The Ugly Expat is an Alarming Creature Dear Sir In the past few years, years in which Bali has experienced a huge influx of new expats into Bali, I have noticed an alarming ambivalence, as well as an abject disregard for Balinese culture and customs. This observation is not uniquely mine.  In discussions with many [...]

Rabies: Culling Never Works Dear Sir IT is interesting that more people keep dying in Tabanan (Latest Rabies Death Sparks Angry Row Over Vaccine Non-Supply, April 9). One would have thought that after 17 months of extensive culling of dogs (last reported by Tabanan: 50,000 dogs poisoned, or 90 percent of their estimated overall dog [...]

Pricing Bali Out of Its Market Dear Sir, BALI is getting too expensive. People are now getting 20 percent less in rupiah against the euro than last year. Thailand is now 50 percent cheaper. The cost of hotels and going out to dinner is crazy. Drinks are up 50 percent in two or three years [...]

From our website feedback page at www.thebalitimes.com this week: Our report on brawls and crime at the Bounty Discotheque in Kuta (Page 1 last week) drew reader reaction, as did the continuing saga of the future of the Sari Club bombsite. Here’s a selection of comments: On the Bounty nightclub complex I DOUBT it makes [...]

Airport Shocker Dear Sir In the hope that someone will take an interest, I would like to tell the following story. I arrived at Bali’s airport on Sunday afternoon (Nov. 15) with my lady friend after more than 30 hours of travelling. We were absolutely exhausted. An off-guard man approached me in the luggage hall, [...]

Dear Sir Too much is being written for English speakers about what’s wrong with the dog situation in Bali with little specific information for what those English readers can do to help. We can do a great deal even as visitors to this island. What the Balinese do in their culture is not my business. [...]

Re: My Compound Life: Western Conveniences Are Not all That Convenient in Bali Hannah, nice read! I also was like that first, really craving for all the nice amenities of the modern life. But over time I learned I don’t need to possess all those things. Nowadays, the less I own, the better and less [...]

Dear Sir I am a regular reader of your newspaper since inception and find it most informative. As I’m sure you will agree, the positives of living here in Bali far outweigh the negatives. But in saying so, it’s also important not to shy from telling the truth. On Friday night last week I witnessed [...]

Dear Sir With regard to the letter from James Dell-Robb, I am sorry that I am not able to regret my criticism of the postal services in Bali. James Dell-Robb says he lives in what is sometimes called the “Wild West of Bali” and that services such as electricity supply and telecommunication are sometimes irregular. [...]

Dear Sir With regard to the letter from Svend Laursen strongly criticizing the postal services, we take this opportunity of congratulating the postal services in our part of Bali for their excellent service. We live in what is sometimes called the Wild West of Bali, and whilst services such as electricity supply and telecommunications are [...]

Dear Sir We can’t be negative or criticize if we are not able also to be positive or praise sometimes. The last number of The Bali Times I was negative, but this time I want to give a big bunch of flowers to all the staff of Kuta Beach Club Hotel. They really deserve it. [...]

Dear Sir First of all I must let you know that I am a lover of Indonesia. For 30 years I have been travelling, especially to Indonesia. For many years I brought tourists to Indonesia, and this year I just finished writing my last book, number 13. Of the 13 books 11 of them are [...]