In Reply to: Kuta Kowboys posted by Snoopy on Wednesday, 22. February 2012 at 04:51 Bali Time:
I totally agree with you. I had my first 1 month trip to Bali lately. I spent some time with my friend's local "friends" at Kuta. It took me all the way back home to really realize what is the name of the game with most of them. Some are better than others, some worse. They are all after money. Of course, I saw there many young local men after tourist women. In a way it's okay, people having fun and nice time together. For local men it's often just a play they try to act in. Many of them are not happy with their lives at all. They are stressed out and sad inside. Some are having multiple relationships, and trying not to get caught by it. Some don't even care, and are quite openly "crocodiles". Seeing that some naive women think it's love, and believe to be in a real relationship with them is bit sad. I can imagine that some of them will get deeply hurt in many ways, as you mentioned. I still believe that some men there wish to have real relationship. Is it love, or just financial benefits they are looking for, depends of the person I guess. Of course there is happy marriages between Indonesians and tourists /expats. What bothered me most was the obvious lies these guys at the beach were telling about themselves. I think they have ruined their own reputation, and nobody can take them seriously anymore. Anyway, I loved Bali and wish to get back there one day. It's beautiful, there is nice places to see, wonderful climate, a lot of things to do, good to just relax and take it easy, great food, easy going people..