A US tourist has been arrested in Bali after being caught walking during Nyepi, the island's sacred Day of Silence. Karl Adolf Amrhein, 57, was detained by officers in Sukawati village on March 20 after he was spotted on the main road at 7:15 a.m.
Nyepi is a Hindu holiday observed to convince spirits that the island is uninhabited. For 24 hours, all outdoor activity is prohibited, airports close, and entertainment venues shut down. Information about the holiday is widely distributed, and hotels are legally required to inform guests.
Amrhein told police he had been forced to leave his hotel in Ubud because his stay had expired, according to local news site Hey Bali. Gianyar Police Chief AKBP Chandra Kesuma confirmed that Amrhein checked into a new hotel after being warned against further violations.
This is not the first incident involving a US national on Nyepi. In 2020, an American was arrested for refusing to stop his morning run. Online commenters criticised Amrhein, with one stating: 'So disrespectful. We all know this is important to Balinese culture. We have to respect it.'
