In Reply to: Was not critising posted by fresh on Thursday, 24. March 2005 at 12:19 Bali Time:
Of course you were just stating your opinion and good on you. My opinion is that Bali is so much more than fake stuff or pirated stuff. The Balinese are very resourcful people. I know that the guy in shop selling the fake bag wants a sale and of couse he does. But that bag came from somewhere. A lot of hands have touched that bag. The fake business is huge and there are lot of people out there getting very wealthy from this business and using a lot of people along the way including kids and the guy in the shop. Of course we dont want to deprive the Balinese of their livelyhood and I return every year to eat the cheap food and drink cheap beer and have a great time. I also shop. I know that I have bought things in Bali that are probably produced under not the best conditions, but I hope that the dress I buy for my daughter from a lady at a market has come from a factory in Bali and made by Balinese and that the money is staying in the country. I will continue to go to Bali and love it and know that I am contibuting to the Balinese by eating in their restaurants, staying in Balinese villas/hotels, buying locally and I will be comfortable with myself AND THAT IS MY OPINION. (Please dont ask me to add links or proof, if you need to justify how you spend your money, then you can do your own research.)