Smokers Nabbed in Bali – But How About Us Drinkers!

  Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport

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Big news on that Bali website, a raid on smokers in the airport. http://www.balidiscovery.com.

If you expect me to deplore the action targetting my fellow tobacco-fans, stroll on. Ngurah Rai has greatly improved its smoking area, from a dank, densely-packed, little overgrown cupboard to a nice open-air place.

And civilised smokers don’t complain ( and shouldn’t transgress) when civilised facilities are available – I only wish that new Jakarta Terminal would be as considerate!

But how about drinkers?

 

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Ever since that intolerant edict was promulgated, which bans minimarts across the archipelago from selling a few bottles or cans of beer to honest citizens on a hot day (and we’re having very hot days in Jakarta at the moment – again, no complaints, I love hot weather but one does get a thirst!) there has been talk of Bali getting a special dispensation.

Bingung Buaaanget! – Gimana Minum Bir Di Bali? 

This is partly because of the tourist issue, but also, surely, because creeping shariah is hard to justify when the great majority of Balinese are Hindus. I haven’t been to Bali recently, so I don’t know how that’s working out. 

Prohibition Indonesia – Bali Exempt…Sort Of! 

Any sectarian legislation is a blot on Indonesia’s reputation, but nevertheless, an even more intolerant Islamist law is being pushed through parliament at the moment, which apparently  provides for two years imprisonment for what I’m doing now, having a drink in my own front yard! 

No More Drink? Jakarta on Brink of Prohibition 

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I enjoy a drink, and a smoke, and by doing so, I don’t bother anyone else. Every Indonesian should have the same right to personal free choice in these matters. Even smokers are given space to relax and enjoy their pastime on the terraces of cafes, in other public places, and of course on their own property.

So why not drinkers? .

Go Figure! Airline Ticket Offices Outlawed In Indonesian Airports?

I was down at Lebak Bulus recently. It’s a big bus station in South Jakarta. Buses run from there to many places in Jakarta and to out-of-town destinations, mostly in West Java.

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 Lebak Bulus Bus Terminal

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As you’d expect, you can buy bus tickets there. Some little offices sell tickets to customers, the Halte Busway sells tickets to those wishing to use their vehicles, and for other services you pay on board.

Nothing remarkable about any of that.

But how about Jakarta’s Soekarno Hatta Airport?

Most people buy their tickets before their departure date, but it’s always been possible to walk into Lion Air, Mandala, Air Asia offices there and get a ticket on the day of travel.

Not any more! The Government has outlawed these little outlets! They say it’s to stop ‘scalpers’ – huh?

“As we close the ticket counters, we will also start operating customer service counters at the airports, which will provide many services including selling tickets,” Budi said.

Budi is spokesman for state-owned airports.

He did not say how these new ticket counters would be any less prone to the scalping racket than those run by the individual airlines. http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/soetta-ticket-counters-gone-march-1-airport-operator-says/