Are We Too Developed?
I've just returned from an amazing trip to Indonesia (I went to Bali, the Gili Islands and Lombok), which turned out to be a great Paleo adventure. As a “developing Country” I was surprised how many differences I noticed compared to how things are done here, in the “developed” World. The surprising thing was how many of these differences actually seemed far better in Indonesia. Perhaps being “developed” in not such a good thing after all?
Pregnancy, babies and children in Indonesia
I spent all of my time in small villages, completely off the tourist track. In all of my time, I did not see a single pram/ pushchair/ stroller (whatever you like to call it!). Babies too young to walk were tied to their mothers side by a piece of material and their weight supported by the mothers arm. Whilst pavements aren't suitable for pushchairs (thanks to lots of open drainage holes), this does seem to be a far more sensible way of transporting a baby around, don’t you think?
In the “developed” world you always see mothers distractedly pushing along a pram. Often the pram is completely covered by a rain protector and you can’t even see the infant. The mother is busy chatting on her phone or rushing to her destination. I can’t help but wonder how much better it is for the Indonesian babies, who are constantly in physical contact with their family.
Whilst I don’t doubt a pram is very convenient and get for carrying shopping bags, is it best for the baby? I also regularly see rather old toddlers being pushed around, when surely they should be encouraged to walk.
The other striking difference I noticed was that the Indonesian children were given far more freedom then their counterparts in the developed World. They seemed to have a lot more free reign to explore, without being permanently attached to the apron strings.
I was impressed to see one young mother weaning her baby, by chewing up food herself, before feeding it to her baby. I didn't see a steriliser, jar of baby food, blender or piece of cutlery involved!
I had the opportunity to visit a maternity clinic, which has been set up as a charitable foundation and is supported by volunteers. Compared to a harshly light, sterile busy Western maternity ward, this clinic was far more homely and open planned. In the typical Indonesian style, the delivery rooms were all open at the top of the walls, allowing air (and noise!) to circulate freely. I was interested to hear that women in Indonesia are typically very quiet in delivery, rarely have drugs (epidurals and the like aren't available in the particular clinic I visited) and “100% of women breastfeed”.
Teeth
The other big contract was around teeth and face shape. Almost all of the locals I met had wide faces and the most beautiful teeth I've seen outside of Hollywood. Their teeth were naturally straight, with no crowding – and they were also very white. With a Weston A Price perspective, it seems clear how the right diet helps to form a proper shaped palate – and good teeth.
Food in Indonesia
For my whole trip I ate local (I’ll tell you more about the food in Indonesia in a future post). Everything the locals eat can typically be found within a few minutes walk of their home. Most families have a plot of land on which they grow rice for their family and perhaps a few other things. There were chickens everywhere and local markets in most villages for everything else. There are (or course) some Western snacks, but these didn't seem to purchased by the locals at all – and certainly weren't in the types of quantities we see in the Western world.
Happiness and Family
Another key observation was that everyone seemed happy, with very little stress! People would work hard to get food (i.e. on the rice paddies), but then they would also spend a lot of time sitting in the shade with their family, chatting. How many people get to do that in the developed world?
Indonesian Women
Oh – and you know some people say women shouldn't lift heavy weights? Try telling the Indonesian women that!
What do you think about how they do things in Indonesia? Do you think we’re too developed?
When “Progress” Isn’t Always an Improvement
Travelling through rural Indonesia was a powerful reminder that being “developed” doesn’t necessarily mean being better. In fact, from a Paleo perspective — where ancestral health, connection, movement, and nutrition are central — many traditional ways of life seem far more aligned with human wellbeing than our so-called modern alternatives.
From babywearing and instinctive weaning to beautiful natural teeth, chemical-free births, and locally sourced whole foods, the simplicity of village life highlights just how far the Western world has drifted from its roots. And while conveniences like supermarkets, prams, and smartphones have their place, they also often come at a cost — to our health, our connection, and our sense of calm.
If we took just a few cues from the way Indonesians live — slowing down, eating locally, maintaining physical closeness, and working with rather than against our bodies — we might all be better off.
Have you noticed this contrast when travelling to less industrialised countries? What aspects of “modern life” do you think are worth questioning or even ditching entirely? I’d love to hear your thoughts — especially if you’ve also had a Paleo travel moment that made you stop and rethink what “developed” really means.
Rethinking Modern Life Through a Paleo Lens
Travelling through places like rural Indonesia often shines a light on the disconnect between modern convenience and ancestral wisdom. For many of us following a Paleo lifestyle, it’s not just about what’s on our plate — it’s about how we live, move, raise our families, and connect with our communities. And in those respects, many so-called “developing” nations may actually be far ahead of the game.
Think about it: in the West, we've normalised processed baby food, sitting for hours under artificial lights, and ultra-sanitised everything. Yet in many Indonesian villages, babies are physically carried, not pushed; toddlers explore barefoot rather than being strapped into prams; food is homegrown, seasonal, and shared communally. It’s a world that fosters natural movement, connection, and real food — the very principles Paleo was built on.
One of the most striking differences is how people move. While we debate the merits of kettlebells or deadlifts, Indonesian women carry heavy loads on their heads daily — without fuss or injury. Children climb, squat, and run freely, without structured “exercise.” It’s a lifestyle that incorporates movement naturally and frequently, in stark contrast to the sedentary patterns of urban living.
The contrast in oral health is equally telling. The broad facial structures and straight white teeth observed by Weston A. Price are still visible in communities eating traditional diets — diets free from refined sugar, seed oils, and ultra-processed snacks. No orthodontics, no fluoride toothpaste, just nutrient-dense whole foods and strong chewing from early childhood. It’s an everyday testament to the power of ancestral nutrition.
Community is another area where Western society often falls short. In the villages of Lombok and Gili, families live close to one another, share meals, and support each other through daily tasks. There’s a deep social fabric that promotes mental wellbeing and reduces stress. In contrast, the fast pace of modern life, digital distractions, and isolated living can leave many people feeling disconnected and overwhelmed — no matter how “developed” our societies claim to be.
And then there’s childbirth and parenting. Seeing a maternity clinic where women give birth calmly, surrounded by community, without drugs or fear, and then breastfeed as the default — it’s a reminder that our bodies are designed for this. Contrast that with our overmedicalised birth system and the widespread struggle to breastfeed, and it’s hard not to ask: have we complicated something that should be instinctive?
None of this is to romanticise hardship or overlook the very real challenges in developing countries. But perhaps there's a middle ground — a way to blend the best of both worlds. Could we embrace the nutrient density of ancestral diets, the benefits of natural movement, and the strength of tight-knit communities, while also enjoying the advances of modern medicine, sanitation, and technology?
In Australia and other developed nations, maybe it’s time to stop assuming that more technology, more convenience, and more processed choices are always better. Instead, we might look to simpler lifestyles not as primitive or outdated, but as deeply wise and worth learning from.
Have you travelled somewhere that made you question your lifestyle back home? Did you notice any health habits that seemed more intuitive or effective than what we’re taught in the West? Share your thoughts in the comments below — I’d love to hear how your own Paleo journey has intersected with travel and tradition.
