Coconut Mask Craze in Bali
On September 2, a 44‑year‑old parking attendant named Nengah Budiasa was caught sporting half a coconut shell as a face cover. The odd mask caught the attention of local residents and police officers who were on duty that day in a busy bus terminal.
The Man Behind the Mask
- Budiasa says a traditional medical mask feels heavy and gets dirty fast.
- He needed to speak clearly to warn traffic, and a whistle stuck in the mask’s center gave him the voice he needed.
- “It’s hard to wear a medical mask, I have to use a whistle for traffic, it gets dirty quickly, and people continue to protest a lot [because it’s dirty],” he explained.
- He kept the homemade mask for four consecutive days and felt it made his voice clearer and his duties easier.
Police Response
- The local police pointed out that the coconut mask does not meet COVID‑19 protection standards.
- They offered a quick briefing on proper health protocols and handed him cleaned, approved medical masks.
- In a typical Indonesian approach, Budiasa was asked to do a few push‑ups before receiving the official masks.
- “He didn’t intend to violate the rules, but the mask he’s been using is improper because it’s not what the government recommends. So we have helped him out by giving him the right masks,” the officer said to the media.
More Wacky Mask Ideas Around the World
- AsiaOne has collected a handful of inventive mask concepts that have surfaced since the pandemic began.
- From animal‑on‑a‑stick to half‑covered fruit shells, the variety is as diverse as it is amusing.
- Whether these creative designs survive the scrutiny of safe‑distancing officials remains to be seen.
For a glimpse of the coconut mask in action, check out this short video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TECQayinDU
Read also: “Knock it down: Tourists in Bali punished with push‑ups when caught not wearing masks.”
