The book “Eat, Pray, Love” is a memoir that chronicles the author’s trip to Italy, India, and Indonesia (Bali, specifically). “Eat” was interesting because it was all about Rome (Hello? It’s Italy!); “Pray”, which was about India, was just so-so since I couldn’t really relate to Hindu meditation practices; but the third part of the book was very captivating. Or at least it was for me.
On the plane three weeks ago, just before we landed in Bali, Indonesia, I was already at the “Love” part of the book, which is the third and final part. You have to read this excerpt:
Ah–I should have known. I should have known that I would have a 25 percent chance of guessing Mario’s real name. In Bali, if I may digress, there are only four names that the majority of the population give to their children, regardless of whether the baby is a boy or a girl. The names are Wayan (pronounced “Why-Ann”), Made (“mah-DAY”), Nyoman and Ketut. Translated, these names mean simply First, Second, Third and Fourth, and they connote birth order. If you have a fifth child, you start the name cycle all over again so that the fifth child is really known as something like: “Wayan to the Second Power.” And so forth. If you have twins, you name them in the order they came out. Because there are basically only four names in Bali (higher-caste elites have their own selection of names) it’s totally possible (indeed, quite common) that two Wayans would marry each other. And then their firstborn would be named, of course: Wayan.
After I read this, I almost laughed because, come on, it sounds ridiculous. BALINESE PEOPLE HAD ONLY 4 NAMES? ARE YOU SERIOUS?? I had to find out if this was true or not.
In the duration of our trip, I met four Balinese tour guides, and believe it or not, all four of them were named “Ketut,” which tells us that each of them is the fourth child in their respective families. I must have talked to two locals to confirm what I read in the book, and indeed it was true.
The guy on the left who let me drive a speedboat is named "Ketut". But he rather people call him "Philip Morris."
Our tour guide/driver during the Cultural Tour was also named "Ketut". This guy is so patient with us. He had to wait for us for hours because we never show up on time. Sir, our deepest apologies. We're on Filipino time.
Another "Ketut" guided us through the Belikah Temple, the biggest temple in Bali. At the end of the trip, I asked him if he had a Facebook account. He just looked at me quizzically.
"Ketut" #4, owner of a small boat and married to a Japanese woman, brought us out to sea to where the waves are. This one kept saying "Sorry, sorry, I know little English only."
I don’t know about you, but I find this fact really fascinating! It’s the first thing I tell people whenever I’m being asked about our Bali trip. These four Balinese names are not just nicknames. These are real formal names. One local even told me that it’s against the law if they don’t use these customary names on their birth certificates.
Aside from this, I also learned other OMGfacts-esque information about Bali thanks to Elizabeth Gilbert, author of “Eat, Pray, Love.” In all the places I’ve been to outside the Philippines, so far I got most interested in Bali and its people. How admirable of them to have preserved their culture this way despite the foreign influences and all the tourists roaming their little island everyday!
The newest group of Filipinos made happy by the island of Bali. Yes, we *had to* wear those sarongs otherwise they won't let us in the vicinity.
In Bali, my name would have been Nyoman, because I’m the third child in our family. What would have been yours? :)
Hi, my name is Joni. This is where you'll find my 
