In Reply to: Bobbie,thanks for that... posted by skiggy on Saturday, 7. February 2009 at 09:07 Bali Time:
Hi there, I must say that you amongst others understand the things I worry about when it comes to Bali. Obviously we can not expect that people will just change in a minute in their attitude when it comes to money matters. I read stories about other peoples experiences with the local police force. I know for a fact that when you, being an inexperienced tourist who wants to report abuse, crime or anything of that kind, the police will hardly be willing to help and if finally they do get off their butts they will ask you for money just to type a few sentences being the report. Amounting to sometimes nearing or exceeding a million rupiahs. And if one is not willing to pay, the same police officers start threatening you and tell you not to come back the next time when you encounter a serious problem. As an excuse many people would say "look at their salaries, it is logical they ask for money..."
Well, it is really the Balinese authorities as well as the Bali Board of Tourism that should make some serious changes . Things have changed dramatically over the last 20 years in Bali and ineed everywhere. In Bali it used to be real pleasant in the late 80's and early 90's. 7 years ago the Balinese (and with them all the families of people who died in the Sari Club and Paddy Bar bomb attacks) had the worlds and of course also my deep sympathy and I was at the time hoping that all those ugly events would eventually result in a better future, as well for the Balinese as for the Javanese, the Lombokians etc. etc. but also for the mutual understanding from everybody that tourism provides for a lot of locals daily needs and treatment of nice and good behaving tourists, whatever their age or origin. First it looked a bit like the situation would become more relaxed and better again, but soon after tourism picked up again the same symptoms appeared as before. And yes, the attitude towards foreigners is getting worse and worse. At the same time I acknowledge there are certain groups of tourists who don't seem to or want to understand they are a gues in a country with different values and different cultures. Screaming and yelling on Jl. Legian in Kuta, totally drunk, well, that is neither the way foreigners should present themselves to their hosts.
To cut this story short:
The government (whether in Renon or in Jakarta) should educate their citizens, teach them a certain level of discipline, teach them how to drive (I still remember an article posted in the Jakarta Post around 10 years ago... Ïndonesians, the worst drivers in the world...), teach them to stand in line instead of crawling their way to the front, teach them to be polite to their fellow countrymen as well as to others.
In Bali we see many people trying to help locals. This is a great thing, with all due respect, but we also have to realize that in Bali there are many filthy rich locals who by far not all care about the wellbeing of their fellow islanders. And the government doesn't so either. Does that imply that foreigners bring bags of money to help? I have the feeling it is not. We all want to do good for people on our planet, but there are limits. What about the much more alarming poverty in Lombok, East and Central Java?? Do those people not deserve the same treatment? Are some good willing people closing their eyes for that just because Bali is such a "pleasant" place to be? I think (sad to say) that too many people on this island are just too lazy and don't care. I know it sounds harsh, but it is the way I feel about it.
The problem is however that people who are in the position to do something about it are just not interested. They rather do things that they are not assigned for. And another problem is that Indonesians (at least a big percentage of them) are totally not open to any kind of criticism, let alone a foreigner who dares to criticise them, they would rather blacklist that person than to listen and take action.
My answer (finally) is: no, sorry, I don't have a clue how this problem could be solved.
Bobbie.