This story is set in 1984. Much has changed since then, particularly in Bali
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Learning to do business in Bali was challenging, so too was finding reliable and inexpensive transport. The prospect of paying tourist prices, on a long term basis was simply not economically viable. So, when we negotiated an arrangement to rent a van from a man that wasn’t able to actually let us have one at that moment for slightly less than a tourist price, there was more than a little uncertainty about just where things stood. The van wasn’t to be available for several days more so it was easy to fall into the habit of continuing to look. Soon Matina found a real bargain, a reasonably new Suzuki Carry at a rock bottom price, thanks to her skills in negotiation.
Taking delivery of the van was easy and to formalize things we went off to a Notaris and arranged a contract that all parties duly signed, then we took out insurance on the van to cover any incidental damage. Once the policy was signed the owner announced that there was just one more thing, the van had a new cassette deck that he’d like to insure, so he paid a modest premium and off we went.
The van worked beautifully, all our children could fit in with luggage. Our first field study group arrived soon so it was not merely useful, it was essential part of our operation. Suddenly we had a freedom to move around in Bali that we’d never really experienced before. Most things were now quickly accessible. In those days, back in the mid 1980s telephones were few in Ubud, the queues at telephone offices long and the banks slow and inefficient. A van made things just that bit easier, even if it didn’t have air conditioning. What’s more it meant that we could now quickly transport any sick or injured students to medical assistance without having to go chasing local transport.
Everything was falling into place ready for the first group. Although Adrienne was living at Puri Kantor, in the centre of town, and we were in a bungalow at Campuan the van made communications that much easier. The first group was from Northholm Grammar School they were arriving in a few days. The van also meant that running around to tutors, picking up course certificates and T shirts and arranging details with the bus company was all that much easier. We were in a buoyant mood particularly since Adrienne had met a wonderful French anthropologist, Jean Pierre. Conversations in the evening were stimulating and focused on the very elements of Balinese culture and environment that would form a major part of the field study experience. All the organization was in place , so it was time to lie in a bit in the mornings and take things easy.
The staff roused us early. There was a visitor. Entering the small meeting area near the entrance to the compound I noticed an intense man, he seemed on the point of anger. He was wearing a motorbike helmet and holding a set of keys. As he removed his helmet I realized that it was the man who’d been unable to deliver a rental van, some days earlier. We hadn’t been back to see him which was quite remiss of us but with all of the preparation it had been pushed into the background.
He wanted to know why we hadn’t come to take the van. I explained that we found a cheaper one. At this he slammed the keys down onto a marble topped table and said, “Well you take these then. I’ve paid Rp125,00 to rent a motorbike to replace the van. It’s no use to me now.”
I was embarrassed but all I could do was to explain that I could neither ride a motorbike, nor did I need one. I guess at the time I should have offered him at least half the funds and told him to take it back and ask for the other half, I didn’t, more through ignorance than a desire to stand on a point. Surprisingly he left without further comment. One of the tutors later asked why we hadn’t taken his van and in a very Western way of reasoning I told him that there hadn’t really been a contract. From then on I was always careful not to make agreements of any kind unless I was definitely going to honour them. Nothing more was said by anyone about the incident. It was as if it didn’t happen
Within days the group had arrived and we were all too busy to think much about anything else. Orientation ran smoothly, all the batik, carving, dance and painting tutors were brilliant. The buses turned up on time. The accommodation was well appreciated and the food was great, the students even met the Australian Consul. We couldn’t have hoped for a better debut.
Relaxing after the group had gone again we were woken early in the morning. This time entering the lobby I encountered the owner of the van.
“I dreamt about the van”, he said. “So I came to check. Please, come and see this.” He had an unusual air about him, one that I’d not encountered before. Was it fear or was it guilt. I couldn’t determine
As we stepped outside all seemed well the van was parked in its usual place near the manager’s Nissan Patrol. Then I realized that one of the van’s windows was broken. Opening the door and looking inside I noticed wires protruding from the place where the cassette player should have been.
“What happened to the cassette player”, he asked.
“Looks as though it’s been stolen to me. It’s insured so we’ll have to report it to the police”, I suggested.
It seemed odd to me that a dream had brought him here. Why had he left it to the morning if he was so concerned? These were just private thoughts. I’d no intention of voicing any of them.
Getting into the van we drove up to the police station. Making the report I couldn’t say much, just that the cassette player was in the van when I parked it the night before and that the owner had roused me with his concern in the morning and that we’d discover the window broken and the cassette player missing. To my surprise the owner repeated his story about the dream and the police simply typed up a report and gave him a copy for the insurance company.
There was a Rp 60,0000 excess on the cassette player which, interestingly enough, cost about Rp125,000 to replace, the balance coming from the insurance company. The new cassette player was identical to the old one, they were both the latest model.
I didn’t ever ask if he knew the man with the motorbike.
