selling well.

A recent interview with a Finnish newspaper

 

Somewhere in Bali

Why and when did you leave Bali?

I left Bali three years ago, my reasoning was pretty simple. I had spent eight or so years living on the island and I found myself becoming increasingly annoyed by the small stuff, the traffic, the rip offs etc. No matter how beautiful the place, when that starts to happen, it’s probably time to move on.

What did you do for living in Bali?

While I lived in Bali I was involved with a development company. Most of my work was done within the marketing side of the business.

How long did you live there?

Eight or so years, but I travelled back and forth regularly before that.

Are your brothers still living there? How many of them?

My brothers no longer conduct business in Bali; my family visits the island occasionally for holidays.

Where are you living now?

I now live in Thailand, there is a similarity that I’m used to, and I could not give up on South East Asia altogether.

Would you consider Kuta area as a dangerous place to visit?

Like most places in the world Kuta is as dangerous as you want to make it. I would advise any person that is thinking of traveling to a foreign country to keep their wits about them and to understand the environment they are entering into.

Indonesia is a very large country and there are people that travel to Bali seeking vulnerable tourists. That said most high profile tourist destinations seem to attract a criminal element.

How does the criminality in Kuta show on everyday life of an average tourist?

Most of the criminality against tourists is generally small scale, rip offs, over charging, pick pocketing, villa break-ins, etc. However, problems with violence do sometimes occur along the nightclub strip in Kuta.

In your advice, how can tourists avoid the problems?

  
My advice would be to never become in involved with in an altercation with the locals or any nightclub security staff in Bali. I have seen a lot of tourists get hurt this way. I would also only carry small amounts of cash and a cheap phone on any night out.

Is there a lot of criminality in other parts of Bali than Kuta also?

Kuta would be the hub of criminality in Bali, that said it is a small island and most of the bad element lives in the capital Denpasar.  The criminal element then travel to Kuta, Seminyak, Sanur, and other tourist destinations. The distance between these places is relatively short.

Can the police be trusted? Are they only corrupted or also straight involved in criminal activity?

It is always wise to have some money in your wallet if you intend to trust the police.

Can you trust anyone there? Locals or westerners?

Most Indonesians are good people that will do anything to help travellers in their country. Unfortunately there are also a small number of people that cannot be trusted. I guess it comes down to the individual judging the person they are dealing with.

Are all the gangs locals or have the western people formed those too?

A few western motorcycle gangs are moving into Bali, but at the moment the locals have most of the control.

What's the difference between a local and an expat criminal?

The local will generally have relatives or they will know somebody with connections. The local will generally win most disputes. 

How can an average tourist spot a scam? In other words, how not to get screwed?

Do due diligence, check everything twice or three times, and always hire an outside source to go over any paper work before signing. Never accept the lawyer or Notaris that is offered to you in any land deal.  Sometimes it helps to ask someone who has lived in Bali a long time to recommend a trusted lawyer or Notaris.

You've probably seen a lot of other destinies like that? Is it very common?

Bali has its own uniqueness but most places in South East Asia, if not the world, have their problems.

What about the good sides of Kuta / Bali?

I would not have been able to live in Bali for eight years if it didn’t have a good side. When I wrote Bali Raw I had grown weary of all the wonderful things that were being written about Bali. I wanted to level the scales slightly, tell people about the other side of Bali.

What's your upcoming book about?

I have written another book about Bali that will be published soon, I am also close to completing a book about Thailand, but at the moment most of my focus is on screenplays. 

I have completed  two screenplays at present. One script is based in Cambodia and it is titled, ‘No Negotiation No Ransom’ it is the true story of an Australian who was kidnapped by the Khmer Rouge in 1994. 

The other is a horror/comedy titled Dog House that was written for the American market. I have recently started another about the Bali Bombings that is loosely titled, Heroes.

Anything else you'd like to say about Bali?

Not really, I hope I said everything that needed to be said in my two books.

A Few Different Schoolie Tips

Bali Taxi Warriors

It’s that time of year again and Bali Schoolies is once again upon us. When I lived on the island this time of year always worried me. Bali is the perfect place for groups of young people to blow off steam after a year of hard studying. But this also means that a lot of first time travellers will be hitting the bars and beaches of Kuta and Seminyak. It is estimated that over six thousand schoolies from Australia will be arriving in Bali over the next two weeks.  And it is no stretch to imagine that these teenagers will be partying hard and drinking way too much in their pursuit of fun on the island. I have covered this in the past but here are a few different tips that may help out.

