In Reply to: it sounds like you're telling my story.. posted by jessejoojar on Tuesday, 13. December 2005 at 12:57 Bali Time:
A metal detector would not spot modern explosives as these are not magnetic. The detectors would only find bear cans, knives or scissors - and belt buckles.
As for the (convex) mirrors they can be used for many purposes. On more than one occasion in October 2005 a girl was asked to step out of a car "for safety reasons". Then the security guys would pretend checking the chassis of the car while "accidentally" checking whether the girl had anything under the skirt/sarong or not, using the mirror. Very funny - not!
At times I pretended to wish to increase my knowledge as to how metal detectors work, only to be told that it had no batteries but that the sight of the device would scare off any terrorist. And I asked the guys what they would do if there was a threatening situation. I was always told "I run away".
So much for all the impressions of hightened safety measures taken in Bali.