The Balinese Governor put out a list of Do’s and don’ts in 2023 for all visitors to Bali, these are for foreign and local tourists.
Each dot point is a simple and gentle reminder to tourists to follow the laws here.
This list can easily be used to explain how and why we categorise the different types of tourists that visit Bali.
Now, if you are easily offended you may want to stop reading now…
The majority of intelligent and respectful tourists to Bali never do anything wrong. We categorise these tourists as Guests because they treat their hosts respectfully and use common sense. They follow our company motto: “We believe sustainable tourism is when the tourist adapts to the place they are visiting and does not expect the place to adapt to them”
Unlike our extensive Do’s and Don’ts list we put out nearly 15 years ago, the Government list is not that long, so it should be easy for all tourists to follow.
The Government list starts with what Guests already know, under a Reminder to DO:
- Respect for local religion and their sacred places
- Respect Balinese wisdom, including traditional ceremonies
- Wear the proper clothes
- Behave, especially in sacred places
These may be unique to Bali, as Bali has a unique culture. Unfortunately, many tourists these days don’t care about culture. They may already avoid a country due to its strict religious culture…or they just fuck it up in those other countries as well.
It’s funny how when tourists know they cannot do certain things in other parts of Indonesia, they just don’t visit those parts of the country, as they don’t want to follow the rules. But, for Bali, they come believing you can do anything you want…
Some come believing that if they have money, they can always pay their way out of trouble. This has become more evident lately, with a few tourists breaking the laws and then just 'offering to pay'. We categorise them as Cashed Up Idiots.
A recent social media post went viral here, where a Bule robbed a bikini from a small boutique in Seminyak. Once caught, he was asked back to the store to return the item and to publically apologise.
He did go back and during his apology, he said: “Sorry, I will pay for it”.
The young Balinese Store manager sternly and proudly told the Bule Thief that 'he didn’t want the money, he wanted a public apology to the staff member who was working when the theft took place, as she was so upset it was her fault'. He pointed out that the Balinese do not want tourists who come to this Island, to disrespect them and then think they can just buy the Balinese off with money – Good on him!
That Cashed Up Idiot. was set to be deported and banned from Bali … until it was also discovered that he was wanted in other countries for some other illegal deeds and not just for being a Kleptomaniac. He was detained by the Bali police, waiting for further outcome, as the Police had to work out which country to send him to, based on two warrants from two different countries.
We seem to be having a lot more Kleptomaniacs on the Island, or it's just more shops now have CCTV.
We also have a lot more Vagabonds. People running out of money, overstaying their visas and ending up depressed, using the excuse that they could not afford the ticket home… however, the rule for getting a VOA is to have a paid ticket out of Indonesia. So, who let them on the plane in the first place? Airlines know the rules. It seems people may be using fake tickets to obtain their visa online as well…which, of course, is a breach of immigration law…not a good way to start your visit to Bali.
The start of the list Reminder to DON’T:
- Enter the main area of scared places unless for praying by wearing Balinese traditional clothes and not having a period
- Climb sacred trees
- Take pictures with unpolite clothes around sacred places
Unfortunately, Influenzas as we call them, do not have much intelligence, nor understanding of respect for other cultures anywhere in the world…so, we had the young Influenza complain it's sexist not to let a woman into a sacred place when they have their period…and we’ve had the Influenza who did a modelling shoot on a 700-year-old sacred tree…naked. This may have been a trigger to point out A and B & C. Mind you, one year after the photoshoot another Influenza was in the same tree, this time partly clothed. And, we have seen photos of Guests in the same tree…guys, get out of the tree…learn more about the tree, use a licensed Guide and they will tell you not to go in the tree.
But what about the other Do’s and don’ts?
Let’s look at the Shitfluencers, a new term we learned recently and love, from an Expat in Bali who loves to promote how to be a good Bule. He is a comedian named Christian Giacobbe, check him out on Instagram.
Shitfluenzers not only behave badly like Influenzas, but they generally will do something illegal and offensive just to gain content and go viral.
Way before Bali had Shitfluencers and Influenzas, some of their parents came to Bali and broke this rule from the DONT's list:
F. Misbehave in public area
We have always had the young fall-down drunken idiots on their first overseas holiday. We have always called that bunch Drunkards, as they cannot control their alcohol and that fueled with the first time on a motorbike never ended well. They have always been looked upon as idiots by the locals, but rarely they were deported for such behaviour. They would often wake in the morning and realise what they had done and hoped no one took a photo, so Mum and Dad, who raised them to respect the place they visit, would never find out.
However, we also had the young idiots whose permissive parents had the attitude of: “You only live once, we all did that at that age”… Which is not the culture here…so, that attitude, sorry Mum and Dad, should be left at home…do not encourage your children to behave like IndulgantDrunkards in another country….even when they are over 30.
In recent years the next generation, some of the children of the IndulgantDrunkards have become Drunkfluenzas, having no respect for other people's property and thinking a rental motorbike should go in a swimming pool or be used for doing doughnuts in the street. A Drunkard is not always a Drunkleuencer, sometimes they just do this stuff because they are Drunkards and someone else films it and puts it on social media....often a local, who is not impressed.
A Cashed Up Drunkfluenzas does the above and thinks they can do it and then just pay for the motorbike and damage later. They are the same lot that thinks setting off fireworks inside a villa is fun as well. This “No worries, I can pay for any damage, I can afford it” attitude is not appreciated, and the local netizens are now using the word ‘Colonization’ to describe this attitude, as well as some other Nakal Bule behaviour we will touch on below. They also think they can pay off a police officer when pulled over for not wearing a helmet or carrying the correct driving permit.
