Oct 11 2008
On The Bright Side … This Shit Builds Character, Right?
So, needless to say, I've run into several snags during the past week in the midst of my move to Bali.
- I left my Bankcard in an ATM and it was gone when I checked back 2 minutes later.
- I got stopped by the cops for allegedly speeding — while other Balanese were passing me on both sides.
- I had to pay a taxi driver 5 times what we orginally agreed or he threatened to drop me in middle of nowhere late at night coming from airport.
Of course, these have been nothing more than mere inconveniences, but they still have made this move particularly irksome.
First, although I've been in Indonesia — on and off — for most of the past year, I must remember that this area of Indo (and Bali, in particular) is NOT the 'First World' … or even Thailand or Rote.
I lived in Bangkok and Singapore for the better part of 2 years and I NEVER got harrassed by the Police. Never!
Indeed, the Police in Thailand and Singapore were more of a help than a hinderance (as they should be). But I have been hassled here in Bali twice so far in the past 10 days, essentially for being a foreigner from whom they can extort money.
The same goes for the locals here. I have been 'worked' and otherwise taken advantage of by a number of them in the past 10 days simply because I needed help and they knew I had no other options. And this is supposedly a Hindu island that believes heavily in 'karma'. If so, that explains why many of them are still stuck in a shitty life.
However, during my entire time in Bangkok (which is heavily Buddhist), I was NEVER 'worked' to the extent I have been here lately — by taxi drivers, merchants, cops, my landlord … everyone! Yes, some say that 'bargaining' is part of their culture here. Possibly, but the utter greed and disrespect and anger I've encountered lately I've NEVER witnessed in other areas of Indonesia I've visited (except maybe in southern Sumatra). Like my friend Sean here said, the peple here look like someone just pissed on their face.
I know that I have to deal with the change of environment … which will come in time. But for now, I miss Bangkok (and Rote, Indonesia) terribly. I miss the smiling faces and the sincere desire to help, with or without the promise of money. I miss the gentleness and desire to avoid conflict (I think they actively SEEK conflict here).
Perhaps my initial assessment of Bali was right … it's a shithole. Perhaps I'm just overreacting to a few bad eggs and I need to give it some more time — which I will. I also plan on exploring the rest of this island — which I've heard is MUCH different than this area.
But for now, I just feel like ranting. So I will.
Did you check with the bank? ATM machines are programmed to re-insert the card automatically when left in the slot. Unless someone nabbed it literally seconds after you walked away it is quite probable it is stored in the machine itself.
Yeah, I’ve done it before.
“my initial assessment of Bali was right … it’s a shithole.”
wow. you mean even more than India? that’s pretty shitty.
I’ve only been through Bali as a tourist, but did get around the whole island over the course of three lazy weeks. The only place we endured anything like what you’re describing was in Kuta Beach. The remainder of the island, north to south, east to west, was warm and welcoming and friendly — almost fair, even, if once got a few paces off the tourist drag. Kuta itself didn’t completely suck if you walked out past the tourist districts.
So I’m wondering: Are you living in Kuta? Do you have to? Or has the island changed so much?
Yes I tried with the card, but no luck; sorta, I’m living in Seminyak (a couple villages north of Kuta, but still in the over-crowded south of the island, which has changed a lot just in the past few years); … and no, Southern India is still the biggest shithole I’ve visited in my life.
I’m starting to warm to Bali a bit, but only since it’s starting to become what I initally sought out — a point of transit and a place where I can leave my shit while I explore the rest of Indo.