Posted by BaliJoh on Wednesday, 14. October 1998 at 18:09 Bali Time:
In Reply to: Names posted by Caitlin on Wednesday, 14. October 1998 at 16:27 Bali Time:
I'm no expert but I believe the first names go like this.
1. Wayan
2. Made
3. Nyoman
4. Ketut
5. Wayan
6. Made and so on.
There are three castes in Bali and these names are given to the lower caste. The higher caste has the name Ida Bagus. The three castes also have three seperate languages. The higher caste only speaks in higher caste but the others must speak in other castes when they converse with each other. However the middle cast would not speak in lower caste. If you think this is confusing then there is also another national language everone is supposed to speak, Bahasa Indonesia.
If you think you are smart and have learnt Bahasa Indonesia before you travel it will become very handy but don't think you will ever understand what is being said in the streets unless you learn Balinese, then which caste do you learn?
sing ken ken!..........(no worries!)