JAKARTA - Bali never fails to make people fall in love. This Island of the Gods is so easy to love, yet hard to forget. This is how Indah Kalalo felt after seven years living in Bali.
The hustle and bustle of his activities in Jakarta changed with the comfort of his family while living in Bali. "I've lived in Bali for almost 7 years now. At first, I used to often go back and forth from Jakarta, Monday-Thursday filming. Week end in Bali. Suddenly it's a pandemic, I don't want to be stuck in Jakarta. I'd rather be stuck in Bali. So starting the year Then start taking one job at a time, don't be too brave to go back and forth, afraid to be stuck in Jakarta," said Indah in a virtual interview with VOI, some time ago.
Although not much filming, women born August 30, 1980 does not mean there is no work. In Bali, Indah has created a clothing line, Je Suis FLIRT. The mother of three has even managed to bring her clothing brand to international level by displaying her products at a boutique called Indonesian Fashion Gallery (IFG) in Manhattan, New York.
"For the past 4 years, I have a clothing line and a boutique in Bali. So in the morning I take my children to school, then do sports, then my activity is for the office. a sleeping child, I'm new to social media updates," he said when asked about his current daily activities.
What Indah Kalalo loves most about living in Bali is the variety of weekend options. "On the weekends, I usually try a staycation in several places in Bali. Also try several islands close to Bali such as Lombok, Java, Medan, to Sumba as well. I usually promote places that are quiet for tourists because of the pandemic. So I invite local tourists to visit travel again, revive Indonesian tourism as long as it is according to the protocol and has been vaccinated," he explained.
Indah Kalalo entered the entertainment industry through modeling, then she tried out new worlds such as acting, presenting, to radio broadcasting. According to him, there was a phase where he had a very busy schedule because of his popularity as a model.
In the past, Indah used to work double every day. From 30 days in a month, there can be 60 jobs that are undertaken. However, now Indah has different priorities. It's not just time for work.
"I'm happier in Bali, we have different priorities. Now my priority is my family and children. If I can work around Bali, first," he said.
"If you say my time is empty or not, because I take care of 3 children, there is still a clothing line, so if there are friends who have activities in Bali, I am invited to be a guest star. So there is no boredom. There are still lots of activities," he explained.
Not wanting to miss acting too much, Indah also continued to accept offers to shoot in Jakarta. It's just that the time is not as crowded as it used to be.
"Once a year I still do one or two films, take part in filming FTV, or series. The difference doesn't reach people who think, why isn't there a lot of work now. And I'm not a lazy person. I can't do this job, I can do other jobs. Doors one is closed, you can definitely open the other door," he said.
The long pause allows him to have careful consideration when accepting a role. "The consideration for choosing a role is usually by looking at the schedule. If the children are busy at school, is there anyone who can take care of my child staying at home. Yesterday, because his father could work from home, it was safe to leave filming," he said.
Of course, the story is also a consideration. "Then the story is good, like the Gulf of Alaska yesterday, the novel has been read by tens of millions of people. That's why I want to shoot. Previously, I played My Generation because of the director Upi. I know that Upi has a good film," he said.
Playing in the horror film Kanjeng Kliwon, Indah felt compelled to participate because it brought up the story of Bali. "I live in Bali, so I feel the need to take part in the project. The rest are more offers that are filmed in Bali, I'll definitely join. If in Jakarta, wait for good stories, directors and players," he said.
Bali, for Indah, is like home. The comfort of himself and his family is found in Bali as a whole. "Because there are many out door activities. Children are happier because there are beaches, mountains, rivers, everything in Bali. So every week there is a vacation destination. We can explore many places in Bali. I think in Jakarta, weekends just go to the mall," he said.
The owner of the name Indah Mayang Indriyani feels that life is not too consumptive in Bali. "I can make my own clothes, shoes, bags. And here people are ignorant, they don't need a brand, it depends on our nature. In Jakarta, everything will fall," he explained.
