In Reply to: Can someone please explain? Thanks posted by struth on Sunday, 15. March 2009 at 06:20 Bali Time:
I agree Struth! Am befuddled regarding this terminology but here is my take on it. As people develop a friendship with younger Balinese / Indonesians, generally males because there is more freedom for the men to go out and socialize with tourists, a bond between them grows. Very often I have heard young men say, I have Aussie mum in perth / melbourne etc. I have asked them how this 'mum' scenario came about and have been told is because she/he is old so like my mum/dad and they look after me when come to Bali. I am supposing the westerner when referred to as Aussie mum or dad simply take it on board and run with it. However, some do splash it about waving it like a 100,000 rp note, look at me!
A friend of ours once introduced us to her bali son. We were talking to him for some time and my husband asked what part of Bali he was from. He replied not Bali, but from Java. After that she stopped calling him her BALI son. I think she felt a bit silly not realizing he wasnt originally from Bali.
So, I think that Bali sons are a bit of an urban myth up there with the bargaining power represented in what colour plastic bag you get.