Shadrach
Yes, I do appreciate that about SE Asia! That's why I have been returning here, for over thirty years! I like the diet, much better, in most of the countries, Thailand, India, Japan, are my favorite cuisines, I am not impressed with the cooking in Bali, I find it very limited, with very little variation, and flavors! Luckily we can find many ingredients, at the various markets, and Supermarkets! And cook, and train people here, to make meals with more flavors! Also I have over the years, been able to compromise, with the Police, over minor traffic infractions, which would have been impossible in America! I do wish they could find more flexibility with Marijuana, and not consider it so bad, and compare it to Narcotics, which is not true at all! It could help a lot of people with relieving negative side effects from Cancer treatment, Epilepsy, Optical ailments, many children's ailments, etc.Now there many forms of of extracts, CBD, tinctures, oils, tablets, where a person can consume without having to smoke! It has been clinically proven to provide aid to people! As we know, The Corrupt, Pharmaceutical corporations, pay billions of dollars providing false information, to keep the masses ignorant of Natural medicines, so they can make Billions of Dollars profit selling sometimes harmful chemicals! It's time the People, take back more control of their own lives, and stop this Corruption!
Chris A
Amen! It's far better to ask (pay for?) forgiveness than to beg for permission.[/QUOTE]I agree. We all enjoy some increased flexibility and it's just how the world goes around in as Bali Frog says "exotic locations" along w/ most of the not so exotic locations I had the privilege of working in throughout my career. Most of this flexibility was carried out in a discrete fashion and just a generally accepted normal way of life. No harm - no foul.As I mentioned in a previous post, at some point we are all distilled down to "bule" in the local folk's eyes and the actions of a few that flaunt and are just outright overt w/ the flexibility will or could F it up for the rest of us. Here's an article from the Bali Sun that is a notorious bule bashing publication. When more and more of these types of articles are published, the harder it is for the authorities to ignore the problem and action will be inevitable. Let's face it, ignoring the problem is the preferred method of dealing (not) with the plethora of issues Bali has. What's the solution to the problem? I don't think there is one other than letting the problem run its course and let's all hope all of us more reasonable participants in the flexibility don't get caught up in the net or subjected to some of what will surely be very illogical solutions that the local or national authorities come up with to deal with the issue.[URL='https://thebalisun.com/balis-small-business-owners-call-on-foreign-companies-to-operate-legally/']Bali Sun Article[/URL]
Balifrog
Yeah, I saw that article.Lamentation by people who are not used to deal with fair competition....Wonder what they would do on holiday in the West, and 2 adjacent shops offer the same products, one run by a local (westerner) and the other run by a fellow Indonesian ?
Markit
The article and sentiment lack any true vitriol of the wronged local - it's more a "fill page 3 with something" kind of writing. Fact is everyone of the locals can well remember the last 10 years of dire hardship (volcanoes, earthquakes, pandemic, etc.) interspersed with booming tourism and is happy it is like it is now. Won't stop the bitching but that's part of the fun. I wouldn't take it too seriously.
Chris A
The article and sentiment lack any true vitriol of the wronged local - it's more a "fill page 3 with something" kind of writing.Fact is everyone of the locals can well remember the last 10 years of dire hardship (volcanoes, earthquakes, pandemic, etc.) interspersed with booming tourism and is happy it is like it is now.Won't stop the bitching but that's part of the fun. I wouldn't take it too seriously.[/QUOTE]I guess we'll see, huh?The wildcard may be the elections being held in November of this year for the Governor, the Vice Governor, a handful of Regents including Badung and Gianyar regencies, and the mayor of Denpasar. It depends on how much pandering is done to win the hearts and minds of the constituents. Reminds me of another country. ;)