Bali in a Pandemic Period, This is What Happens
Indah's activities are increasing with the Together for Bali movement that she carried out during the pandemic. It has been more than a year that Indah has consistently lived it.
"Our goal is not for imaging, not for people to see. At first I made Together for Bali at first the neighbor's rice wrap because I made the rice wrap together with my neighbors. Then because more and more people helped, from friends from other organizations, we ended up using it the name Together for Bali," he recalled.
The desire to share was actually triggered by Indah's personal experience who was worried about being exposed to COVID-19. "At the beginning of the pandemic I was hot, my throat hurt. I immediately thought maybe it was COVID-19. When I was sick, my neighbor told me that he saw police using trucks distributing rice to people, motorcycle taxi drivers, roadside beggars. When I got on the phone, I was said I was sick and could not participate in the sharing," he explained.
Apparently, the incident made him keep ringing. "Then I thought like this, oh God, if I really am COVID-19 and when it's past I think about my deeds, what have I left of money? Have I done enough, haven't I done good?," he continued.
"I promised myself that if I could help, I wanted to help more people. Why do I have to wait in a coma before thinking about helping people? Well, it turns out I'm not COVID-19, I'm just sick. he explained.
Bali, he said, is currently still quiet. Not many tourists have returned to Bali, so many cannot work.
"Actually, it's still quiet until now. Even though local tourists have started walking again, it's not like the period before the pandemic. There are five-star hotels that have actually closed for two years. It's no longer a hassle, it's not easy to collect employees, right," he explained. .
Indah told many employees who had returned home because they could not get their salary. They come from outside Bali so they can't pay the boarding house and choose to go home.
"Even if there are those who survive, they just stare and do nothing. Fortunately, there are many people who help feed them. For example, like I usually do on Mondays and Thursdays. There are also those who give on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, some Fridays, Saturdays," explained Indah.
"So even if someone gives you food once a day once a day, that's why if someone distributes the rice it jumps up and down. Oh, it's really sad, they just see the rice wrapped like that. That's why we are still given a house, given a job, If you can help others, you must be grateful and help those who are less fortunate," he said.
Not only sharing materials, Indah is willing not to be paid to promote Bali tourism. He is also actively visiting various areas in Bali so that tourists return to the Island of the Gods.
"I've always been promoting to return to Bali, Bali has risen. I have been made an ambassador for the Plumpung area. As part of the wonderfull Indonesia, our family has become an ambassador for the Plumpung area so that people want to come to Bali again. Yesterday I made a short video, Living in Paradise I will help as much as I can to promote Bali, as well as other islands around Bali," he said.
Don't want to complain, Indah wants to get through the pandemic by still sharing. "The pandemic can be seen from two sides. If you want to say unlucky, everyone is unlucky, everyone is busy. But how can we rack our brains and become more flexible. For example, when I wasn't filming in Jakarta, there were a lot of blanks. -Share, because I know that many of my friends want to share but don't know how and who they want to share with," he said.
Honestly, Indah does not support 100% of all donations distributed. Many friends asked him to be an intermediary to channel aid through him. "I'm just an intermediary to be able to give back to Bali," he explained.
Optimism makes Indah Kalao always happy. There is always a good side even in bad times.
"Just like Garin Nugroho, who was shooting in Bali. Now it's quiet in Bali, so the crew is very happy. Besides that, the community also gets a share of the cooking fortune for the crew, lodging. Later when the film is finished it can also be a promotion for Bali. Thank God, the pandemic is still happy," he asked.
According to Indah, vaccinations that are being intensified by the government are very helpful so that people will no longer hesitate to travel. "I hope that we as Indonesians live 2 years during the pandemic. We must have savings, right. Let's share it with those who can prove it. Don't wait for international tourists. Let's explore other parts of Indonesia, not just Bali. it's safe to walk around. Don't forget the prokes," advises Indah Kalalo.
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)
