What little thing irritates you the most?

Billt4SF

Since there is little traffic on this site at the moment, and it's been raining for the better part of three days, I thought I would waste your time by asking "What little thing irritates you the most in Bali?" For me, it's that the staff won't answer texts or WA messages. If I call and ask for a ride, they'd prefer to show up in 5, 10, or 20 minutes rather than texting that they're on the way or that I have to wait a bit. A small, and irritating problem. and for you?

DenpasarHouse

Low talkers. For a place where background noise can be really oppressive (think traffic and PA systems in shopping centres), the percentage of low talkers is through the roof. Some of it is undoubtedly due to shyness but that's only about 50% of them, the rest have just never been asked to speak the hell up. Our family Doctor is a low talker and compounds the problem 10 fold by having music playing in the background as though you were in an elevator. WTF?

balibule

When cars use their 4 indicator lights to show they go straight at a cross road. When a car comes onto the ByPass and goes straight into the fast lane rather than first gaining speed in the slow lane and then switch.

davita

balibule wroteWhen cars use their 4 indicator lights to show they go straight at a cross road.

That's also a habit in Jakarta...I don't get it because it prevents indicator lights from functioning. We had to stop our driver from this habit. Cars are designed with hazard light (all indicators blinking) ONLY to be used when the vehicle is stopped and may create a hazard. Another I don't get is when taxi drivers accelerate, then lift their foot, and accelerate again....repeatedly...don't they know that wastes fuel.

calma

Sometimes I cannot copy anymore with the global state of apathy I have and I see around all the time, happy faces yes, smiling all the time yes, wonderful but.........

BestofBali

I would have to say the only thing that annoys me is the traffic in the car (especially when wet lol). Everything else is pretty sweet :)

Josh

Definitely the indicator thing is irritating me the most too. Any kind of indicator signal can mean so many different things. Any kind of signal can mean "I simply forget to switch it off. And no.... the beeping and blinking on my cockpit doesn't bother me at all". Right indicator stands for "I'm going to turn right into one of the next roads/gang or whatever is there" or it stands for "do not pass because there is oncoming traffic" or "I was turning right or there was oncoming traffic 7 kilometers ago and I am still ignoring the beeping and blinking on my cockpit". Left indicator may mean "I am planning to turn left sooner or later", "the beeping and blinking still doesn't bother me" or "please pass because I cant see any oncoming traffic" Last but not least using all 4 indicators can mean "I am planning to go straight, get out of my way", "I have an emergency and will stop in the middle of the road without any further warning" or "I am trying to follow this noisy police escort somewhere in front of me, I'm going fast, I'm important so get out of my way". Last option mostly used by black cars. All of these without the inclusion of "I changed my mind and even with the left or right or all indicators switched on I will do exactly the opposite without any warning and regardless of oncoming or any other traffic". The best combination is one of the above mentioned in combination with arms waving out of driver or passenger windows (mostly trucks) or motorbike pillions waving their hands while pulling out in front of you to slow you down or to claim the right of way without any indicator signal at all.

Billt4SF

Josh wroteDefinitely the indicator thing is irritating me the most too. Any kind of indicator signal can mean so many different things. Any kind of signal can mean "I simply forget to switch it off. And no.... the beeping and blinking on my cockpit doesn't bother me at all". Right indicator stands for "I'm going to turn right into one of the next roads/gang or whatever is there" or it stands for "do not pass because there is oncoming traffic" or "I was turning right or there was oncoming traffic 7 kilometers ago and I am still ignoring the beeping and blinking on my cockpit". Left indicator may mean "I am planning to turn left sooner or later", "the beeping and blinking still doesn't bother me" or "please pass because I cant see any oncoming traffic" Last but not least using all 4 indicators can mean "I am planning to go straight, get out of my way", "I have an emergency and will stop in the middle of the road without any further warning" or "I am trying to follow this noisy police escort somewhere in front of me, I'm going fast, I'm important so get out of my way". Last option mostly used by black cars. All of these without the inclusion of "I changed my mind and even with the left or right or all indicators switched on I will do exactly the opposite without any warning and regardless of oncoming or any other traffic". The best combination is one of the above mentioned in combination with arms waving out of driver or passenger windows (mostly trucks) or motorbike pillions waving their hands while pulling out in front of you to slow you down or to claim the right of way without any indicator signal at all.

I'm glad I don't drive in Bali. - Bill

Markit

What annoys me is people that can't drive here because it's so "dangerous". It's not any more so than in the UK, where some fool feeling he's been slighted/cut off/misunderstood/feels like it will climb out of his car and rant at anyone there. Round abouts are everywhere and most people misuse them. Where ever (Germany) you have a strict rule-based driving experience people ignore the actual situation to the benefit of the rules (I hit the cyclist but he took my right-of-way). In America you'll get shot. I could go on and on. Driving in Bali requires you pay attention to what those around you are doing and judge from the small signals they give what is going on. Ignore most traffic light/indicators and just watch what's happening. Most drivers here drive slowly and cautiously because nobody knows what the rules are - there is only one: [B]the "hitter" is at fault[/B]. Done, finished. Who needs road regs when there's only one reg? Price of beer annoys me but that's about it.

Billt4SF

Markit wroteWhat annoys me is people that can't drive here because it's so "dangerous". It's not any more so than in the UK, where some fool feeling he's been slighted/cut off/misunderstood/feels like it will climb out of his car and rant at anyone there. Round abouts are everywhere and most people misuse them. Where ever (Germany) you have a strict rule-based driving experience people ignore the actual situation to the benefit of the rules (I hit the cyclist but he took my right-of-way). In America you'll get shot. I could go on and on. Driving in Bali requires you pay attention to what those around you are doing and judge from the small signals they give what is going on. Ignore most traffic light/indicators and just watch what's happening. Most drivers here drive slowly and cautiously because nobody knows what the rules are - there is only one: [B]the "hitter" is at fault[/B]. Done, finished. Who needs road regs when there's only one reg? Price of beer annoys me but that's about it.

So the thing that annoys you the most is that other expats don't drive?

Markit

Billt4SF wroteSo the thing that annoys you the most is that other expats don't drive?

No I'm good when no one else wants to drive but I get tired of everyone saying how dangerous it is to drive in Indonesia. I can only say those that do have never driven in Italy or France. America is one of the best places to drive if you are calm, alert and don't mind taking your time. Just keep the doors locked and don't stop in the poor parts of town. On Bali it's bliss - everyone is friendly, ready to tell you the directions (even if they have not clue) and there's really only one road. So if you get lost just hit the main road and go right or left and in about 9 hours you will be right back again.

balibule

Another irritating one; people telling you to "go home if you don't like it" when you make a remark on Bali or Indonesia.