Balinese may be some of the most smiley, friendly people on the planet. Family and community life give people a lot of joy and people don’t set themselves high expectations, meaning that they are able to avoid falling flat in disappointment.
Anthropologists say that it’s because it’s always sunny on Bali, pseudo-scientists claim that there is an overproduction of nitrous oxide (laughing gas) in the air hanging over the island that causes people to smile and laugh more. For sure, Balinese appear happy a lot of the time, compared at least to the many Prozac-dependent nations of the West. You are also more likely to find people singing and playing musical instruments than in other cultures. And like other societies, villagers are friendlier and smile more than city dwellers.
What can be misleading for a foreigner visiting or living in Bali is that Balinese smiles seem to be able to convey the gamut of human emotions. Perhaps the way to read a Balinese smile is through the eyes. Normally feelings are projected in this way. If a person is genuinely happy, their eyes may sparkle with intense joy. Deceit may reveal itself with shifty unfocussed eyes. An angry person may stare intensely and their eyes may look a bit glassy or bloodshot.
Many Balinese even smile when they are sad. It’s not uncommon to see people grinning or laughing at a cremation ceremony, perhaps with the exception of close relatives to the dead. Cremations are community affairs and it is probably the support of the village members that helps keep mourners’ spirits up.
The great thing about smiling is that it is terribly infectious. In many countries, Indonesia included, people spend good money on laughing therapy. They get to sit in a room full of people who want to learn how to enjoy themselves because they believe it will enhance their health. I reckon, why not make a holiday of your therapy and just go to Bali instead?