Make Sure You Have Travel Insurance

A number of Australians have accidents during their holidays in Bali. Whether it is scooter related, nightclub related or just simply a surfing accident. No matter what happens, it is always wise to have some level of travel insurance when heading to Bali for holidays. Recently a Bali based Australian had to be medevac’d back to Australia from Bali. The Australian had no travel insurance and the price for his evacuation ranged in the forty to fifty thousand dollar range. This is a huge amount of money for anyone so please make sure you have the appropriate travel insurance.

Bring Condoms from Home

Condoms are available in Bali but they tend to be of a substandard quality and they have a propensity break easily. It is always wise to have a sufficient supply whether you think you will be involved in this type of activity or not. Remember this is schoolies and who knows what may happen or who you may meet.  Please also be aware that there are plenty of prostitutes trawling the Bali clubs and the beaches’ of Bali. Local men and women are involved in this activity. It has also been well documented that there is a very high H.I.V. infection rate on the island. If you do meet a local man or a local lady and things graduate to a sexual level. Then please always ensure that the correct protection is used.

Western Standard Motorbike Helmet

Firstly I wouldn’t recommend that anyone traveling to Bali for schoolies hires a scooter. Most things are within walking distance and transportation is inexpensive. For around town taxis are available and the driver will wait if his customer needs to stop. For longer travel it is wise to hire a car and driver for the day. The driver will help with translation and they will be more than willing to share their local knowledge. A good idea is to pool your resources and travel with friends. Think of it as a road trip, you will have a lot more laughs and you will see a lot more of the sights. Also remember to barter when organizing the price and stipulate where you want to go and how long you want to take.

If you intend hiring a scooter in Bali then please pack a western standard motorbike helmet with your luggage. The motorbike helmets sold and supplied in Bali are cheap copies.  They will not save a person’s life if they come off a bike at speed.  Also please don’t ride if you have been drinking.  More tourists are injured or killed on motorbikes in Bali than anything else. If you have been drinking, park and lock your scooter in a busy street. And then ask a local working in a shop close by to watch it for you. I have done this hundreds of times so I can promise that it will be quite safe.  It may also be advisable to leave a small tip and then promise a further tip when you return.  If you do leave your scooter it is also sensible to carry your helmet with you or to leave it behind the counter of the shop or bar. Quality helmets that are left locked on scooters for long periods are often stolen.

Little tip: Brand new helmets may attract an import tax at customs so bring something second hand. If you do bring a new helmet, cover the Australian standard sticker with another sticker and then scuff the helmet up a little. Australian standard motorcycle helmets are prized in Bali so they are prone to being stolen.

Avoid cheap drinks and cocktails

There have been tourists injuries and deaths attributed to drinking cheap alcohol in Bali. The reason for this is that a number of these drinks are methanol based.  This is a dangerous chemical that can cause blindness, coma and death if consumed in large amounts. Cheap alcohol, otherwise known as Arak, is often brewed in backyard distilleries around Bali and throughout Indonesia. Unfortunately there is no real way for the Indonesian authorities to completely stamp out this practice.

If you have any doubts about this please visit the following link: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=476423765790227&set=a.391798394252765.1073741827.389335401165731&type=1

 

Tattoo’s

Some schoolies may be attracted to the idea of getting a tattoo in Bali. I myself have had a number of them done on the island and I have never had a problem. But, when I did get my tattoos, I made sure that a packet of clean and sterilized needles was opened in front of me. And that the shop where I was having the work done was clean and sterilized looking. A good idea is to ask other tourists that have received tattoos where they received them and if they had any problems. It may also be wise to have the tattoo done on the closest day to your departure as possible. Most of Bali’s water is ground water and most of Bali’s sewage runs on a septic tank system. And with this in mind swimming or showering in Bali with a fresh tattoo is definitely not advised.

 

Check the depth of your pool before diving in.

This may sound obvious or stupid but you would be surprised at how many times I have heard about this happening. Bali pools are not built to the same building standards as western pools and a lot were built a long time ago.  For whatever reason, a number of people dive into their hotel pools without first checking the depth. And they end up with a nasty injury to begin their holiday or worse.  A very close friend of mine came very close to breaking his neck doing this. It is always wise to ask the pool guy or if you’re lucky enough the pool bar attendant. But if you happen to be too shy or no one is available, try jumping in feet first to begin with.

