In August 1912, Dr Gregor Krause, a young
German who had been commissioned as a temporary medical
officer in the Netherlands East Indies army only a year
before, was sent to Bangli, a tiny town in the interior
of Bali. He was to remain on the island for fewer than
18 months - but they were months, which would have an important
bearing on its future.
Dr Krause was an enthusiastic convert to the art of photography,
doing his time in Bali he took more than 4000 pictures, and
he wrote the text, which accompanied publication of nearly
400 of them in 1920.
His book was significant in telling the world about the then
little Known Island and its extraordinary culture, and it
helped persuade more writers and photographers to follow
him.
One among them was Miguel Covarrubias, who later wrote that
Dr Krause's photograph-inspired in him 'an irresistible urge'
to see Bali for himself In 1930 he went there and in 1936
he published his now classic Island of Bali, which has remained
useful and popular ever since.
Among the many threads that resulted in Bali becoming probably
the most famous island in the world today, there is one,
which leads directly back to that young temporary medical
officer.
By this time Europe was enveloped in war Trough Holland
remained neutral, Dr Krause, a German, ran into problems.
He continued working in Java thought 1915 but while on
a ship returning to Europe the following year was arrested
in Durban, South Africa, and sent to it prison camp near
London in England. His file contains a touching letter
from his wife, in Holland, to the Dutch authorities asking
for help in getting her husband out of that British prison.
Many Travellers was describing Bali from any angle life
they did, and make Bali more famous for centuries until
present and we describe the travellers note here more.
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