Bali: They Paved Paradise

I enjoyed learning about Bali as I didn’t know too much about the place before. I knew it was a tourist destination, but it was sad to see how much tourism has destroyed a beautiful culture and land so much. I have friends from Indonesia, and the food is amazing, but that is all I know about Indonesia, the culture, religion, and the people.

Tourism is described as short-term travel for the purpose of recreation and relaxation. Bali is a very popular tourist spot, but it was not always that way. Before tourism took over the small island, it was occupied by farmers and lots of fields full of rice. In the 1970s surfers started coming to Bali as word spread that it was an amazing place to surf. It is now in the top 6 places on earth named best for surfing conditions. Back in the 1970s, there was only one 5-star hotel on the entire island, and now there are 41 (at the time of the documentary). Big resorts have taken over many of the rice fields, and slowly, they are destroying the livelihood of the natives in Bali. They use up a lot of the water that is needed for agriculture. The tourists also bring with them more pollution, sewage problems, cooking oil accumulation in the water, and a garbage problem on the island.

Hinduism is the main religion in Bali. The farmers believe that water and the rice, combined with their religion, appease the Gods to keep the fields green and producing for them. The greedy developers are buying up more land used for rice to build resorts and tourist destinations. The developers are also encroaching on religious sites on the island, which are supposed to be off-limits to them. The politicians are looking at the other way as developers take more land for tourism.

The locals try to give the tourists authenticity when they perform traditional dances and show the tourists the culture from their own perspective.

I can see the good and the bad when it comes to tourism. The people in Bali want simple tourism and not big business. They want to be able to protect their island while still being able to show others their culture and customs. I have noticed an increase in visits to the National parks located here in Utah during Covid and how that has impacted the parks. The trash left behind by people who do not normally hike or visit parks shows me they have not learned the etiquette that accompanies someone who is fond of the outdoors. The increased traffic and full parking lots have also been a slight frustration to many, as well as the increase in inexperienced hikers who now travel on paths they really shouldn’t. Simple tourism sounds like a much better answer, but with the number of people wanting to travel and sightsee, that would be impossible in a lot of places.

Link: https://documentary.net/video/bali-paving-paradise-is-mass-tourism-destroying-the-island/

[Written for GEOG 130G class UVU Spring 2022]
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Utah’s Population Projections and Changes

Utah seems to be on track to become more diverse as time goes by. When you look at the “at-a-glance” graph on the first page, you can clearly see that while the population will grow across all races and ethnic groups, it is projected to grow the most among Hispanics, African Americans, and those who consider themself to have 2 or more races. While Utah will still be predominantly white, the minority population will grow and get bigger over the next 50 years. This increase in population from many different races and ethnicities will mean there will most likely be an increase in the types of jobs available, different restaurant options to cater to a more diverse crowd, and many different companies coming to Utah to employ the new influx of workers available.

The article also states that the most growth will happen among a younger generation and that the older generation will mainly remain the same as it is right now and will not grow much. With more people coming to Utah who are part of a younger generation, this will mean we will need an increase in schools and teachers to handle this new influx. Colleges and Universities will need to grow with this new demand as well, and this will hopefully create more jobs for many. Another important thing that will need to increase is the homes available to house the many newcomers. Already now I am seeing more apartment and condo-type places being built instead of single-family homes. With the amount of growth that is expected to happen, having a larger number of homes available will be beneficial, and you can definitely fit more living spaces on top of each other than next to each other.

When just looking at Utah County, we can see there is going to be a serious influx of people moving here. With this influx of new residents will also come more opportunities for jobs. Out of all the different areas in Utah that were looked at during this research, Utah County will be growing the most when it comes to job opportunities available. According to the research, one in three new jobs in Utah will be in Utah County. In all the tables provided on pages 4-6, Utah County ranks in the top 4 every single time. Many of the people living in Utah County will be between the ages of 25 and 64, which makes them perfect for the booming job market that will be there.

