Rainstorms, winds, and over-saturated ground soil are the logical explanation for the recent collapse of an ancient
Pule Tree in a community cemetery in the Village of Akah, Klungkung, Southeast Bali.
Pohon Pule (Alstonia scholaris) or
Blackboard Trees have known medicinal application but are also often ascribed to have supernatural powers due, in part because it commonly grows in Balinese graveyards and temple complexes.
When these trees collapse in a community’s cemetery
(setra), the religious will often see such an event as portending a coming catastrophe that may claim many lives.
Quoted by
Balipost.com, a community leader in Klungkung and ranking Regency Official, Made Kasta, speaking near the graveyard on Friday, 12 February 2021, said there were about five
2020 started full of promise though. Tourism arrivals to Bali were on track to break the all-time records set in 2019. And 2019 had just smashed 2018 out
The supernatural understanding of volcanic eruptions
Indonesian villagers believe eruptions happen when mountain spirits are angry with the exploitative behavior of humankind
The Ile Lewotolok volcano in Indonesia s East Nusa Tenggara province erupts on Nov. 29. The eruption forced more than 7,000 people in 15 villages to evacuate. (Photo: BNPB Indonesia)
On Nov. 29, 2020, Mount Lewotolok, locally known as Ile Lewotolok or Ile Ape, erupted on the Indonesian island of Lembata. Formerly known as Lomblen, Lembata is a separate regency, part of the province of Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT). Demographically, it is a relatively small island with a population of just over 145,000.
Indonesian is widely spoken throughout the island, but there is also a regional language, Lamaholot, spoken in a variety of dialects in different villages and districts. Lamaholot is also spoken in the eastern part of the islands of Flores, Adonara, Solor, Alor and Pantar, but with slight variations in te