You’ll Have a Yabba Dabba Doo Time

(4/20/2012)

Beritabali.com reports that the Prehistoric Man Museum (Museum Manusia Purbakala) in Asri, near Gilimanuk, West Bali, remains bereft of visitors, despite the high historical value of its collection.

Data collected for visitors to the Museum since the beginning of 2012 show that those passing through its doors have overwhelmingly been comprised of students. Visitors coming from the general public are exceedingly rare, with only 13 such visitors during the first quarter of 2012, three of whom were foreign visitors conducting research in March. The remaining 10 gneral public visitors were domestic tourist who stopped, had a brief look and left.

The 169 student visitors to the Prehistoric Man Museum ranged from grade school pupils to High School students.

In truth, the condition of the museum in general is poor. The exhibit rooms have little in the way of equipment and displays. Moreover, the museum has no facilities for its staff, many who hail from other areas. As a result, many employees of the museum sleep on straw mats within the museum premises each night.

Outside, the museums large grounds are also in a sad state. Rubbish is strewn around and grass is growing tall in the absence of a groundskeeper. In all, only five people are entrusted with the case of the museum.

The Museum’s Coordinator, I Gede Bagus Ketut Ari Susila, freely admits the unhappy state of the Prehistoric Man Museum in West Bali. He shared that since the museum's inauguration in 1994, the condition of the facility has been much the same. There are few visitors, except during mid-semesters or end-semester when school children come to visit.

“They come on the reconnection of the Regency. The visitors range from kindergarten to high school students. If there are school camping expeditions, then the are always urged to visit to here,” explained Ari.

Arie continued, explaining that there are few foreign visitors who come to the museum. The foreign tourists who do come to visit are usually involved in some sort of research. The rest of the general public visiting the museum merely stop for a moment before quickly continuing on.

The museum’s director admitted that the location of his facility is hidden and off the main tourist track. He also said there was little promotion of the museum via the Internet, as the museum has no computer. Adding insult to injury, the museum lacks so much as a brochure to promote its existence to the public.