Utah County is only so large, and we have already filled up a lot of the viable spaces with
homes that have been around for a long time. All the cities tend to merge together, and there really isn’t any place between the cities that shows where one ends and the next one starts. Some of the negative side effects from this immense growth will be finding space for all these new residents and the new employers looking to make Utah County their home as well. A lot of growth has already been achieved on the “other side” of Utah Lake. There is still a lot of land that can be developed as more growth is coming, but will Utah have enough water to support that growth, as most of that land is in a very dry part of the state? The additional cars that will be occupying the existing roads will also create more problems, as we can already see with the growth we are currently experiencing. If you live on the other side of the lake but work in Orem, it could potentially take you 45 minutes to get to work, and even longer during rush hour. Utah will need to make sure the roads and highways grow with the population that is expected to come to Utah.

As a positive, a lot of the older areas of Utah County will probably be revitalized as old homes will make way for newer ones. Roads will be enlarged, and maybe that bridge Utahns have talked about for a while now will actually happen across Utah Lake to create a faster alternative than the busy road that goes around it. I really hope Utah County will also grow more when it comes to public transportation, as that will really help alleviate the stress of more vehicles. I use public transportation a lot as I live in Provo and have good access to it, but many people don’t, and so a better system will be beneficial to many. More money will come to Utah in the form of taxes, which will help build more schools and roads as they will be needed. Hopefully, more tourism money will also find its way to Utah, as we do have some amazing mountains to get lost in. As the population grows in Utah County, so will the entertainment and nightlife, which will be great for the younger generation, will stimulate the economy that way as well. I chose to live in Provo as I have two daughters who are part of that demographic, and Provo is definitely starting to be more hip and cool for that crowd. As I am seeing the larger condos and apartment complexes built there, where old large businesses were before, it is super cool as it is revitalizing the city and making it more attractive to the younger crowd. Even though age-wise I am not part of that crowd as I am in my 40s, I do enjoy the smaller living spaces that are created, as many newcomers will most likely have smaller families and will see Provo as a great hub to live and work in.

[Written for GEOG 3200 class UVU Summer 2023]
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Darkly by Marisha Pessl - A Game of Secrets and Shadows

This review contains plot details from Darkly by Marisha Pessl. If you haven't read the book yet and want to experience the mystery firsthand, consider saving this post for later!

What would you kill for?

Darkly was my first experience reading Marisha Pessl, and it left me eager to explore more of her work. Known for her adult novels with a cult-media vibe and eerie undertones, Pessl brings the same energy to her second YA novel, blending gothic charm, psychological intrigue, and a dash of horror.

The story follows Arcadia "Dia" Gannon, a 17-year-old who runs her mother's antique shop and finds companionship in her two elderly coworkers, Agatha and Basil. Dia is obsessed with the mysterious board games known as Darklys, created by the enigmatic Louisiana Veda. After Veda's suspicious death, Dia is selected for a secretive internship with the Darkly company, joining six other teens equally obsessed with Veda's legacy.

They're transported to a remote island where Veda supposedly created her games, and from there, the mystery deepens. Pessl crafts a world that's immersive and unsettling, filled with impossible puzzles, hidden truths, and a protagonist determined to uncover it all.

The characters are memorable, and while I wished for more development of the supporting cast, Dia's voice carries the story with strength and vulnerability. The love triangle adds emotional tension without overshadowing the central mystery. Pessl's writing is atmospheric and layered, weaving together multiple threads that kept me guessing until the end.

Darkly is more than a creepy board game mystery - it's a story about obsession, legacy, and the lengths we go to uncover the truth. Pessl's world-building is masterful, and the novel's eerie tone lingers long after the final page.

Published: November 26, 2024
Read: October 2025

Geological History of Landmarks in Utah

Timpanogos Cave
Millions of years ago, the Wasatch Mountains were created when magma under the surface pushed up. Because of all this upward pressure, there were small pockets and breaks that started to form as well. Many caves were formed this way, and Timpanogos Cave is one of them. The cave is home to amazing helictites that are created by water that evaporates and leaves minerals behind. You can also see cave bacon, cave columns, flowstone, cave popcorn, cave drapery, stalactites, and stalagmites. Many of the formations you see inside the cave have taken hundreds of thousands of years to form. The cave was made a National Monument in 1922 so it can be protected, and many more people can see the amazing natural wonders inside the cave.

