In Reply to: JBR #9 the last . . . posted by Danger Mouse on Monday, 20. September 2010 at 00:27 Bali Time:
Danger, Your JBR's are great. You could be a travel writer. I get the Bali Blues reading your thread and wishing I were there. I just wanted to point out that next time you guys are in Bali ..let Ketut deal with the money changers. Not only is he a great person to drive you around, he also makes sure the money changers don't short you on the exchange (lots of 'em are very good at it.)
Once, I was in an area with several merchants next to a money changer with Ketut my wife and son. I wandered over to change some cash while my wife was shopping and behind be Ketut followed (quietly.) Although I knew how much I was to get back, the money changer tried to confuse me and rushed me through the transaction. I was recounting the amount for a third time when Ketut appeared, asked me how much I gave the guy ..then counted. He took the rupiah over to the money changer, grabbed my US $200 and threw the Indonesian rupiah at him. We walked out and after Ketut would deal with the money changers.
Bali is a wonderful place, but it is still struggling economy and it is nice to have Ketut Sudana there to shield us form the negative aspects of third world...