"A charming destination overshadowed by foreigners enjoying a cheap and laid-back lifestyle." Bali's distinctive Hindu culture endures even with the beachside "party atmosphere of tourists."
Here is a representative sampling of additional anonymous comments from the panelists. They are not necessarily the views of the National Geographic Society:
"Not the complete paradise one might expect. Considerable urban and resort development has sprouted along its coasts. Urban areas are dense and appear prosperous. But rural areas still dominate, their landscapes in apparently healthy shape. Drives into the interior are richly rewarding. Landmarks, primarily religious, are well tended, and towns like Ubud are kept at a small scale. To the eye, Bali is not far from paradise."
"The synergy between the traditional life of the people, the old system of irrigation, and the landscape is still apparent, marking a thousand years of continuous history. High aesthetic appeal, wonderful array of built heritage in the temples and houses and villages. Most tourists, however, only see the coast and beaches. While tours do go into the rural landscapes and rice paddies, many operators are ill-equipped to present a true picture of Bali and its underlying cultural heritage. Limited benefits to local people ensue."
"Charming destination now overshadowed by foreigners settling down to enjoy what is a cheaper, more laid-back lifestyle."
"The beaches of Bali are unrivaled for sunsets. However, much of the west side of Bali, especially Kuta, Legian, and Semenyak, are way overbuilt and often too expensive for many travelers."
The spiritual qualities of this huge Buddhist shrine dating to the eighth century still shine but are in danger of being obscured by "extremely aggressive hawkers." The "monument has been very well restored." Still, villagers "see it as an object of tourist interest only."
Here is a representative sampling of additional anonymous comments from the panelists. They are not necessarily the views of the National Geographic Society:
"The monument itself continues to glow and is actually in better archaeological shape today than it was when I first visited in 1983. However, the surrounding trinket park that one has to walk through is inappropriate. Although the stalls are relatively neat, arriving and departing the monument requires crossing through the giant souvenir-hawkers market, which greatly detracts from the monument itself."
"This is a religious monument, but due to an inability to connect to the event, it is today a museum monument. Visitors show little respect for its religious significance. The area is prone to volcanic damage. The village also sees the monument as an object of tourist interest only. Should be seen as a cultural landscape that clusters Borobudur, Prambanan, Ratubokko, and the volcano as a holistic entity."
"Just before dawn is the best time to experience the religious atmosphere. Could be a fabulously interpreted site because of the integrity, but guides give little real information beyond tourist pap."
"Borobudur as a site is well maintained, but totally disconnected from the village in which it is situated."
"There are many rules and regulations; however, many are simply not respected. The problems of street vendors hassling tourists is huge and none of the local authorities seem to care."