Cassidy Arch
This arch is located in Capitol Reef National Park in Southeast Utah. It became a National Park in 1971. The arch is made up of sandstone and sits on top of the Grand Wash, which is a dry bed inside the sandstone canyon with cliffs going up on either side about 800 feet. When there is a lot of rain in Utah, the dry bed could get washed out and keep traffic from driving down it, as I experienced a few years ago myself. I had to hike in through the wash bed instead of driving to get to the start of the trail that would take me up to Cassidy Arch. The entire trip was around 8 miles this way. Cassidy Arch was formed when wind, rain, and ice created patterns and holes in the rock and carved out the arch over time. Water would get trapped inside cracks and fissures and expand when it freezes. This would cause certain parts of the rock to break off. Each storm, this would happen, and over time, more and more would be carved out by nature itself.

Bridal Veil Falls
Cascade Mountain is the mountain next to Timpanogos Mountain. Bridal Veil Falls is a large waterfall that runs down Cascade Mountain at the beginning of Provo Canyon. The mountain contains limestone that was formed about 350 million years ago. There is a lot of sand also in the mountains, meaning that there used to be a lot of water next to them. Provo Canyon itself was formed from all the water that used to be in the area from Lake Bonneville. Lake Bonneville almost covered the entire state of Utah and had lots of glaciers that would carve out all the smaller canyons over time. On top of the mountain are natural springs that run down. Bridal Veil Falls is the result of a year-round, powerful spring. The falls have a lot of water that flows continually and even gets stronger if there has been a wet winter that left a lot of snow on top of the mountain. The water, over time, has carved nice little paths to keep the water flowing, and that has turned into the giant waterfall that many tourists go to see.

Bonneville Salt Flats
The flats were created when the water that once covered almost all of Utah evaporated. Bonneville Lake was probably the size of Lake Michigan today. Salt deposits were left behind as more of the lake evaporated. Wind kept the area relatively flat as there was nothing to stop it. Most winters, a small layer of water will be on top of the flats, and then it will evaporate again as the weather warms up. The winds that are in that area push the sediment around and keep it just as flat as it was before. The surface of the flats is made up of potassium, sodium chloride, magnesium, and lithium, which is basically salt. The flats have become a popular destination for tourists, as it is uncommon to see such a large flat white area in the middle of nowhere

[Written for GEOG 3200 class UVU Summer 2023]
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The Himbas Are Shooting

    I had a list of documentaries to choose from, but the professor recommended that I watch The Himbas Are Shooting. I really enjoyed this documentary, even though it was not in English, and so I had to read subtitles the entire time. After a little bit, it didn’t even feel like it was in a language I could not understand, as I was so enthralled by it. I really had to pay attention and could not look away, or I would have no idea what was going on. Seeing how the Himbas live, and having it be portrayed by them, was very eye-opening to their culture and way of life.

    The first key term I thought of when watching this documentary was language. I remember reading that there are over 1000 different languages spoken in Africa. The reading also stated that the two most important cultural experiences in Africa are language and religion. 

    The second key term I thought of was pastoralists. A pastoralist is a sheep or cattle farmer, and the Himbas in this documentary had cattle and were very proud of them. They mentioned that they must move their herd because of the dry conditions, and so maybe they are a type of transient pastoralists. Their homes are easy to move and create, and so they could move their village depending on the weather and season. My favorite part of the documentary was when they showed their eco-friendly dwellings with central heating, and it made me want to live in one myself.

    The third key term I thought of was HIV/Aids. The reading explains that HIV/Aids runs very rampant in Africa because of cultural practices such as polygamy and promiscuity. You can see a little of that in the documentary, as men have multiple wives and/or girlfriends.

    Hollywood and the entertainment industry portray cultures in Africa in a very different light than the Himbas did in their own documentary. It was very honest, fun, entertaining, and educational to see the world from their perspective. I was able to see what life would be like for them and how the world is changing, but they are trying to hold on to the same traditions they have had for generations. The government wants to take away the land that they have lived on for many years, when this is all they know.

[Written for GEOG 130G class UVU Spring 2022]
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Walking into Dystopia: Comparing Stephen King’s The Long Walk to Its Movie Adaptation

This post contains reflections on the plot and ending of The Long Walk by Stephen King (writing as Richard Bachman), as well as thoughts on the movie adaptation. If you haven’t read the book or seen the movie, you may want to return later.

