An element of downright snobbery is creeping in on here which I find disappointing. One of the things I loved about Aussies when I first came to the country some 37 years ago was the egalitarianism which was a beautiful bright contrast to the class distinction I had left in the UK.
Let me say up front that I dislike "yobbo ism" as much as the next traveller to Bali. I just find it a bit precious to imply, as some do, that bad behaviour is the province of only lower socioeconomic groups, or areas.
I am just as appalled by the nauseatingly patronising attitudes of some apparently reasonably to very well off people towards the Indonesians with whom they interact in hotels, restaurants etc. They seem to think that their dollars, euros or white skin in some way make them superior to the Indonesian staff. This behaviour isn't as loud as the "Yobbo" thing but it is in an insidious way just as disgusting. Wouldn't you think with all that education they would know better?
I came from a working class home in the UK and my parents saw to it that I had a good education in the hope my life would be easier than theirs', even accepting my decision to come to Australia where at the time there was a labour shortage, in search of a better life for my children. I found this better life and have a deep love for Australia. Now I am a self funded retiree and have done jobs that some may think were low on the scale and some that many would think were higher on the scale. If it matters to anyone I am married to an Aussie.
Now I see people patronised on this forum because of where they stay or where and what they eat. I like warung food and don't seem to get looked down on for that and yet some who like to eat top end. (and good luck to them if that is what they like) seem to think that this makes them superior to somebody who happens to like a meat pie or a bloomin' steak sandwich. We can be different in our tastes without one of us being superior to another.
Now let's get on to staying in cheap places. To those who haven't tried it I have to tell you that you may be pleasantly surprised. Small hotels in Bali have turned out to be great for me. As it happens we used to stay more up market and still could as could many of the people who we meet, or not, as the case may be. Why does it matter? In (I think) 5 stays at Sanur Beach Villas I have not yet met a "Yobbo" nor a "Bogan" just friendly travellers enjoying the experience. All kinds of people from all kinds of backgrounds, trade, medical, teaching, sporting, retirees etc. etc. just enjoying themselves and having a ball doing it. Right on to Secret Garden Inn, many stays and only once a noisy annoying group. The residents of the Ducks Nutz that I met during several visits did not appear to have any "yobbo nor boganlike" attributes either, for the record.
Why do we need to find reasons to feel better than the next person? Don't even get me started on people who think their knowledge of Bahasa Indonesia makes them superior to others, let alone their spelling or grammar! May make you better educated but does not make you better than the next poster.
Why are those who happen to like a cold beer sometimes regarded as inferior by those who like a cold glass of champers or a room temperature glass of red wine? There must be others around apart from me (and I can be a little weird at times!!!) who find this quite impossible to understand.
Here endeth a rant by Hillary and no I havent't had a cold beer, a glass of red, a bundy and whatever nor any kind of fungus nor anything that can be made from cold and flu remedies.
Brickbats or bouquets welcome.