Posted by curious george on Sunday, 14. February 1999 at 16:07 Bali Time:
In Reply to: I have no problem with hawkers, posted by Lynne on Sunday, 14. February 1999 at 13:42 Bali Time:
Nothing you pay in Bali is fair. Cheap to the point of absurdity. These guys at the airport are hawkers, just a variation on a theme and they are selling something, a service (if even if it is unwanted and basically worthless), and they are just like the ladies who come up to you and massage you even when you say you don't want one and continue even when you say stop. You don't have to pay the guys at the airport. You don't have to pay some guy just because he walks next to you in a temple. Just take your luggage and go. The point is this, Everybody in Bali has a sales approach that they find is the most effective. Unfortunately, almost all of them are irritating as hell. And they are all hawkers using some form of intimidation to get you to pay for something you don't want or need if for no other reason than to get rid of them. The other point is that others elsewhere have complained about their experiences with hawkers and you have defended the hawkers based on their incredible hardships which drive them to it. So be it. Then stop complaining about YOUR hawker nightmares.