In July of this year, I read The Long Walk by Stephen King, technically, it is by his alter ego Richard Bachman, and it left me haunted. I had seen that a movie adaptation was going to be released, and I wanted to read the book first. This was my first time reading anything under King’s Bachman persona, and I am glad I did.

The book is a relentless journey into the heart of dystopia, where psychological tension builds with every step. The story slowly unravels its characters, especially Ray Garraty. The emotional weight of the walk, the shifting dynamics between the characters, and the creeping dread of the inevitable end for most of them made it impossible to put down.

The ending of the book left a deep impression on me. I had to ponder it for a while, but I finally realized that I interpreted the final figure that Garraty sees as death itself. This reinforced to me that no one makes it out of the Long Walk alive. Even the so-called winner is just the last one to die. That bleak inevitability gave the story a chilling resonance that stuck with me even after it ended.

I saw the movie adaptation with my daughter, who had not read the book, and I loved most of it. I was okay with the smaller changes the movie incorporated as they made sense for the medium and pacing, but the ending left me feeling jaded.

In the movie, Garraty’s motives for the walk change from curiosity and a desire for wealth to revenge on the Major, whom he blames for his father’s death. Garraty’s girlfriend from the book is completely left out, and his mother becomes his emotional anchor instead. Scramm, a character who develops pneumonia and has a pregnant wife, is completely cut from the movie, and his traits are instead split between Olsen and Stebbins, two other participants. The number of walkers in the book, 100, is cut to 50 in the movie. This makes a lot of sense for production reasons.

Peter McVries also has a different backstory, which changes his entire narrative. In the book, he is sarcastic, philosophical, and emotionally raw. He serves as a moral compass for Garraty while he contemplates death and knows the futility of the walk. He is not trying to win the race but openly questions it. Eventually, he decides to sit down, as a symbolic act of defiance, which leads to his death. In the movie, McVries is more emotionally stable and supportive. The bond Garraty and he develop is central to the movie’s emotional arc. McVries becomes a co-lead in the movie and ends up winning the walk after Garraty sacrifices himself. McVries becomes the heart of the story, and his survival is framed as a victory not just over the walk but over the system itself.

The completely different ending of the movie is what left me baffled, as that was the most powerful part in the book for me. In the book, Garraty wins the walk, but he is mentally broken. He sees a dark figure and continues to walk even after his win. King leaves you to interpret the ending yourself, as you can draw many different conclusions from its meaning. As I mentioned earlier, the ending of the book left a deep impression on me as I interpreted the figure Garraty sees as death itself. The inevitability of no one surviving the walk gives off dystopian vibes, as the walk is just there to keep people in line and away from revolting against the suppressive regime they live in. Spectators of the walk are forced to watch and cheer. Knowing that they also cannot escape death, but instead need to remain obedient. There is a line in the movie from Garraty that stands out in this instance:

“The only guarantee you have as a human being is that you are going to die. And, if you're lucky, you get to choose how you spend those last moments.”

It is a poignant quote that captures the existential weight of the story as told in the book and the movie.

I listened to the audiobook of The Long Walk, narrated by Kirby Heyborn. His performance brought the characters to life in a way that made the emotional intensity more intense. His voice carried the exhaustion, fear, and fleeting hope that the walkers exhibited, leaving me contemplating King’s meaning of the story for a long time afterwards.

The Long Walk is more than a dystopian thriller; it’s a meditation on morality, obedience, and the cost of survival. Whether through the slow unraveling of Garraty’s psyche in the book or the emotional arc of McVries in the film, the story leaves a lasting impression. While I preferred the book’s haunting ambiguity, I appreciated the film’s emotional clarity. Both versions offer something powerful, and together they deepen the impact of King’s chilling vision.

Book Published: July 1979
Read: July 30, 2025

Movie Premiere: September 12, 2025
Seen: September 16, 2025

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History Meets Ethics: Reframing Peacebuilding Through Time

This week in my Religion, Violence, and Peacebuilding class, we explored the complex and often contentious relationship between pacifism and just war theory. What made this week especially compelling was the interdisciplinary approach - philosophy, theology, and history all came into the conversation, challenging us to think not just about what happened in the past, but how we ethically interpret it.

