Service in Bali: Depends on where you go and who you are

Bali is a traditional culture that has been forced to adapt to international tourism. For the most part people have dealt with it very well but there are sometimes when the level of service you get depends on who you are.

In my neighborhood Seminyak there are many small local warungs down the side streets offering bargain food, Indonesian of course. I like to grab a bite at these places as I have dveloped a taste for the local food and its cheap. Yesterday however my enthusiasm was blunted after what I would call awful service.

The first place I went to had a few customers sitting already eating, with a couple more lining up. I was next. As my turn approached 2 locals stolled up and the server said ’sebentar’ (wait), to me. I jumped on my bike a rode off. Why should I automatically go to the end of the line? The next place I tried 200 meters down the street I was 3rd in line again. While waiting I watched a young lady walk all the way down the street, come into the shop and stand in front of me. I stepped in front of her only to have the server once again say sebentar and start serving her. Feeling like a piece of dog-shit I hopped on my bike and rode to a place that always gives great service, Warung Mimpi. The food is 3 times as expensive, that is why no Balinese are there and maybe that is the way I like it.

Later that night Ika and her sister Ningrum came back from a swim at the Cin Cin restaurant pool on Jl. Dhyana Pura. They were visibly sad and told me the female staff there were rude to them. They were told to take their shoes off and to buy food if they wanted to swim. When I go its ‘Thank you Pak, let me kiss your ass’. This was a situation of reverse discrimination where the local staff do not want locals in the pool.

The level of service here often depends on where you are and who you are.