Flicking through my reliable Rough Guide to Bali, (the best guide book for this island) I see a small article entitled ‘They don’t mean to spoil your holiday’. The article focuses on the street hawkers (not hookers) in Lombok, but it might as well be about hawkers anywhere. Tourist areas in Bali have a rich supply of these people who can be funny and part of the experience on a good day, or about as much fun as a malaria mosquito on a bad one. How to deal with them is something that takes time to figure out.
The economy in Bali is based on rice farming and tourism. Those without the proper education or connections cannot get a hotel / restaurant job so end up selling things on the street. Their methods are usually a direct approach and request / question to see if you will look at their wares, or agree to take a day trip in their vehicle. To their credit they are not put off by negative feedback, and will hammer away until the target move away or strongly indicates ‘no sale’.
Most common areas for hawkers to work are the beach, heavily trafficked footpaths and outside busy warungs / restaurants. Often these guys have a sense of humor, so relating to them on this level before declining politely is the best strategy. This can work with kids also, particularly the ones who cart around the tray of cut fruit on their heads, appearing over the wall at restaurants.
RG suggests the following:
•Acknowledge people but remain polite and calm. A simple ‘no thank you’ is enough.
•If you say you’ll look at things tomorrow or later, then you should do so – they’ll remember.
•If you start bargaining and the seller agrees your price, you are then obliged to buy.
•Even if you don’t want to buy, talk to the sellers and find out about their lives; after all, you’ve come to Bali / Lombok to meet the people.
My response to that is being polite is always the best option. The author of Jupiter’s Travels, who rode around the world on a motorbike, said “I truly believe my mental state greatly affects the way in which I act towards other people, which in turn affects how they react to me.” Totally agree, and getting pissed at one hawker sets up a bad interaction with the next one.
Don’t agree to anything you don’t want, including looking at merchandise later, or buying things because you feel sorry for them. I encountered an Aussie guy on the beachwalk in Legian pleading with a vendor through his friend “I can’t buy anything else, I didn’t really want the first one.”
Shop around, state your price, negotiate for 1 minute then leave. No point in wasting your holiday over nick-nacks.
Interact with whoever you feel drawn to, many shop vendor will drop the sales routine if you say “I’m not going to buy, but I liking chatting.” Don’t try to engage every street-side vendor as its all going in one direction.
A simple ‘tidak mau‘ (don’t want) or ‘saya tinggal disini’ (I live here) can help to get the message across.
If the level of attention you are getting is out of control you might move to a quieter location.
