It had just stopping pouring and the heavy rainclouds had parted, exposing the half-light of the late afternoon. The ground, covered with leaves and grimy plastic rubbish, was begging for a broom. A sun shower, however, persisted. Across my street, a maid appeared—broom in hand. Normally I wouldn’t blink an eyelid, but I couldn’t ignore the fact that she was wearing a big motorcycle helmet. Well, I guess if you don’t have a hat or an umbrella handy, be creative!
In Indonesia, the ‘helm’ gets its fair share of unorthodox use. Helmet theft is a bit of a booming industry, and is one of the reasons people don’t leave them lying around on their bikes. And rather than lugging your helmet along in your hand, why not just stick it on your head? Your hippest mall-rats love to scout the local Mataharis and Carrefours whilst sporting their ‘helms’. For them, it is perhaps a fashion statement; for others, it’s a wee bit odd. Teens romantically don helmets walking hand in hand along Sanur Beach—I wonder at what point in the night they will succumb to taking them off! Many fishermen find the helmet an indispensable fashion accessory when wading in the shallows; guess you never know when you may fall and bump your head on a sea urchin …
The irony is that the safety issue behind wearing a big plastic thing on your head generally doesn’t get much of a look-in. As reported in BA’s last edition of the Local News, road accidents are one of the biggest killers in Indonesia. Yet, few take note. Many families see helmets (especially those of any quality) as an unnecessary expense. The fact is that the ever-expensive Balinese lifestyle is overwhelming enough and safety concerns become a secondary issue. Perhaps the helmet is an item that the government should look at subsidising. It would certainly lead to a lot less suffering and hospital visits.
Next issue I’ll look at how the humble sarong can protect you from road accidents, and more!
Vaughan Hatch has immersed himself with Balinese culture, living with locals in Bali since 1997. He speaks fluent Indonesian and Balinese, and is unashamedly addicted to playing gamelan. A linguistic, archaeology and publishing graduate, he works for indOKiwi ‘linguistic and cultural solutions’ in Sanur. Email him on contact@indokiwibali.com or call (0361) 8427030 for further queries.
