Earlier in the day, a posting was made which criticised Immigration people for trying to get extra money from a tourist, and commented further on the impact that this may have on Bali tourism.
So take the first time solo traveller who arrives at DPS, and the VOA guy has a lend of him for a few thousand rupe, and then the porters fleece him for 10 times more than the going rate.
He changes some money, and the changer drops a note or a zero, and
then he then goes to his hotel, and gets put in a room different to that which he booked, goes to the bar for a drink and gets short changed.
He then takes a tour, and gets taken to all the drivers aunties places, and gets fleeced again.
Not a happy tourist, he leaves Bali, and sitting on the plane vows never to return to such a corrupt and dishonest place again......
WRONG!!!
In fact he is planning the "revenge of the virgin tourist", now armed with experience, and having got as much info as possible, he returns with a vengance.
Through Immigration with exactly the correct amount of VOA money (No chance of a rip off here), he proceeds to the luggage collection to see dreaded crosses on his bags.
No problem, armed with the pre prepared wet wipes, he removes the officially placed emblems no problem.
Of course, he knows that the crosses are there because of the 4 ltrs of red that he has hidden in the hot melt glued aqua cask.
No probs, if quizzed by Customs, it will be into the small room for a contribution, and on the way you go (Is it worse to be the corruptor of the corruptee??).
Walking with a knowing smirk past the porters, our intrepid traveller gets his way into town, and settles in for a "officialdom free" holiday.
OK, next on the list is get a motor bike.
No licence, but also no probs.
Off to the "little man down the gang", and hey presto, there's a licence, albeit issued in Free Mantle....the coppers won't know the difference, and as long as he has the 50K in the pocket for the pay off, so what?!! (Gee I love this Bali "officialdom")
So now what....let's go out and support further corruption, not forgetting global protection laws by buying a heap of Nike tops, "Adidas" runners,"Rangler" jeans and Mr. Sonys favourite....$1 DVDs including latest release.
A quick check of the copy Rolex, and it's back to the hotel to consider the score....Indonesian Authorities 1 - Tourist 1.
That's more like it!!
OK, hols finished, bugger!! overstayed visa, but can pay off the Immigration guy no problem.
Through to check in, and carry the 18Kg hand luggage like it's nothing, check in the 19.9999Kg luggage....great!!
So do you get the picture??
Indonesian Authority 1 - Tourist 2.
I am of the view that corruption and the general deceptions and dishonesty that go on are more of a detraction than an attraction, and furthermore that the officials corruptions actually encourage the tourists corruptions, and that we are no better than them in this regard.
Get stuck into me as much as you like, because I have got an asbestos a*se, and no hair to singe, but criticism can only be fairly given by those who have not engaged in any of the stuff outlined here, and I suspect that there are not too many of those.