How Best to Handle the Relentless Balinese Hawker?

[LATAH]

Out of habit, when wanting to express to hawkers that I am not going to buy, I use a hand gesture that is extremely common in Cambodia. It is the symbol that accompanies the Khmer word "Akmin" which loosely means - "Don't have" or "don't want". I call it....changing the light bulb. You raise your arm in the air bent at the elbow and with your palm facing upwards make a movement as if you are grasping & screwing in a light bulb.

I've got no idea if this has any meaning here and can only hope if it does it is not rude, which I don't think it is as no one has ever seemed offended (like I said, I do it out of habit). Anyway, for whatever reason it often seems to work! I usually use it in conjunction with 'Maaf, tidak mau'. Although, sometimes I can just be sitting on a beach...say somewhere like Gili Air...glance up from my book to see a hawker starting to approach, lift my arm & change the light bulb while casually going back to my book - they often seem to change direction and don't even bother approaching.

Has anyone else had any experience with this gesture in Indonesia? I'm very curious to know if it is also in common usage here (perhaps in non urban or tourism areas) - if it is, I hope (like in Cambo) it is simply a quick way of communicating that you don't want anything and are NOT going to buy.

Personally, I believe that if there is no chance that you are going to buy anything....they want to know this as quickly as possible too. It is the message you are sending that matters not the words you use. Naturally try to do this politely but do it with absolute certainty so that it is clear there is no two ways about it. BTW, I often chat to hawkers but only after I have made it absolutely clear that I am not going to buy - they are often extremely savvy and highly funny once the lines are drawn and the sales pitch is dropped.

[pollyanna]

I haven't seen the Balinese doing this but if it is something they understand it would be a useful gesture. Is anyone else familiar with this?

[SamD]

(I assume you're not talking about Kuta hawkers who are easy to wave off, but the brutal volcanic crater and lawuan hawkers...)

The hawkers at Kintamani on that notorious stretch just past the Lakeview Restaurant are now regulated by security men in blue uniforms. They are not allowed to hassle tourists any more. They used to be very aggressive, I agree, but it is all very civilised now, if that is the experience you are looking for. Personally, it never really bothered me that much.

Btw, a large Bintang at the Lakeview is now Rp58,000, quite the most expensive I came across on my recent visit and more than twice as much as I was paying in Ubud. They are no longer on my list of watering holes.

Regards,

[Adam]

Attachment 1046

Sorry, this photo makes me laugh. I see there are at least 8 members of the Indonesian 'I'm an attention whore and have a tiny pecker' Club ha ha ha. I'm sure the owners would fit right into LMFAO's 'I'm sexy and I know it' video clip ha ha ha.

Again I apologise as this post holds no relevance, but I can't stop chuckling. What kind of dimwit would consider driving a Ferrari on Balinese roads?

[Rangi]

i just smile and give them the thumbs up and keep walking