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| Mark with a 'small' whale shark |
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| The Bagan we swam near |
It was one of the highlights of our travels, if not very
eco-minded. Our friends on Field Trip had gone over beforehand to find out if
it was okay to swim with them and to find out the price. Working with Google
Translator, it seemed clear that we were welcome to swim and that there was no
fee.
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| Mark with one of the sharks again. |
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| And again. The other kids were a little less eager to swim near the big guy. |
Between Google translator and broken Indonesian, we made it
clear that we couldn't pay that and that had we known how much it was, we would
have left. Knowing that big live aboard dive boats probably do pay that much or
more, I tried to explain that we were just a couple of small boats with our
families aboard. After some uncomfortable back and forth, mostly involving what
the exchange rate was between Rupiah and U.S. dollars for varying amounts, they
eventually agreed to take $20 per boat (which is what we had with us). Everyone seemed happy with the deal that was struck.
We read in one of the guide books later that the fishermen on the bagans ask for outrageous amounts and that 'hard bargaining is a must.' In some of the areas with whale sharks, the government has warned people not to deal directly with the fishermen, but I'm not sure how that would work since the sharks are only there because of the fishermen.
Yeah, sounds like you are having a pretty typical Indonesian Experience ! Unfortunately this is the way things usually go over there, at first very happy and very insistent, that you do the activity, take the photo, etc... first and THEN comes the price. Bargaining is a must, and as you found out, better to establish before hand, and usually, even if they may have sour expressions on their faces, its just all par for the course and all part of their culture, bargaining is a must for any purchase. Everyone wins in the end, when there is an agreed price. A few good sentences to learn : "Berapa Harganya" ? (roll your Rs) means; what is the price. "Dulu" (first), and (in your best dramatic voice)"Oh ! Mahal sekali !" (oh this is very expensive! emphasize the H sound)... "Terlalu banyak!" (Too much). "Ma af. saya tidak punya uang banyak". (I am sorry, I do not have much money). Indonesian do not get insulted if you put the blame on the circumstances and not the person you can always use "Tidak tsok tsok" as an out, which basically means "this is just not working out for either of us" ...another good one to know is "Jalan Jalan saja". ( "we are just walking around/ having a look around")...you will be asked often "where are you going?" (which is usually just "Di mana?") to which you reply "Oh jalan Jalan saja". you will get lots of appreciative exclamation when you tell them this. Indonesian are a good bunch, but they are always trying to make a buck, like so many other places....oh and by the way : WE ARE VERY ENVIOUS OF YOU ! You went swimming with Whale sharks for $20 and some rice !!! Well done !!!!!
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