In Reply to: JBR 3 posted by Larry on Monday, 23. August 2010 at 10:57 Bali Time:
Look I know this is a little mean and quite deceptive but then it is also a little mean and deceptive of some person or persons unknown in the hotel to sell my details. I fill in the first hotel I will be staying at on the immigration form and never give any details to spruikers in the street and yet they still get my name subsequent hotels and room nos. This is my method. Anyone I want to ring me has my Bali mobile number so the only hotel calls are from time share spruikers.
Ring ring "Halo, dengan Ibu Yanti" (Yanti speaking). short silence then usually English or Australian voice sounding a little uncertain.
"Mrs Hillary *****?"
"Ma'af Ibu/Bapak bisa berbahasa Indonesia?" (I'm sorry sir/madam do you speak Indonesian?)
"May I speak to Mrs Hillary ***** please"
"Ma'af Ibu/Bapak sambung salah" (I'm sorry sir/madam wrong number)
They hang up.
It's no quicker that telling them to go away but it is a lot more fun,
Apologies for any less than perfect Bahasa Indonesia. I'm learning but only am only a tourist after all!
I used this method at home too (before the "don't call registry) and had a lot of fun with it until somebody replied to my "Selamat malam" with "Selamat malam" which quite threw me.