In recent weeks, the Bali police and Indonesian customs officials have arrested a number of foreigners and locals, including one police officer, for drug violations. A large amount of crystal meth was found in the policeman's house, ready to sell in individual baggies.
An Italian national was arrested in North Kuta, in possession of 100 grams of cocaine. A British national, and the owner of a hotel in Lombok, was arrested along with his girlfriend for possession of 200 grams of cannabis. A Russian man was arrested at his residence in Jimbaran after receiving almost 200 grams of DMT by mail.
Not to be outdone by foreigners, two Indonesian men, arriving in Bali from the province of Aceh, were arrested after airport customs found a kilogram of crystal meth hidden in their 'modified sandals', which 'made them look a bit weird as they were walking', arresting authorities reported.
Indonesia, it must be said, is on the short list of where not to bring drugs, for the drug laws here are very strict indeed, requiring years of jail time and even the death penalty. Why people continue to bring them in, I cannot sort out in my own mind.
In other news, a British couple has been deported and blacklisted after escaping their mandatory five day quarantine hotel stay upon arrival in Jakarta. The couple explained to immigration officials that they consider the quarantine system "silly" and that every human being has the right to go wherever he wants, based on "nature's law". News footage shows the couple mask-less, smiling and giving thumbs up to the camera.
A 41 year old American woman was found dead in her Seminyak villa last week. Reportedly, she had gone out drinking with a friend, and then had continued to drink upon arriving home, ultimately, apparently, drinking herself to death.
A 50 year old woman and her 23 year old daughter drowned on Padanggalak beach in Sanur on Wednesday during a "super moon purification ceremony" (called Melukat).
The 'super moon', or 'blood moon', occurs with the eclipse of the moon by the earth's shadow, which I also observed that night, though from the safety of the roadside outside my house. I had earlier observed as well those unusually high seas when I was down in Sanur. This is very unusual for this part of the coast, where the sea is generally flat. On that day, I was sitting in a beachside cafe when the water flowed all the way into the seating area, though no more than ankle deep here. Padanggalak, on the other hand, is known to be a dangerous part of the coast line, with strong currents and sometimes high seas. Galak, as a matter of fact, means 'fierce'.
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