An Australian holidaying in Bali has criticized other Australian tourists for being ‘disrespectful’ to local customs by ignoring the island’s day of silence.
A frustrated woman staying at the Peninsula Beach Resort in Nusa Dua, on the southern coast of the island, shared a post on Monday calling out “rude” tourists.
She claimed many other Australians in her resort on Monday broke the rules of Nyepi Day, a Balinese ‘day of silence’ celebrated on Bali’s Saka New Year.
During the holiday, the entire island comes to a standstill for 24 hours without music, noise or lights.
But despite being warned about the culturally significant day, some Aussies ignored the simple rules.
Frustrated Australian woman slams fellow Australian tourists for flouting rules on Nyepi Day, a Balinese ‘day of silence’
The woman said she was ashamed to admit that most of the offenders were Australian (pictured, her post)
‘It’s Nyepi Day in Bali today. There must be silence everywhere,’ the Australian woman wrote online.
“Our resort has done a wonderful job of feeding everyone and has politely requested quietness and that we be in our rooms from 6:00 p.m. It’s not a big ask.
‘But there are some bloody scumbags painting in and around the pool who are just total ignorant s**ts. I am so ashamed to say they are Australian.’
She later added that the group had been told to go back to their rooms but other guests could ‘still hear them going on’.
Dozens of disappointed commenters shared their own experiences with ‘ignorant’ tourists on Nyepi Day.
“You need to stay where we are. The noise today has been very disrespectful and as for the families who let kids scream and dad yell back – these kids will never learn respect if the parents can’t show them,” one wrote.
“It has been a circus here today at our hotel. Loud, screaming and drunk yobbos all day. “When we left dinner about half an hour ago, there were people on their balcony playing loud music,” said another.
“We have some drunk people still disrespecting the local culture here too – rowdy in the pool. Most are doing the right thing, including us. Love a beautiful quiet day,” said a third.
The holiday sees the whole island come to a standstill for 24 hours with no music, noise or lights with tourists given candles (pictured) to use in their rooms instead of their candles
A fourth person wrote: ‘This is unacceptable, I’m in a villa and both sides of me are ignorant and disrespectful.
‘One group actually played music while the other group had all the lights on and screaming children.
‘What’s wrong with people? It is so disrespectful that I cannot understand it.’
Other Australian tourists shared photos of themselves watching or taking part in celebrations for the day, including the Ogoh-Ogoh parade, which features floats of mythological creatures.
Tourists staying at their resorts for the day described being given candles by the staff to use instead of the candles and enjoying the peaceful silence.
But many commenters said other guests ignored the property’s attempts to make the day enjoyable.
“Our hotel has been so accommodating and offers different food options and even activities by the pool. However, a group of them were loud all day,” wrote one.
‘Tonight we have some people refusing to close their blinds and you can hear lots of loud voices. So disappointing.’
Several Australians reportedly ignored holiday rules and used their hotel lights (pictured) and were loud in communal areas
Another said: ‘Put my head in here too! It is not difficult to be polite and respectful.
‘I feel like half our hotel has decided that if they’re stuck inside they’re going to get drunk and complain about $4.50 Bintangs obnoxiously loudly!’
A third said: ‘Eeveryone in every hotel has been given instructions on what to do today.
‘All day I’ve had people in other villas playing music, drinking and carrying on. Really disrespectful.
‘If you can’t follow simple rules, stay home until their special days are over.’
Several Australians in Legian, also in the island’s south, said they had similar problems with tourists.
“We had the same thing at our motel in Legian; screaming and laughing so loud. A lot sang happy birthday at the top of their lungs. If you can’t abide by their rules, don’t come here at Nyepi,’ said one.
Another Australian woman described her Nyepi Day experience, saying her resort was not strict about the holiday’s rules.
Many Australians obeyed the rules and celebrated the island holiday, but others were called out for being ‘ignorant’ of local customs (pictured, tourists waiting to see the Ogoh-Ogoh parade)
‘It’s so different from what I expected. At our hotel, the children (and some adults) were allowed to make noise without reprimand,’ she said.
‘(We) have done our best to be quiet. We were allowed to talk during the massage at 9, was usually in the pool and our hotel still has some lights on. A few had gatherings and drinks on their front terraces.’
Other commenters recommended that fed-up tourists report disrespectful people to the local cultural police.
‘They’ll be fixed right away!’ said one.