In Reply to: What really happens in Bali? - long posted by Charliebalibear on Monday, 7. July 2014 at 13:23 Bali Time:
Well done Charliebear -taggering amount of truth - albeit some adjustment needed on the billions population stats - can you fix that up as I think this post will be far reaching and therefore needs to be accurate. Sorry for your/hubbie's loss and to think had he not been there cause of death might have been misreported. Nothing spiritual here about death in Bali!. Even on my first trip to Bali in 89 there was a Japanese tourist missing in a rip on Kuta beach - it didn't feel real but clearly it was - tourists get lost in this sense of paradise and truly believe nothing bad can happen. Next, methanol. Something that has already had warnings in the media but needs more. Cheap cocktails can kill - and the most likely not to realise this are the youngest tourists, unsuspecting and off their faces.
Bird Flu - 2 children - how tragic. Believe this happens with blood transfer at a killing chook level - whilst many posts on this forum discuss how deliciously it is cooked and I'm no angel when it comes to that. Rabies and street dogs. Rabies is a scary thing, it needs a plan - but not genocide. More volunteers overseas/vets/free neutering/registration - all the things Western nations have learned to implement in the last 20 years. Plenty of dog lovers amongst the tourist community who would donate. We can't expect locals (other than ex pats) to afford this - it has to be an international effort. Villa robberies - there is a level of violence which we just don't equate with Bali - but why not. 20 years ago this sort of thing was unheard of - but who is responsible for this corruption. Tourists. Me. Your American neighbour - well he could be from a number of countries, but it's ignorance and arrogance you're talking about and it is unwelcome. Population stats - are you saying that in Bali, half the population is non Balinese? That doesn't seem real. HIV - very sad reflection on how tourism contaminates. Number 26 - and the tip about the drivers - thank you - suspected as much. More awareness of charities like 'The East Bali Project' would help - now we're really talking about water restrictions in E Bali. Women dying in childbirth due to traffic jams - ffs - that's staggering. But really - what is this stat 1/25 babies in Bali born with HIV - I query that.
Balinese men with mistresses - I've met ex pat business women who like to think their 20/30 years younger boyfriends are committed to them... it's an economy not love girls wise up. 800k for a beggar - in my experience those who really need the money do not ask for it but I was never sure - and I welcome your frankness all round. Fantastic post - and not a shopping bargain mentioned. Good on you Charliebear.