With Tourist

Bali is the most favorite tourist destination. That is what a travel magazine of America said. It makes me wondering what make foreign tourists love Bali and always want to visit again and again. Of course, the beauty of nature and culture become answers. But many other places as beautiful as Bali are not as popular as Bali. Every time I say that I am from Indonesia, the people I am chatting with in internet then ask me if I am from Bali and if I say “no” they usually ask how far my hometown from that island of God. Bali seems more popular than Jakarta. So, when I got a chance to stay (thought only short time) in Kuta, I tried to find the answer.

This time I decide to stay around the Kuta beach. I rent a room in Poppies Street. Poppies Street or Poppies Lane is well known as “Tourist Village”. Some resources told me that foreign tourists who plan to stay for couple months will choose Poppies area to stay. They can get easily the inn, hotel, place to eat, bar, café and other facility with the low cost. Those tourism facilities are located among the local people house. So, foreign tourist and Balinese live in the same neighborhood. Because I am from outside Bali, it is very interesting to know how they can interact well each other. Many tourists feel Kuta as home and want to come back next holiday.

I have found that language has significant contribution. Foreign tourists feel comfortable when communicating with local people there. People who come to Kuta for first time probably get surprised about the ability of speaking foreign language of the vendor on Kuta beach especially speaking English. During my visit to Kuta, I have not found local people who could not speak English. Foreign tourist can interact with local people without barrier. Even, some vendors are able to speak Japanese well. One day, I came to a friend’s place on beach to have breakfast. She and her mother sell food and drinks. When I came, a tourist from Japan got coffee while teaching my friend some Japanese words. There is no doubt that language is kind of “password” if we want to be accepted by a different culture. Communicating in same language will not make people from different culture feel like “stranger”. They can know better each other because of the less distance.

In many occasion especially on Saturday night, when I walked along Poppies Lane, about 200 meters from the monument of Bali bomb tragedy, I often found some white young guys having fun together with local guys. They sit around café, surfing shop, internet café while playing guitar, singing, drinking and laughing. Good interaction also can be found on beach. They play volleyball, football, surfing and singing together. on the street I often found the foreign tourist and local people greet each other when they meet in passing. Even, in August, the foreign tourists take a part in Indonesian Independence Day celebration by joining the traditional game competition. As Indonesian people, personally I really appreciate it.

What I am trying to say here is local people in Kuta ( and I am sure other area too) do not think the foreign tourists as “tourist” or “ guest” but local people consider them as “ old friend”. The fact that their inn or hotels are side by side with local house has aroused more intensity of interaction between them and they become as if “real neighbor”. They become real friend. It is very often that those tourists will make farewell party when the holiday ends. I was bit surprised when I saw some tourists said goodbye to the vendors and some of them gave some stuff to the vendors or surfing board guy. Though the holiday ends, they will keep in touch. Usually people on beach will know who is coming this month.

The feeling to be welcomed and the adaptation ability of local people truly become aspect that make tourists always miss Bali and want to visit again.