Barong, Bargains, and Broken ATMs: A Balinese Adventure

  • Whatsapp
An old couple
Illustration of an old couple accompanied by his guide in front of souvenir shop. (Image: GwAI/Nusaweek)

THE sun beat down mercilessly on the bewildered tourists, their faces a mixture of sunburn and confusion. They’d just witnessed a mesmerizing Barong dance, the intricate masks and rhythmic movements leaving them breathless. Now, however, a more pressing matter loomed: cash.

“I swear I put the last of the Rupiah in that ATM,” grumbled a man with a Hawaiian shirt, frantically rummaging through his pockets.

Read More

His wife, sporting a sarong that seemed to be melting in the tropical heat, sighed dramatically. “And I just bought that adorable little monkey figurine. Now what?”

A mischievous grin spread across the face of their tour guide, a young Balinese man named Wayan. “Don’t worry,” he chuckled, “Bali has a solution for every problem. Especially cash problems.”

He led them towards a small, brightly painted shop overflowing with souvenirs. “Here, you can barter with your valuables!”

The tourists exchanged bewildered glances. “Barter? With what? My sunglasses?” the man in the Hawaiian shirt sputtered.

Wayan winked. “Anything goes! That vintage camera? Those designer sunglasses? Maybe even that… that… impressive collection of seashells?”

The wife gasped. “My seashells? But they’re priceless!”

Wayan shrugged. “To a Balinese craftsman, they might be worth a few thousand Rupiah. You never know!”

And so, the bizarre transaction began. The man in the Hawaiian shirt, red-faced and sweating, haggled with a silver-haired woman selling intricately woven baskets. He offered his camera, which she promptly dismissed with a dismissive wave.

“Too old,” she declared, examining the camera with a critical eye. “Maybe the sunglasses? But they are not authentic Balinese.”

The wife, meanwhile, attempted to barter her seashells for a miniature temple. The shopkeeper, a young man with a mischievous glint in his eye, examined them with feigned interest.

“Very interesting,” he mused, “But perhaps… perhaps you could add… I don’t know… your… footwear?”

The wife, horrified, stared at her sandals. “My sandals? But they’re…”

“Fashionable!” the shopkeeper interrupted, “Very fashionable. A true collector’s item.”

Finally, after much negotiation and a fair amount of exasperated sighing, the tourists emerged from the shop, their bags overflowing with souvenirs. They had successfully bartered their way back into solvency, albeit with a slightly bruised ego and a newfound appreciation for the ingenuity of Balinese traders.

As they walked away, Wayan chuckled. “See? Bali always finds a way.”

The tourists, exhausted but amused, couldn’t help but agree. They had learned a valuable lesson: in Bali, even the most unexpected situations could lead to unexpected and entertaining adventures. And sometimes, all you need to survive is a little bit of bargaining and a whole lot of creativity. (*)

Related posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *