In Reply to: thank you posted by jamjam on Thursday, 22. April 2010 at 17:15 Bali Time:
you must be about the same vintage as me- my first visit was through Indonesia for 14 months on the way back to Australia in 19 76-77. the days when Legian and Kuta each had a beginning and end- Seminyak was a banjar that just existed, Ubud had no electricity ( or minimal- still remember eating by candle /oil coz you had to!) - Puspa sari- One and Two were the mainstay acoomodation fo Kuta , Wayan Tiger owned them, was the local police office and drug dealer , Kuta was the only place to change a TC, Rum Jungle operated until the dawn broke and you got your bike licence by doing a figure 8 in the dirt outside Denpasar police station - and yes real friendships were formed.
I too have many friends from that time and have seen over that time the highs and lows of life there and how a bit of help at the right time from those of us more able to give can be the difference between surviving and not.
I now mainly go to a property in Campuan which I have with a family and ignore the greater Bali, venturing into it only when I need to- most of my needs are met in the small community I stay in- and as a part of that community there are expectations of me and yes that is sometimes financial as I have more- and who am I to deny medication that can make a difference, or the cost of education, or help out a family who have lost their breadwinner- by comparison I am a millionaire financially.The difference is that when a longstadning relationship exists the words scam and ripoff do not enter into it. Often it is the power and influence of being a white person with connections that is the most useful. sitting in on a meeting when government officals are trying to change things, talking to immigration about visas for students etc, checking that a doctor has done all that he or she could and that further assistance will be forthcoming because you- the bule- will be checking.... they make a difference.
sorry about the rant- just triggered some memories
the people- ah they are what its about. Go well, whatever you decide to do about your friend.