We began with Restoring Peace: Towards a Conversation between Just War and Reconcilitation Traditions by Matthew J. Gaudet and William R. O'Neill. The authors argue that these two traditions, often seen as opposites, can actually inform and enrich each other. Reconciliation, they suggest, is not just what happens after war, but it can be a framework that shapes how we think about conflict itself. This idea laid the groundwork for the rest of the week: what if pacifists and just war theorists aren't enemies, but uneasy allies in the pursuit of peace?

Later in the week, we welcomed a guest lecturer, a history professor at UVU who specializes in peacebuilding. His presence shifted the tone of the class from theoretical to historical. He challenged us to consider how historians often focus on events and outcomes, but neglect the ethical questions that underlie them. Why did people choose violence? What alternatives were available? What moral frameworks shaped their decisions?

To prepare for this class period, we read several historical documents: Benjamin Franklin's Plain Truth (1747), John Smith's Doctrine of Christianity (1748), and Jessica Choppin Roney's Ready to Act in Defiance of Government. These texts centered around the 1747 Militia Crisis in colonial America, a moment when civic duty, religious conviction, and political unrest collided. We also read Pacifist Claptrap, a Washington Post article published shortly after 9/11, which criticized pacifism as naive and dangerous. The juxtaposition of these texts, spanning centuries, highlighted how debates about violence and peace are never just academic. They are deeply personal, political, and moral.

For our weekly assignment, we read Reconciling Pacifist and Just War Theorists by James Sterba. Sterba argues that pacifism and just war theory can be reconciled when interpreted in their most morally defensible forms. He critiques rigid versions of pacifism, nonviolent and nonlethal, and proposes anti-war pacifism, which opposes participation in the massive use of lethal force, especially when nonviolent alternatives are underutilized.

Sterba's most compelling contribution is his defense of the moral distinction between intended and foreseen harm. Using Counterfactual and Nonexplanation Tests, he argues that collateral damage (foreseen harm) is morally less severe than intentional harm. This distinction, he claims, is crucial for evaluating wartime actions. While he acknowledges exceptions to the prohibition on intentional harm, he maintains that a strong presumption against it is morally preferable.

Ultimately, Sterba concludes that anti-war pacifists and just war theorists can agree on many cases of justified defense, especially when proportionality and restraint are emphasized. The reconciliation lies in refining both views to prioritize minimizing harm and respecting human dignity, even in extreme circumstances.

Reflecting on this week, I am struck by how much richer our understanding of peace becomes when we allow disciplines to speak to one another. Philosophy gives us the tools to evaluate moral claims. History gives us the context to understand how those claims were lived out. Theology offers a vision of human dignity that can guide both. 

Our guest lecturer reminded us that peacebuilding isn't just about preventing war; it is about asking better questions. What does justice look like before violence erupts? How do we honor the humanity of our enemies? And how can we learn from the past without repeating its ethical blind spots?

This week didn't offer easy answers. But it did offer a framework for thinking more deeply, and more compassionately, about the choices we make in the face of conflict.

Sources:

Franklin, B. (1747, November 17). Plain truth: Or, serious considerations on the present state of the city of Philadelphia, and province of Pennsylvania. Printed by Benjamin Franklin. 

Gaudet, M. J., & O’Neill, W. R. (2011). Restoring peace: Toward a conversation between the just war and reconciliation traditions. Journal of the Society of Christian Ethics, 31(1), 37–55.

Kelly, Michael. (2001, September). Pacifist claptrap. The Washington Post.

Roney, J. C. (2010). “Ready to act in defiance of Government”: Colonial Philadelphia voluntary culture and the Defense Association of 1747–1748. Early American Studies: An Interdisciplinary Journal, 8(2), 358–385.

Smith, J. (1748). The doctrine of Christianity as held by the people called Quakers, vindicated: In answer to Gilbert Tennent’s sermon on the lawfulness of war. Printed by Benjamin Franklin and David Hall. 

Sterba, J. P. (1992). Reconciling pacifists and just war theorists. Social Theory and Practice, 18(1), 21–38.

[Written for PHIL 366G class UVU Fall 2025]
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