In Reply to: Hither and dither, Ramada Bintang (long) posted by Donner_wetter on Sunday, 26. June 2005 at 04:35 Bali Time:
Donner_wetter, I've followed your JBRs with great enjoyment, vicariously sharing the adventures of a man of sensitivity, tolerance & appreciation for differing cultures. I hope that you will post more of your adventures.
Clearly, you are someone who has travelled widely and experienced all manner of cultural/environmental mores & standards. Your expectations were not those of a spoiled diletante or someone on his first "5 star" experience, and your report was thoughtfully & thoroughly considered.
What you encountered at the Ramada was outrageous! By any measure. It would be so in a minus one star "dive" (although I doubt that type of behaviour would even happen there). Unfortunately, there appears to be a cultivated culture of rudeness & arrogance throughout the entire staff at the Ramada. Attitude, like water, flows downwards.
I think the fact that you stuck it out for a week is a tribute to your forebearance and probably to your wry sense of humour, too. There must have been some lurking thought that any moment the old "Candid Camera" crew would jump out & announce the whole experience was a bizarre prank!
Other than what you have done in sending e-mails to the GM, I can only suggest sending a report to your travel agent (if you used one)and to the owner of the Ramada Bintang. (MIC - do you know who owns this hotel?) You might also post a warning on any other Travel Forums you know of. The fastest way to get the Ramada management's attention is via their bookings register.
Other than that, I'm sure all the BTF members reading this will heed and spread your warning to any of their friends contemplating using the Ramada.
Thank you very much for your contributions to the BTF, I'm sure others will join me in commiserating with your miserable stay and wishing you Good Travelling in the future.
By the way, your English is superb. I worked for some years for a Swedish company in Australia & was lucky enough to have a couple of trips to G'borg, so I'm reading your posts with the enhancement of a "Swinglish" lilt. Reminds me of a very happy time with some great people.