We also have a lot more Belligerents, a large majority should have stayed in their own countries, where they would have been very helpful since February 2022. Many of these also fall into the category of Influenza when sober, and another category we will cover below.
Belligerents are not aware that you can't just “fight it out” here, and then the matter is settled. The minute you lay a hand on another person, whether they said “Let's take this outside” or not…it is assault and you will be arrested.
Now, let's put the rest of the Bali Governors list here, and we will call these, “the Other DOs”
E. Travel with a licensed tour guide if needed
F. Exchange in legal money changer
G. Transaction with Indonesian QR Standard
H. Cash transaction with Indonesian Rupiah
I. Obey the traffic law
J. Rent vehicles from a legal company
K. Stay in legal accommodation
L. Obey any rules in a tourist spot
Let's pull out a few of the above and understand what these mean for the Guests. Well, they make complete sense to a Guest of course. It may become clearer when we discuss the Naiveateers.
What many Naiveateers fail to realise, is that a lot of foreigners do illegal business here…some do not even live here. We call this group Sheepreneurs. By using the services of a Sheepreneur, you may be automatically not following the DO’s list.
A Naiveateer may also disrespect the Balinese by not doing any research on the culture. Such as putting their feet up on a table in a restaurant, doing a handstand in front of a Temple or climbing in a scared tree. Not being aware of the culture and beliefs is no excuse for disrespecting the Balinese and breaking the rules.
What are Sheepreneurs?
This large group of foreigners believe that since so many other foreigners are doing it, why can't we? Even when told the laws here (which we point out quite often) they will not listen and choose to follow the wrong flock.
Doing What?
G. Work or do business illegally
You can read our blog post here for more about Sheepreneurs' most common illegal business activities in Bali. There are also the Shitpreneurs, they know they are breaking the law with their illegal business or working, they just like to 'live on the edge'....well, actually, many hide behind the scenes using a local's name for their business or villa, etc.
So, as a consumer, the Naiveateers can put themselves in a situation where they are breaking the DONTs without even realising…Naiveateers generally think they are Guests, but are just not aware...they usually like to book a trip without having to do any homework.
Aware of what?
Well, aware that the most common illegal businesses run by foreigners in Bali are:
Villa Rentals, Tour companies, Yoga lessons, Tatoo Parlours and Photographers. A Naiveateer may use one of the services of a Sheepreneur or a Shitpreneur.
But why would that matter?
How does that affect a Guest who is just for example going on a holiday?
Well, if you are a Guest and you rent a Villa from Sheepreneurs, you breach the DON’T’s List, point K. Stay in legal accommodation, and you then become a Naiveateer.
Also, a Naiveateer will book a driver for the day and not be aware that they are not a licensed Guide, and not even Balinese and then go to scared areas; where the driver tells them it's fine to enter Temple Grounds, climb up and sit on the Temple steps or climb a tree. Many Indonesian drivers work in Bali and have no idea about the beliefs, traditions and taboos.
Niluh Djelantik, our hero, the newly elected Balinese Senator for Bali, has been fighting for years to deport Bule Nakal. Besides Shitfluencers and Influenzas, she points out that what we call Sheepreneurs and Shitpreneurs make money from Bali without contributing to the economy of Bali, their money not only goes offshore, but they make a lot of money without caring about the negative impact they have on Bali. They don't have licenses, pay taxes here and Sheepreneurs also take jobs from the locals. Sheepreneurs will tell you they give jobs to locals because they have a Narcissistic personality.
Sheepreneursand Shitpreneurs will not tell you when they lose money or are deported…They are not Influenzas who will document the whole event to get hits on their social media, Sheepreneurs will sheepishly go quiet. Shitpreneurs will often try to return to Bali after their blacklist time has expired, to continue their shit.
SO, WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT FOR A TOURIST TO REMEMBER OR KNOW THE BALI GOVERNMENT’S AND DON’TS?
It's quite simple, read the bottom of the card: ALL OFFENCES SUBJECT TO LAW OR DEPORTATION
SO, WHAT TYPE OF TOURIST ARE YOU?
BELLIGERENT – thinks they can just fight it out or settle it themselves.
CASHED-UP DRUNKFLUENZA Cannot handle their alcohol and films their stupidity thinking they can pay off someone to get out of trouble
CASHED UP IDIOT – Thinks everyone in Bali has a price, so can be an idiot, and just pay
DRUNKARDS – Cannot handle their alcohol and do stupid things
DRUNKFLUENZA - Cannot handle their alcohol and film the stupid things they do
GUEST - Adapts to the place they are visiting and does not expect the place to adapt to them
INFLUENZA – Does not give a shit about anyone but themselves and will do anything for endorsements, money, fame etc
KLEPTOMANIAC – should not be allowed to travel
SHEEPRENEUR – makes money illegally, refusing to believe it is illegal
SHITFLUENZER – doesn’t have endorsements, but will do anything to try and get noticed by Influenzas or their friends on social media
SHITPRENEUR – makes money illegally, knowing they are illegal and tries to hide behind local friends, or the scenes.
NAIVEATEER could not be bothered reading any of this blog…and then complain when they get in trouble or have trouble in Bali.
VAGABOND - comes to Bali without enough money, no ticket home, often labelled as Depressed by the authorities here