Crime exists even in Asia                                    Back

Going through Changi Airport in Singapore I picked up a visitors' guide. I was pleasantly surprised when I opened it to the center spread & found a notice. "Do not shop at these stores:"  It then gave a list of local stores and the offences for which they had gained this notoriety. Willfully overcharging, misrepresenting products, and numerous other offences. You can see how this kind of a punishment would have to be a great deterrent. imagine the loss of business this must cause in a city where 85% of all sales are international & these handbooks, published by the chamber of commerce, are available for free at all entry points.

Not long after my arrival there was a news broadcast (Warning). There was a major horse race scheduled at the Singapore Turf Club, one that in Singapore, equaled the Kentucky Derby. The warning stated that at the last big race (8 months earlier) a person who had won big had been mugged on his way to his car & if you were a big winner you were advised to get a bank draft before leaving the track. Something that in N. Y., because of the crime rate, you would/ should already know. Needless to say there is very little crimei n Singapore. In fact the same goes for most of South-east Asia

In Kuta Beach, Bali (Because of the amount of international tourism.) I recommend you lock you valuables in your box in the office of your hotel, homestay etc. (They almost all give you one.) Keep a record of your Travelers' Checks. & keep the cash  you are carrying to a minimum and carry that in a money belt etc. One crime that is fairly common is pick- pocketing, also on the crowded bemos it's fairly easy to get distracted by one person while another cuts a hole in your backpack and slips out your valuables.

Do not let these warnings deter you from travel to one of the most BEAUTIFUL areas of the world. They're not very common & I only mention them because you'll be a long way from home. I feel a lot safer in Indonesia then I do in N.Y. or Phila.      Al.

Extra! I almost forgot. I've had girls tell me that they had dated BALI COWBOYS, young Indonesian men who come from almost every island to pry on female tourists. They can be very charming and attentive but it shouldn't take long before you get the sob story. "My little sister very sick. I no know what to do. If only I had little money we could take her to hospital, I'm really worry about her." etc. Always sad, always about money. This is also used on men by girls & gays by gays. Sympathy can be very expensive. Use common sense.

Political Unrest:

I'm afraid that until all the corruption that was build into the Indonesian Government during the rein of Suharto is rooted out & a more stable political & economic environment becomes a reality, Indonesia will be unstable, We have seen riots in the streets of Jakarta and other major cities on Java. Troubles on East Timor, Sumatra, in the spice islands and in many other areas of the nation. Bali has been effected but only to a small degree and even then it didn't affect the tourists. However I'd advise avoiding political rallies and being careful in other parts of Indonesia. It might be wise to check the travel advisories put out by the U. S. State department

Bulletin: Bali Bombing

The Sari Nightclub in Kuta Beach was bombed by a Jemaah Islamah terrorist cell. A group connected to Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaeda and though the Indonesian government is doing it's best to curb terrorism within it's borders. I would still take the precaution of not being in a large crowd of westerners. Eat & be entertained in smaller clubs, they're less likely to be the target of a terrorist attack. Also they are more intimate.

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