Bali introduces a "Public Health” enforcement where offending parties may be asked to dismount their scooters and go through a number of roadside calisthenics…
Finding it difficult to enforce the mandatory mask wearing rules here in Bali, the police force has decided to punish offenders with something more effective than just a warning and small fine.
A new “Public Health” enforcement where offending parties may be asked to dismount their scooters and go through a number of roadside calisthenics.
“It’s not so bad,” says Jim Rescka, a recent expat bustee, “But it is kind of embarrassing when your friends and neighbours see you doing jumping jacks on the side of the road in the noon day sun.”
Talking anonymously, one of the enforcers commented that, “We make sure it is only the men that can handle it. It’s not like we are gonna make a little old lady do it” (Translated).
“On any normal day,” Says a Kuta Beach lifeguard, “You would see fifty surf schools doing pop-ups all day long, so it could be good training to drive around without a mask.”
No news on how long this new consequence will be held in place, but it sure beats trying to keep up with Johanne Defay’s online workout in your living room.
In other news, the some boardriders clubs here are successfully working with local authorities to keep local surfers in the water.
Show up with a boardriders membership card or a local ID with an address in the neighbourhood and you can paddle out.
But hanging on the beach is still strictly taboo.
Can you imagine trying this local ID bit in California?
Wait!
It already exists.
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Living there in the early to mid 2000s was always fun to deal with the polisi. Favourite tactic was to just ignore. Only once had any of them chase me down. As long as you didn’t make obvious eye contact they generally couldn’t be bothered to get on a bike when some other kook was coming around the corner in 20 seconds.
The guy who did actually get on his bike pulled me over about 50m past the lights that were his patch. Before he had a chance to say anything his phone rang. I said I had to get to the airport and drove off.
Another worthwhile tip. Only keep 10 000Rp – 20 000Rp in your wallet, keep the rest in your socks, pockets, whatever. If you pull out the wallet and show them you have ‘loose change’ they generally won’t bother you because they would lose money taking the time to shake you down.
Ta da! Travel tips for when you can’t travel…
How about an
I got Covid t-shirt.