Cultural exchange hampered by travelo warnings

[Richard Kalibukbuk]

Travel warnings put off certain amount of tourists but we can see Australians are coming back in more numbers than ever before.

But for me the biggest problem is it stops cultural exchange. Students can not study in Indonesia and still get government assistance or support. Student exchanges can’t happen as well as teacher exchanges. This probably goes for other cultural exchanges like dance groups etc.

Now Indonesia is Australia’s neighbour and there are about 250 million Indonesian’s + or – so maybe this is not such a good idea to be discouraging cultural exchanges.

[Roy]

Richard! It’s been a long time since hearing from you! I was just speaking of you to Helen Flavel yesterday…were your ears burning? :lol: We hope all is well with you and yours up there!

You are so right in mentioning this additional fallout from what can be at least questioned as less than viable, and unnecessary “abuse” of travel warnings. There is no argument from me that every country has a right to inform its citizens of possible dangers while in another country, but this last warning from OZ was over the top, and without solid intelligence to back it up.

Maybe some of the folks in DFAT should read the children’s tale of the little boy who cried “wolf!” :P

Great to hear from you, and I for one would love to hear from you more often. Kindest regards, and cheers!

[Sanurian]

...but this last warning from OZ was over the top, and without solid intelligence to back it up...

I wonder how you know that, Roy? Another feather to your cap? Now you're an expert on international security...

I really don't understand your slightly veiled animosity towards things Australian, which no doubt you will deny, as you have done in the past.

Are the Americans sending and sponsoring "cultural exchange students" here since their government does not perceive any danger? Not many people use this phrase in Australia any more but "fair dinkum"!?

:roll:

[Roy]

Phil, do you need the dates, times and places for AA meetings in Sanur? This whole topic was already completely hashed out on another string! :roll:

Chill out Phil! :x

[mimpimanis]

Roy - How come you think it is okay to imply someone is an alcoholic but when I say someone is being paranoid, you send me an PM calling me a bitch????

[Markit]

Oh you lucky girl Gemma, you've been blessed with a vicious PM from Guru Roy too. I bet mine are worse than yours... Nyana, Nyana, Nyana.

No seriously I think all that have received these poison love letters should form a "Roy for God" club. :D

With a point system for the worst terminology - mine was positively frothing at the mouth stuff - and is hanging framed above my computer :lol:

[Roy]

Well Mimpi, since you don't want me to respond to you via PM, I guess I guess I have no way of otherwise responding, do I?

Markit…you must be referring to my PM regarding your posts last June when you insulted some expats…publicly, because of their choice of wives. Shall we re-visit that? It was in a string you started titled “Offense on a Moral and Societal Level.”

In case you don’t recall, you received a public flogging your outrageous comments made there, and I was hardly the only participant in that well deserved flogging you got. Any more comments Markit?

[mimpimanis]

Well Mimpi, since you don't want me to respond to you via PM, I guess I guess I have no way of otherwise responding, do I?

What is wrong with responding here?

[Roy]

Because in my opinion public discussions of private communications don't make sense.

[mimpimanis]

I'm not asking you to discuss a PM - I am asking why you feel allowed to say what you want about members but PM me calling me a bitch for making a comment about one.

Is there one rule for you and another for the rest of us mere mortals?

As I repeat again - I DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY DETAILS OF THE PM! I gave my opinion based on that and the posts made on the forum. And the member in question actually agreed with my opinion.

Or is it that you do you not want to discuss the contents of your PM - calling me a bitch??

I should point out I dont really care about being called a bitch though. Hell, if I am a bitch for that one comment to one member, what does that make you who has managed to insult and offend most of the regulars of this forum at one time or another.