TIP EVERYONE

Do not! I repeat do not follow the advice of any guide books or persons that recommend that tipping is not expected or appreciated in bali – lombok! If there was ever a time to give it up for the third world the time is now.

For the passed 20 plus years the Lonely Planet and related travel bibles have been instrumental in perpetrating a “no tip “epidemic throughout south-east asia based on the fact that tipping is not common amongst its people…

This is true, South Asians in general don’t tip after meals, after taxi rides, room cleanings.. The list goes on. Whether it is because 90% of Asians subsist at or below the poverty line or simply their general disdain for the working class ( see colonial occupations 1600 to 1947 ).

This local practice should not prevent you, the well off first world traveler from sharing the wealth with your not very well off third world brothers and sisters.

For the record, the tourism crisis presently looming over bali – lombok is very severe and in the very early stages of what will go down in history as the musim miskin… ” the season of the poor “. Tourism suffers extremely and there is no end in sight.

Many a traveller, especially in Bali, include spiritual enlightenment and inner peace ideas in there trip itineraries. Many more are just here to relax and have a good time. So here is an easy way to enhance your holiday, achieve enlightenment and make your good times better through simple generosity…

Tipping… It’s beautiful thing.

Here’s the financial breakdown.
The global tipping standard sits presently at a sunny 15% ( Australia and New Zealand not included ) i suggest a 10% indonesian standard which makes for easy arithmatic and justifiable third world differential…
Rp 10 000 = $1 u.s…. So 10% = 10 cents or Rp 1000 ( the dirty blue ones ).

And even if the bill includes a 21% service tax, it is almost guaranteed that these monies will never make their way into the the intended pockets ( see Soeharto system 1963 – 1998 ). So slip a little something under the plate for the lowly server… And not those dirty coins… They are almost worthless and more of an insult than a compliment. Remember five thou = fifty cents. Guaranteed you will feel lighter… Refreshed… Transcended.

Here is a monthly wage overview for you in case you think i’m over philanthropic or too interested in the welfare of the common man.

Average wages of local indonesian workers;
Waiter $40 month; Roomboy $30 month; Front Offfice reception $50; Taxi Driver $50; Garbage Man $30 month; Policeman $100 ( before tips ); Massage Lady $100; Surf tour guide $300 ++ and so on. Now if you subtract apartment rental, daily food and gasoline, baby food and clothes, school fees etc. It becomes apparent that nobody is bringing home a whole lot-o-bacon ( surf guides excepted ) and hence the immence appreciation of any and all gratuities that we are able to float to our gracious ( police excepted ) Asian caretakers.

And i know there are already a whole lot-o-tippers reading this so hats off to all of you… Keep it up and spread the word.

Butt for those who sit nervously on the tipping fence and especially you scary “anti-tippers” may i suggest you buy one less t-shirt, go for one less spa treatment, order one less big mac… And so on.

Now before i go and while we are on the topic of give and take i would like to offer one more final variation that is also win win…

Almost everyone, either living here or on a simple South-East Asia sojourn, is in possession of at least one article of clothing, if not several ( see front packers ) that you don’t ever wear or when you see yourself in the mirror with it on you know damn well you shouldn’t wear. So the solution to this fashion overabundance is simple… And the chile peppers said it best… “give it away now!”…it’s that simple… Give it away… Now. ( don’t wait for the biwa bazaar ) give it to someone you met, leave it in your hotel room, give it to someone you never met, give it to a garbage man, hell throw it out the window of the car taking you to the airport. It doesn’t matter where you leave that extraneous thing because no matter where it is left rest assured that within 24 short hours it will be washed and ironed and on the body of someone who has less than you. And the planet will be that much less lonely

Thank you for reading this. Don’t forget to get lost and remember… Don’t be fuelled by cheap by limitations. Tip everyone…

- The lost guy -

Sms me if you need help 08179784196
Or email me at
Pondokpitaya@yahoo.com

Picture by ChristopherAllman.