Bule Situations: Natalie Gamble

By Wombat | January 31st, 2006 | 12 Comments »

Natalie tells us of a situation that occurred in Pasar Sindhu, Sanur, that she entitled ‘World War in Sanur’

While over in Bali last October I was lucky enough to go on couple of road trips with Barrie. One of our trips was that good the laughs never stop from the minute we got in the van to when we got out of the van when we arrived back in Kuta.

Barrie had said to me “Nat tell my readers about it” so here goes.

It was the day after it had rain for 14 hours straight and the weather and temp was really good for our trip. Barrie had said to us all this being his lovely wife Candika my sister Debbie and myself that he would pay for everything and then we would pay him back at the end of the day (Just like going out with dad).

So off we went our main stop was Sanur and after some morning sight seeing we arrived in Sanur to visit the Le Mayeur Museum after this stop it was time for some lunch, we found a small little café called the HydePark (If ever in Sanur I recommend that you have a meal here) so after lunch we thought that it was time to do some serious shopping and I am one girl that knows how to shop. So we headed back towards the beach and as soon as we stepped out of the van and on to the beach we were mobbed by the stall owners from all directions.

Pasar Sindhu

One lady grabbed me and dragged me down to her market, not a prob for me, so I picked out two tops for me and 3 cute little outfits for my daughter and the bartering started her first price was 350,000rph as she said this I was having a drink of water and lets just say it did not go down the right hole so while I was choking Barrie and Debbie were there trying to get the price down and had no luck so Barrie’s response to this was we walk out and that is just what we did and kept on looking, a little way down the road we came across another shop that had something very similar to what I had picked at the first shop and after some serious bartering there we walked out with the goods for only 120,000rph and Barrie was very happy to hand over the money that time.

Debbie was after some nice beaded shawls and she had found some in this little shop, while she was looking Barrie was talking to a lady that was weaving baskets so Deb came out and asked for the money to pay for the shawls now as a true male goes when you ask for money they ALWAYS want to know what for so Deb told him what the money was for and how much she wanted and Barrie’s response was “I don’t F***ing think so”.

Well let’s just say after this response we had caused World War Three in Sanur because in Bali if you agree to pay a price for something you pay it so poor Deb went back and told the lady that she no longer wanted the shawls, and boy, was this women pissed, so we all headed down to the beach with two very upset ladies hot on our tails. We managed to shake the off by ducking it to a café to grab ourselves a drink and try to recover the best we could.

Over all the day was one of the best days that I have had in my life and I would more than be happy to go on more road trips with Barrie again there would never be a dull moment.