In Reply to: JBR, Peter and Ketut day 11 posted by Peter_at_Perth on Tuesday, 25. April 2006 at 17:40 Bali Time:
I have been reading with interest your reports and as you have decided to share your intimacies with others then I feel I should be able to consider a couple of things that i hope you take on board in the spirit that they are given.
Peter, your stories have have taken a turn from being sweet romantic tales to a whole new level when you talk of sleeping with Ketut.
Have you met her parents yet? If not I think this girl may be to be warey of. She may not be as good as she seems.
When you talk of holding her and sharing intimacies in public, Peter you are in another country with different social mores which you must consider even in seemingly cosmopolitan Legian. What do you think people are thinking about Ketut when they see this? As an Australian you are probably saying, "Stuff them I don't care what they think" but in Bali you should as other people's thoughts and opinions of you affect your standing in society, and believe me Bali is a small place.
It surprises me that Ketut did not let you know of this which is another concern. Maybe she is used to it?
The biggest problem I see is the ability for you both to be able to forge the cultural divide.
Starting with language. If this infatuation you have is to turn into a long term relationship what hope do you see in a partner for life with survival skills only in your first language and how long do you think you will be able to master Indonesian and Balines from a phrasebook and a c.d.
It has taken me 40 years and I am still learning.
Finally Indonesians will consider three things when they are contemplating marriage. Bibit,bebet,bobit. Your family background,your present standing and similarities with your partner, and your future prospects.
In reality you have a vast difference with Ketut.
I don't think you are Hindu so you have that to consider.
I won't go on. I hope you can take the above as being helpful and not at all as meant to put you down, it is not my thing to do that, but to help you make some serious considerations that will allow the light of love to be able to shine long after the fire of passion has burnt out.