Tonight I spoke to our daughter in Bali,who is back again with her best friend + they have 2 newbies with them.The 4 of them were walking in Poppies 2 early this afternoon & a group of young boys handing out the free friendship bracelets surrounded one of the male newbies.I wonder do 1st timers really have a certain look about them ? Do you think so - what is it that gives 1st timers away ? As one of the young boys was trying to tie the free friendship band on the young man's wrists the other young boys hands were all over the place & trying to get into his pockets & were really getting into action.Fortunately our daughter & her bestie immediately realised what was happening & surrounded their male friend & stopped him having his pockets picked.They also know a little bit of Bahasa Indonesian so that may have also scared them off.Many of us here know that this has been happening for years but I just wanted to let others know to be aware of that it is still currently going on & that you really need to keep your wits about you when walking around the streets & be careful with your valuables & cash - Better to leave anything of value back in your hotels room safe & only carry enough cash for the day.
It's been a couple of years since I have been to Bali as we have been travelling elsewhere but I can remember last trip "saving" a young couple with kids in Poppies 2 as a young group of boys surrounded a young Mum & Dad with their bracelet scam & were ready to go into action.I saw what was happening as we walked out of a shop & ran up to her & warned her very loudly to watch her handbag & the husbands pockets.The local lads obviously knew I was not a 1st timer & was onto them - the language/words the young boys swore back at me in English & Bahasa Indonesian because I stopped them in the middle of their scam would be unprintable !They received back a few considerably less offensive words in Bahasa Indonesian back from me as they sulked away without any ill gotten gains & presumably went on to look for their next target.Bali is such an absolutely wonderful place that so many of us love - it is so sad that this sort of thing happens.