This morning a fellow from my motorcycle place came round to take the bike for its monthly health check. Mick Turnbull suggested I change the oil as it was blowing smoke so I waited till this time. Its funny because our intercom doesn’t work and the guy stands outside the wall surrounding our house and calls out ‘Nick, hello Nick’. I don’t really know him but he knows my name.
Arriving a while later at Global Xtreme ( internet cafe and #1 ISP in Bali for satelite access ) I ran into Mimi, the owner. She said hello then asked “US get Saddam? They make a big hole.” I said yes it was a big hole and if he was anywhere in the area there’s a good chance we won’t be hearing from him again.
I’m going to visit Arjuna immigration consultants now and find out the latest on visa for tourists.
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Nick, I rang the Indo Consulate here in Perth but couldn’t get through. Apparently it has been ‘jammed’ all day with incoming calls. It was in the paper this morning and even tonight on the news, the media are really giving it (new visa regs)heaps of exposure. So I rang a couple of Travel Agent friends of mine and already they have had cancellations from disgusted people.
Tracey, ring the Indo Consulate in Melbourne and ask them (that’s if you can get through!). I intend to apply for my usual Social/Budaya 6 month visa and pay the AUD$125 fee. However, what concerns me is that when I arrive at DPS, will they charge me for entering the country as well. Shit, I can’t even get through to the Consulate here to find out! - OSTRICHES WITH THEIR HEADS IN THE SAND eh.
Hello All,
I’ve heard so much conflicting information on this atrocious idea of a 30 day visa that my head is spinning.
Is this more “rumor” or “fact”? I still don’t know.
Last night, I was trying to figure out what economic benefit Indonesia will receive by doing this, and I was being totally objective at the time, and I honestly see ABSOLUTELY NO REASON AT ALL WHY THEY’RE DOING THIS.
IT’S ECONOMIC SUICIDE!
Think about it. Even if someone is illegally working in Indonesia (which, according to Megawati, is the main reason they’re reducing the visa from 60 to 30 days), they are going to come with savings from their home country because you can’t live on 35,000 rupiah an hour working 15-20 hours a week (what I made as an English teacher in Denpasar.)
So if anyone is working illegally, they are still pumping way more tourist dollars than the average tourist is anyway. They’re going to spend money at bars, restaurants, shops, and other areas of the economy that perhaps aren’t touched as much as tourists. So even if they are “illegal”, they spend money on tourism.
I knew a few folks that worked at a timeshare resort in Bali and they were making good money. They took this money and spent it all at places like Warung 96, Matahari Shopping Center, etc.
Is this really a “problem” like Megawati says it is, or is she just bitter about something and letting her emotions make hasty decisions that affect all of us Bali enthusiasts?
It makes me sick to my stomach. I hope she sees how ridiculous this is and personally comes to Bali crying her eyes out and pleads to all the restaurant, shop, and bar owners for her forgiveness for making such a foolish, ignorant, self-absorbed decision.
Jason
Waikiki, Hawaii
This visa idea came about when the United States said they would start requiring fingerprinting Indoneian males (and males from other countries with terrorist cells) traveling in America. I was told it was retaliation for the new rules here and in austrailia.
Json, Megawati will never admit making a mistake. She never has in the past. In fact she is commiting suicide becuase there is a general election next year. It is a well known fact that in the last election, practically all of Bali voted for her, as did most of Yogyakarta. I know for a fact that Yogya is suffering terribly from the lack of tourists. The kaki lima are turning on each other!.
Barrie,
You’re absolutely right. She won’t say she did anything wrong. In fact, I can’t remember the last time any politician apologized for anything!!!
If anything, she knew this was going to happen all along.
I read an interesting post somewhere recently( LP, Bali Travel Forum, or even here - I forget since I’ve been reading all of ‘em) that there were these government dudes going along the beach in Kuta interviewing tourists about how they’d feel about a 30 day visa.
The answers on the survey were similar to this:
a) I really like it
b) Sounds good to me
c) What a terrific idea!
d) I welcome paying $50 for 30 days
e) All of the above.
If the person said they didn’t like it, the government dude would circle #1 and move on.
This whole thing sounds like a scam to get more people to do high-priced package tours so Megawati’s cronies in the cabinet (who I believe are tour company owners) can benefit from it.
Yuck!
Jason
Waikiki, Hawaii
Patiently waiting to hear what the story is from there, about the visa. But it certainly looks like it from here! (Melb, Aust)
What about Indo’s living here but an Aust resident, not Aust citizen? I wonder if they will have to also pay as they arrive for their holiday & if they can stay longer than 30 days????