Thread: Lost my House to a Balinese in Ubud

Alice

If not too personal, it will be great to hear the details of your story about losing your house.

Sampai Jumpa

Well, Ill explain it as briefly as I can.

7 years ago or so I was working In Bali, and from a friend of a friend of a friend I met a very fat tall Balinese guy Named Made, he was suppose to be some very reliable business man in the Ubud Area. His rental Car Business seemed to be pretty good and I had always long termed rented from him. So the trust had been established and an offer was made to me for me to build a large home right Inside Ubud, about 5 min walk from everything. When i arrived at the site, it was a rice field with a 2 building famliy compound. They seemed to welcome me and all the plans greatly.
As contruction began things were going smoothly but very very slowly.
I rented a home outside Ubud and was very comfortable in that home along side a river. As the trust grew with Made, I had put a little more faith in my needs being carried out in construction as well as thier needs being met. I had to attend a trade show in the States, so i drew up some clear defined plans, agreements and left that with Made along with 8k US dollars, to cover the needed expenses and then some. The house should have been completed months before, but I did'nt pass any blame and was assured when i returned it would be completly done, including the Landscaping ( I purchased every single plant, tree and brush prior to leaving, inclduing the fish for the huge pond/waterfall).

When I returned, nothing had changed accept one thing, my money, plants and fish were abis! gone. poof. vanished. I remained calm and tracked him down after a week. He gave me a story about cerimonies, religous taboos on the plant selection, cats ate the fish and the ran out of supplies and workers. Yet I still remained calm, I asked when it would be done because i was moving in within the week! Roof or no roof! Tiles or no tiles! I told him that I would be back in one week and it will be done.
I do believe he laughed. Not a normal thing for many Balinese.

One week later.. there was a roof, there were tiles, none of which I had agreed too. There was also a HUGE stone wall carving , stunning yes, insanely expenisve. And mostly, something I never agreeded to pay for or want. I moved in, slept on the cheap tile floors ( paid for marble ).
A week later my custom Made Jumbo Bambo bedroom set was delivered.
I went back to the village I worked in for week to calm down, but decided to return earlier then Mde had expected. Guess what? A tourist was living in my house! In my Bamboo bed!
I had taken badly, with no help from anyone, no understanding of laws, ( not many at that time) and no husband to kick that fat ass!

This is the kind of thing that is worring me too, Its hard enough trying to get started & the last thing you want is to get parted from your hard earned cash. plus it gives the Balinese a bad name ! I bet he didnt get fat through hard work ?


Terry

nope. He was a sight for sure.

I think the first place I went wrong was thinking that all the smiling kind looking faces were truly kind. And the blind thinking that I had legal rights like in Bali as I do in the States. In efforts to respect their culture and religious practices it was easy for me to be misled with the basic fact that no matter where you go there are scummy people.
I've was overly trusting many times in Bali, had many wet eyed nights alone, blaming myself for being so stupid and trusting. But in the end, People are people, regardless of color, race or country.
Bali has a way of capturing the heart and dropping the defenses.

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