A Russian tourist faces deportation after taking a nude photo at a sacred Indonesian site.
The man, known only by his first name Yuri, sparked intense backlash after he took an inappropriate photo while standing on top of Mount Agung.
The active volcano range situated in Bali, southeast of Mount Batur volcano also located in the same region, is an important area for the Balinese people as it is believed to be home to Mahadewa, the supreme manifestation of Lord Shiva, considered by many as the most superior of all Gods.
Being such a sacred site, you would assume that tourists would educate themselves on the issue before venturing up the mountain to ensure that they follow proper etiquette, but it seems as though Yuri didn't get the memo.
Posting to Instagram, the Russian tourist snapped a disrespectful photo in which he was nude from the waist down while standing on the site.
As per the Independent, local news outlets have stated that he now faces deportation for the blunder.
Not only did Yuri act out in such a manner, but he was also part of a group of other tourists who decided to climb the mountain without registering first - a direct violation of the rules.
As his now-deleted social media post went viral, the outlet reported that he was condemned for his actions by locals as well as other social media users who were aware of the issue.
In an attempt to make things right, Yuri met with community leaders in what was described as a "restorative meeting", in which he formally apologized.
He also took to his Instagram to formally apologize to the wider community too.
Alongside the video, he also wrote in the caption: "I want to apologise for my actions that desecrated the sacred volcano for the local population. There is no excuse for my actions. The only thing that led to what happened was my personal ignorance. Ignorance of the peculiarities of the local religion.
He continued: "Agung is a sacred symbol for the Balinese. Shiva destroys the universe in a continuous circle of rebirths. The locals revere the gods and believe that if you anger them, an eruption will occur. And this will lead to the destruction of the island."
Now clearly aware of how his actions have affected the community, it seems as though he's ready to make amends, adding that he has reached out to other groups who were hurt by the image asking how he can redeem himself.
"I am very sorry that this happened," he concluded, before attaching evidence of him contacting those particular groups.
As per the Bali Sun, Yuri will be allowed to stay in the country for a short time in order to "play an active role in promoting good behaviour by becoming a model tourist."
Ni Luh Djelantik, a well-loved leader of the community in Bali, aided Yuri in his approach to fixing things with the locals.
Mount Agung has not seen an erruption since 2019, though it is stressed that angering the Gods can lead to death and destruction across the land.
Let's hope other tourists learn from this incident and nothing of this nature happens again.
