|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
rien.gluvers
User
 |
|
Always thought that the warnings for the sneaky ways many Balinese try to enrich themselves at the expense of the westerners was exaggerated. After my last visit however I doubt whether I need to review my way of thinking. Also I was made the fool. This is the story how.
For celebrating my birthday I had planned a nice dinner at Jimbaran at Nyomans Café. Just some friends over from Holland and the Balinese family that always arrange everything for me when I am on Bali. My Balinese friend went to Nyomans the day before to make reservations and barging about the price.
In the meanwhile with my Dutch friends I met some Balinese friends of them. She the owner of Cozy Massage and him the owner of Campur Campur Warung, both successful businesses in Kuta. A nice couple, friendly and helpful. They invited us at a BBQ at their house, gave us a discount at Cozy’s, so just people we got to like. So we also invited them to the Jimbaran dinner.
At the dinner our new met friend offered to go with me to order and select the seafood. Because the long last Balinese friend was engaged in conversation I agreed. Everything went just the way it should and it was just as I had hoped it would be.
The day after however came the hangover and unfortunately not from the alcohol. The friend who has arranged the dinner for me was approached by the drivers how brought us to Jimbaran. They didn’t got their usual fee of Nyoman’s. Noyman’s told them that he had given the fee to the man how was with me when selecting the food.
So what has happened. When selecting the food, our new found friend has told the staff in Behasa Bali that we were his “guests” and that he was the one that had the right on commission. So at the end I paid the full price, the next day he went back for the commission, the drivers mistrusted mine old friend of whom they thought has received the money from Nyoman’s, and the mine old friend was embarrassed to tell me that I had been fooled.
Now a few days later, back in The Netherlands, I received a sms from the real Balinese friend. The owner of Campur Campur has promised to refund the money he sneaky had received. So money-wise the problem is resolved. What remains is the nasty feeling of being fooled by a so-called succesful man who enriches himself at the expense of friends of his friends as well as drivers who need the money much more then he does.
|
|
|
Oud worden op bali? www.whitedolphins.nl or www.whitedolphins.net
|
|
|
Posted @ 22-05-2008 09:40 |
|
|
belgianguy
User
|
|
that`s how it is in bali, it´s all about commissions, anybody who goes anywhere with a driver or a ´friend´ will pay, directly or indirectly...
|
|
|
Posted @ 22-05-2008 11:47 |
|
|
Lacey
User
|
|
This not only happening in Bali. They happen throughout Indonesia on a daily basis. Whether your friend is a Balinese, Javanese or Chinese, etc. Indonesia is so corrupted. Don't feel bad - just remember not to trust someone easily as there will always be a catch when they offer to help. Shame but its just the way it is.
|
|
|
Posted @ 22-05-2008 13:29 |
|
|
belgianguy
User
|
|
so true
the problem is when you live here too long, you become too cynical
in the end you don´t wanna trust anyone anymore
you are always looking for the catch somewhere
|
|
|
Posted @ 22-05-2008 13:41 |
|
|
Nemesis
User
|
|
The bottom line is: don't mix business with friendship in Indonesia. Keep your wallet closed with friends and family.
|
|
|
Amore, more, ore, re, probantur amicitiae. Si hoc legere scis nimium eruditiones habes.
|
|
|
Posted @ 22-05-2008 19:21 |
|
|
zannehow
User
|
|
Well, my experience is very different. Mostly, Indonesian people have been exceedingly generous to me...so much so sometimes that I feel embarrassed by the whole thing. Yes, I am aware of the problems and difficulties of doing business in Indoensia - but my experience has generally been good. Perhaps it is just that I move in academic, intellectual and arts circles where ethics operate on a different level. Perhaps it is that I go to Indonesia with specfic interests and purposes - never usually for holidays. But I don't think so.... for example, the driver I use in Yogya gives me an good rate and goes that extra mile. And even going back to the time when I lived in Sumatra in the 1990's my experiences were mostly good. Sure there are the times when I have been ripped off, but they have been balanced by good experiences...and I have had the good fortune to meet an exceedingly wide range of people. Oh yes and another thing - I don't usually try to screw people down on price - sometimes a little bargaining - mostly because the exchange rate from Oz dollars to rupiah is so reasonable that I come out on top anyway.
And another thing, when Indonesians come visiting to Australia, I always try to repay their generosity...it goes along way.
|
|
|
Posted @ 24-05-2008 07:50 |
|
|
sidia
User
|
|
On 24-05-2008 07:50 zannehow wrote:
Well, my experience is very different. Mostly, Indonesian people have been exceedingly generous to me...so much so sometimes that I feel embarrassed by the whole thing.
Yes, I am aware of the problems and difficulties of doing business in Indoensia - but my experience has generally been good.
Perhaps it is just that I move in academic, intellectual and arts circles where ethics operate on a different level.
Sure there are the times when I have been ripped off, but they have been balanced by good experiences... and I have had the good fortune to meet an exceedingly wide range of people.
|
Perhaps it is just that I move in academic, intellectual and arts circles where ethics operate on a different level.
Yes , indeed , different level , different experience
No further comments. 
|
|
|
|
|
(Edited) Posted @ 24-05-2008 08:30 |
|
|
kiwimave
User
|
|
On 24-05-2008 08:30 sidia wrote:
...
Perhaps it is just that I move in academic, intellectual and arts circles where ethics operate on a different level.
Yes , indeed , different level , different experience
No further comments.
|
I absolutely agree. In the high social class (academic etc, NOT new money) values are very high generally
|
|
|
|
|
Posted @ 24-05-2008 09:29 |
|
|
sidia
User
|
|
On 24-05-2008 09:29 kiwimave wrote:
...
I absolutely agree. In the high social class (academic etc, NOT new money) values are very high generally
|
Please , spread the word.
(zegt het voort , zeg het voort ).l
|
|
|
|
|
Posted @ 24-05-2008 11:56 |
|
|
Yogya-Bali
User
|
|
On 24-05-2008 08:30 sidia wrote:
...
Perhaps it is just that I move in academic, intellectual and arts circles where ethics operate on a different level.
Yes , indeed , different level , different experience
No further comments.
|
That is so true. It is something I already try to explain to foreigners for almost 2 decades. But mostly with a strong rejection about my "hierarchy" and "class"-thinking. It's not the way I think, it is just the way things go overhere.
|
|
|
Posted @ 26-05-2008 04:25 |
|
|
Vinie
User
|
|
I went eating one evening 'alone' to jimbarang to check how the place was, had my own car.
Few days later i went with 8 persons from my hotel and rented a taxi-van with driver...............wel wel.
I told the driver to go to jimbarang so we could eat on the beach in the sand.
Wel he drove us to Three other places(friend restaurants) and de the time it took to get us there was twice that i needed with my car. So at a certain point i had enough of it and said. You drive us to the place i told you, or you take place in the passenger seat and i drive myself. Than suddenly he knew the way  . He stayed there wile we were eating and drove us back to the hotel. We payed him and the price was not so high.
|
|
|
Posted @ 23-06-2008 23:02 |
|
|
|
You have to be logged in to post a message.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
·
