Malam Pertama Calon Pendeta

Bali is often praised for having a society that values mutual respect, full of tolerance, and lives in a balanced relationship between nature, individuals, and God. However, it is also well known that the island’s customs, traditions, and caste system are sources of conflict. These issues are often obscure to the outside world, overshadowed by the glittering shine of the tourism industry.

Born and raised in Bali, Aryatahama Soethama is naturally drawn to write about these traditional conflicts. In his works, he presents many things to draw the world’s attention to how Bali holds numerous paradoxes of humanity, rooted in its customs and traditions.

This collection of stories attempts to present some of these paradoxes, tragedies, and heartbreaking ironies. Using simple language, Aryantha writes about his experiences, and the environment he observes, accompanied by continuous exploration. He skillfully blends local colors with the development of conflicts in a very beautiful way, creating captivating, unique, and authentic stories.