I make an annual visit to Kuta, Bali each year. I also hire a scooter to get around along with thousands of other scooter riders, heaps of cars, truck, all on bad roads, but with wonderfully patient drivers and riders. Oh yes there are bad drivers and riders, probably all of them (me included).
Everybody just gets about the best way they can, using wrong side of road, wrong way up one way streets, ride on the pavement with the pedestrians. You name it we all do it.
The ones you really have to watch are the surfies, with there longboards strapped to their bikes. They go quick. The Asian lady pillion passengers ride side saddle, maybe holding a baby with another wedged between the petrol tank and the rider.
The Police love to pull up a touro on a bike for breaking the road rules that every local is a also breaking. Its a matter of working out what bribe you are going to pay and it pays to carry large notes in another part of your wallet, away from the eyes of the constabulary.
Why does it all work?. THERE IS NO ROAD RAGE.
I repeat NO ROAD RAGE.
If there was there would be war on the streets.
I now ride a bike and driver a car in Australia and see a number of bad road users but they're in the minority (thank goodness) and I now behave like my Balinese brothers. I don't react. I say to myself "sin ken ken" (Balinese for: no problems).
You forgive mistakes for that in many cases what they are, which at times I make myself. A wave and a smile relieves everybody. "Sin ken ken". Road rage? What's the point? You just become another liability, probably even a bigger one.
As a consequence, my pleasure of driving and riding is now enjoyed in both Countries.
