Once a Sanctuary, Now a Cautionary Tale
There was a time when Bali was whispered about as the “Last Paradise”, a sanctuary where the earth’s energy could be felt beneath your feet, where the air was thick with the scent of frangipani and incense, and where the humble, grateful offerings of the Balinese people seemed to keep the island in perfect balance. People came to Bali to heal, to reconnect, to find something lost in the chaos of modern life.
But now, for many, Bali is no longer the last paradise – it is the lost paradise.
Trashing Bali: A Mindset Shift
If you scroll through Instagram, you’ll see voices rising, locals and long-time expatsmourning what’s happening to this island. “We’re trashing Bali,” one influencer says, his words heavy with heartbreak. “Everywhere you look, there’s construction, there’s rubbish, and there’s no plan for where it all goes.” This isn’t just about plastic on the beach. It’s about a mindset that has shifted from gratitude and stewardship to exploitation and short-term gain.
A Bali beach covered in plastic and trash, with a lone Balinese woman making a daily offering, highlighting the contrast between tradition and environmental crisis.
Overbuilding and Mass Construction
It’s impossible to ignore the cranes, the bulldozers, the endless rows of concrete rising where rice paddies once shimmered in the sun. Villas, hotels, and beach clubs spring up overnight, often with little regard for the land or the people who have called Bali home for generations. The roads are choked with trucks and motorbikes, but the infrastructure hasn’t kept pace. Drainage is inadequate, leading to floods that wash trash and sewage into the rivers and the sea.
Infrastructure in Crisis
The government’s response has lagged far behind the pace of development. Roads are potholed and congested, garbage piles up on street corners, and the island’s waste management system is overwhelmed. Bali’s beauty is being buried under its own success. The very things that once drew people here, including tranquility, cleanliness, spiritual energy, are being eroded by overdevelopment and neglect
A once – beautiful rice terrace now marred by luxury villas and construction cranes, with traditional Balinese offerings in the foreground.
The Spiritual Heart of Bali: Forgotten?
What makes this loss even more tragic is what’s at stake. The Balinese Hindu tradition is rooted in gratitude – thanking the gods for every meal, every sunrise, every blessing. There is a humility and simplicity in the daily offerings (canang sari), a recognition that humans are just one part of a greater whole. But as land is bought and sold, as money becomes the new god, this spiritual core is being pushed aside.
Opposing Forces: Seekers vs. Speculators
There are still those who come to Bali for the right reasons – to feel the earth’s energy, to immerse themselves in the culture, to learn from the island’s gentle way of life. But increasingly, they are outnumbered by those who come to buy, to build, to profit. Land is snapped up not for rice or ritual, but for the next Instagrammable villa or party venue. The result is a place at war with itself, torn between preservation and profit.
Why People No Longer Want to Come Back
The consequences are real. More and more, I hear people say they don’t want to return to Bali. “It’s not the same,” they say. “The magic is gone.” The beaches are crowded, the rivers are polluted, and the sense of peace that once defined the island has been replaced by noise and chaos. The very identity of Bali is being erased, replaced by something unrecognizable.
What Needs to Change: A Call to Action
So, what can be done to stop this slide from paradise to lost paradise?
- Government Action:
- Implement and enforce strict building regulations to prevent overdevelopment.
- Invest in modern, sustainable waste management and recycling infrastructure.
- Clean up and maintain roads, rivers, and public spaces.
- Support community – led initiatives to educate and engage both locals and tourists.
- Community & Individual Responsibility:
- Sort and recycle trash at home and in businesses.
- Say no to single – use plastics and support eco – friendly alternatives.
- Participate in clean – up events and support local organisations fighting for Bali’s future.
- Respect the culture, traditions, and spiritual practices that make Bali unique.
- Shift in Mindset:
- Remember why Bali was special in the first place: gratitude, humility, and harmony with nature.
- Choose experiences and businesses that honour these values, not just those that chase profit.
Final Thoughts
Bali’s beauty is not just in its beaches or its rice fields, but in the spirit of its people and the balance they strive to maintain. If we want Bali to be a paradise for future generations, we must stop, reflect, and act before it’s lost forever.
Let’s make sure Bali’s story is not about what was destroyed, but about what was saved.
