In Reply to: Santika...I think it is you posted by Putu_Les on Saturday, 2. April 2011 at 20:48 Bali Time:
point too. I too have a great affection for Bali and Balinese, actually for Indonesia and Indonesians in general. I find the modern history of Indonesia fascinating. Also should point out that the vast majority of friends/acquaintances from all over the archipelago have never hit us up for money! It does happen with a certain amount of regularity though and of course the Balinese warn us against the Javanese and the Javanese warn us against the Balinese but both groups warn us against the Sumatrans etc. etc. etc. ad infinitum. I choose to handle it with a sense of humour since I don't like to waste much time feeling grumpy.
Maybe most if not all of us buy into the whole "paradise inhabited by perfect people" thing on our first encounter with Bali. Then find out it's not so and feel a little sad. Then either go away disenchanted or learn to get over it and like them the way they are which is imperfect, just like the rest of us.
Maybe somebody can tell me somewhere in Indonesia which could accurately be described as paradise but I am a bit skeptical. In my book a place with such appalling treatment of mentally and physically disabled people surely cannot be a paradise? I don't think it can be possible to find nirvana in a place where women are second rate citizens either. I won't go on and on (do i hear a collective sigh of relief?) and won't even start to talk about corruption or pollution.
Still find the place and it's people endlessly fascinating though!