©Malcolm Scott

EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS   

Ambulance: 118 Police: 110 Fire: 113 Search & Rescue: (0361) 111 115 151 Bali Tourist Police:  (0361) 754 599 (0361) 224 111 Red Cross: (0361) 227 224 Air Ambulance (0361) 207 7788 Electricity: 123 Taxi: (0361) 701 111

CLINICS DOCTORS HOSPITALS

Sanglah Public Hospital: (0361) 227 911 – 15 Kasih Ibu Hospital: (0361) 223 036, (0361) 237 016 Bali International Medical Center (BIMC): (0361) 761263 International SOS: (0361) 710505

AUSTRALIAN CONSULAR OFFICE (Includes Canada and New Zealand)

Phone: 235 092/3 Fax: 231 990 Email: ausconbali@denpasar.wasantara.net.id

Bali holidays ruined by club security bashing

A while back I posted about an incident I had with security at a Bali nightclub, and the attitude they usually take when foreigners are in trouble...They don't help, most of the time they're more likely to beat the crap out of you.

I just read a story about another guy who experienced the same thing. If you think my encounter was a one-off, read what happened to former North Melbourne coach Dead Laidley, who was bashed by security at one of Bali's most popular nightclubs.

You might also want to read my post Avoiding Trouble in Bali's Nightclubs.

6 Tips for Schoolies Holidays in Bali

For any schoolies going to holiday in Bali this year, please remember to be careful and have fun. Here are six tips to help you on your way:

1. Respect the local population and culture

The majority of Balinese people are Hindu and their religion and beliefs are very significant to them. It is important that anyone traveling to Bali respects this and acts accordingly. 
Please remember that you are a guest on the island, follow all requests and give full respect especially when visiting Balinese temples. This will also go a long way in forming a good impression of your own home country.

Tip: Make sure you visit at least one temple or one ceremony while visiting Bali. A little culture never did anyone any harm and you may just enjoy the experience.

2. Balinese A.T.M. machines are not the same as at home

Remember to take your card out of the machine after finishing a transaction. This may sound obvious but it would surprise how many people don't remember to retrieve their card.
The A.T.M. machines in Bali operate on a different system to the machines in Australia. They do not automatically return your card. You must remember to push cancel when you have finished your transaction.

Tip: Use A.T.M. machines attached to a bank or the ones located in convenience stores. A lot of credit card fraud takes place in Bali and these places have better security. Also there is a better chance of retrieving a card from these machines if something untoward happens. Another good idea is to only use machines during daylight hours.

3. Know what you're drinking

The local drink is known as arak. It is an alcoholic beverage made of fermented rice or molasses and it is lethal! A total of 23 people are thought to have died from drinking arak which had been spiked with methanol to increase its potency.

Arak can be found in some of the cheap mixed drinks served in pubs or nightclubs, usually under the name "Jungle Juice". Please be aware and try to avoid this drink. If you find you cannot avoid drinking arak then do your best to drink it in moderation.

Tip: Cheap alcoholic drinks can be brought from convenience stores. They are properly distilled and a lot safer.

4. Lock up your valuables and don't leave cash lying around

Hotel staff are generally well screened and very honest in Bali, but there is always the exception. Please lock up all valuables, including your passport, in the hotel safe. And never ever leave cash lying around your hotel room. 

Remember Indonesian hotel staff receive a very small wage and sometimes the temptation can be too great.

Tip: Expensive phones are highly prized and prone to being stolen. Cheap phones and sim cards are available around Bali. Lock up your expensive phone and just transfer your important numbers. Also speak to the locals - there is a code available that will give you very
cheap calls when calling internationally. 

5. Do not accept any drugs if offered

Indonesia has some of the toughest drug penalties in the world. There are also unscrupulous people selling drugs around Bali who have the sole intention of setting up westerners to be busted.  You do not want to extend your holiday by ten years, so just don't do it.

Tip: If you are offered drugs do not engage the person and just walk away. It is important that you show no interest or the person involved may see you as having future potential for a set-up.

Get around Bali in a group at night and make a commitment to keep an eye on each other

6. Be aware of your surroundings

Remember that you are in a foreign country and the same laws, rules or regulations do not apply to situations or to people in authority. This includes police officers and security staff. Be aware of your surroundings, avoid trouble at all costs and take the personal responsibility of keeping yourself safe.

Tip: Make a commitment with friends or traveling companions to keep an eye on each other and always get around Bali at night in a group. Dangerous situations are less likely to occur if you are walking with a crowd of friends.



You might also be interested in 5 Tips for Riding Scooters in Bali