Indonesia uses more fuel than it produces, which is a shame for an oil rich country. Indonesians are heavily dependent on diesel, petrol and kerosene for cooking. The recent world price rises in oil put pressure on the Indonesian government, as they had to import expensive oil, and subsidize people for using it.
Petrol prices doubled a while ago and people dealt with it. Now the government plans to restrict petrol use, in public and private vehicles,to save further money. It will be interesting to see how the government goes about implementing the petrol restrictions. Maybe we can revert back to a system like in Europe after the war, when you had to have ration vouchers, as well as the cash. Indonesia will then truly become a nation going in reverse.
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There is far too much dependence on air conditioning. I don’t know what fuels the electricity supply, but electricity is squandered on overused aircon.
When we book into a hotel, the room is usually far too cold for comfort. I turn it off, re-adjust it to several degrees warmer and tell the room staff to leave it alone.
We went into an upmarket department store at Bali Galleria. The aircon was set too low, presumably so that the male staff could wear suits. Who are they trying to impress with such stupidity? Certainly not the lightly clothed, shivering customers.
Some months ago, the Indonesian president asked men working in govt offices not to wear suits and ties, but dress more appropriately for the climate and cut down on aircon use. I wonder if it has had any effect.
Another thing which is a gross waste of resources. Do any of us change our towels and bed linen every day at home? I know I don’t. So why should this be expected by guests in Balinese hotels? Some hotels tell us to leave our towels hanging on the rack if we don’t need them laundering. We do this and they’re taken down and laundered anyway.
The same report which had the president asking male office workers to dress more sensibly talked about the growing shortage of electricity in Indonesia and the devastating effect this could have on the Balinese tourist industry. Will anyone really care until it may be too late?
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