Visits

Thursday, June 10, 2021

June 10, 2021

Regarding the continuing saga of Bali's iffy plans to reopen for foreign tourists, we read that Bali's lieutenant governor state has declared that the island will open in July, whereas there has been no word one way or the other from the central government in Jakarta. Bali's governor was quoted as saying "Astungkara", which basically means 'God willing'. The head of the Bali Hotel and Restaurant Association, who is also the lieutenant governor, states that many tourism players in Bali have "reached their limits and are now facing complete bankruptcy". Sounds like a sink or swim scenario to me. 

Another "viral porn scandal" has hit the island, and the cyberspace, this one involving a Russian porn starlet. The latest series of clips were filmed in various villas around Kuta. The clips start with the caption "Welcome to our new porn villa". Five people then enter said "pad of debauchery" and proceed to do whatever it was that they did (I don't know, I've not seen the clips). Authorities are currently tracking down the pornsters, as this is a no-no in Bali. 

Due to these recent porn video scandals, as well as other issues involving foreigners, the Bali police will increase the supervision of foreigners staying or vacationing in Bali. "Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting border closure", according to the Sanur Weekly, "a number of the remaining foreigners have made it to the headlines by constantly violating the health protocols, shooting porn videos, and by committing other crimes." The reputation of foreigners has been 'heavily tarnished', the journalist adds. Bummer for those of us who follow the laws. 


3 comments:

MB said...

That is terrible. Seems like the Russians have over taken the Aussies in the race to have the worst most disrespectful behavior in Bali.

R.W. Boughton said...

MB--Yes indeed. You know, I remember seeing a Russian couple stopped by the police here for driving a motorbike without helmets. Instead of just paying the fine and going on their way, they became loudly belligerent and aggressive--like 'How dare you expect us to follow the laws everyone else has to follow?' I had to feel sorry for the police, who seemed hardly to know what to make of this. In fact, a number of the Russians here are Russian mafia. They are lawless, arrogant, insulting. I remember another occasion where a Russian couple had decided to swim nude at Candidasa Beach. Of course, nudity is outlawed on all beaches here, and super against the law in rural districts like Candidasa. In this case, the couple was called out of the water by the Balinese religious and cultural police, the pecalang, who were also met with crassly expressed outrage and belligerence. There are these folks--Russians among the worst offenders Aussies, who sadly tarnish the image of foreigners in general, and that's sad for the rest of us.

MB said...

A drunk Aussie is far better than a nude Russian any day.