Graptolite - The Boss Gets a Watch

Graptolite's Sailing Log
Martyn Pickup & Heike Richter
Sun 2 Nov 2008 16:11
08:44.45S 115:12.80E Bali International Marina, Sunday 2nd November PM

New crew are on their way but I've probably got another couple of weeks to
languish in this marina. They will be American, French and Swiss this time.

I'm finding Kuta, the nearest town and of Bali Bomb infamy, to be intensely
irritating but I'm forced into the place to eat and buy bootleg DVD's. The
locals have a severe case of tourist pollution which is not surprising given
the western dross that turn up here on package holidays but I am close to
taking a fish-billy to the next local that tries to attract my attention by
shouting 'boss' at me.

There is a constant stream of 'ello, boss, boss, boss' as you walk down the
street. Usually followed by 'taxi boss?'; then 'massage boss?'; then 'girl
boss?' then 'two girl boss?' This is not right. The traditional trading
rules-of-engagement here clearly demand that the vendor should start big and
comes down to something that the customer is prepared to buy. Whatever
happened to starting with 'three sexy girl upstair longtime'? Scruffy
backpackers have gone a long way towards destroying this very ancient and
interesting culture!

I had to get a new watch today which is surprisingly difficult if you
actually need a real watch that works. Like the DVD's the counterfeit ones
are everywhere on the streets but none of them are waterproof to 10,000
fathoms and light up when somebody pesters you although some helpfully do
have a compass built-in that points towards Mecca.

M