So the other day we had our meeting, in the apartment that is on roof of the warehouse that we use as an office. He is cool guy, I like him. He mixes Balinese traditional clothes with hip t-shirts, bright intelligent eyes behind expensive silver rimmed glasses, skinny but muscular. Well respected in Yellow Coconut village, not least because he has a nice car, is pretty stylish and has two wives. Yes you read that properly :). Turns out we do business with one of his wife's, she runs a successful batik painting business. The other wife, has a similar business and we have also done a little business with her. It's all completely above board, everyone is happy with the arrangement. My observation (just between you and I) is that the wife's are quite a bit older than our landlord, and has to be said more accomplished, the relationship is maybe not what you may think.
Serious cultural differences also extend to business relationships, and I learned a long time ago that you challenge them at great risk. The culture here in Bali (and much of Asia) is that a lease arrangement is only good for how much you pay up front. If you want a three year tenancy then pay three years rent upfront. With Mr Two-wifes I had shook hands on a three year deal, but where we pay yearly in advance. So I already knew it might come unstuck. The rent we pay is high, very high on account of being a "bule" or foreign person. On year two there had already being some angling for increase but we saw it off. This year the talk was of a ten fold increase.
After exchanging pleasantries and settling down around our meeting table Mr Two-wifes looked at me through his glasses, he speaks a little english and clearly wanted to put his case to me. "It's like this Mr David" he starts.. then goes on to tell me how busy we are, how there are many trucks coming and going, always people packing and working. He has seen how full the warehouse is right now.. "The thing is" he concludes "you are making a lot of money, and right now I need money" (after a pause for effect) "Mr David, I need a lot of money". Cultural differences again... in Asia "personal need" is a trump card. Of course in a close Asian village this can work two ways, this year you help me next year you can call in this favour as circumstances change. So the proposal is not as preposterous as it first seems. I can kind of understand, two wifes means two mother-in-laws - that is maybe quite expensive.
OK, I know this is not going to work but I try anyway, "But Sir," I say, "We made an agreement, shook hands, three years at the same rent, what has changed? we have been good tenants as far as I'm aware".
Mr Two-wifes doesn't even flinch, if you want to stay I need money... then there is some discussion with Ringo about not watering his cactuses, which look perfectly healthy to me. This it seems is good justification for a rent review.
So now it is time to deliver a home truth..
"OK" I tell him firmly, with Ringo translating each sentence for perfect understanding. "We have been checking round the locality, and we have found alternative options, and surprisingly cheap. One place is the same size, more modern, not far away, and 25% of the current (never mind your proposed) rent".
The poor guy, starts shifting around in his chair eyes blinking. Clearly this new commercial reality is quite unsettling. Being an evil colonial bule, I think he is been simply greedy, but maybe I don't understand, this is probably just another of those cultural differences again. He however, is not going to lose face, after some long discussion about watering the terrace garden regularly he concedes that we can stay another year at the same rate.
But now the problem is we have almost done a deal with one of the neighbours and it is four years upfront for the price of one year here. Do we stay or do we go?
We tell him we will give him an answer either way by the end of the week.
What do you think? Before you ask - it's not small money at stake, will add up to a difference of tens of thousands of pounds.
I'll update you next week.
So enjoy the long weekend, don't work too hard, and as they say here.. HATI HATI .. Take care.
Take care
David
