Comments on: Best-Looking Bali Villas Site http://susijohnston.com/2008/07/best-looking-bali-villas-site-on-the-web/ The Sleeping Tiger on the Island of Bali blogs about interiors, architecture Indonesian arts, textiles, and life as it is lived Sat, 21 Jan 2012 11:36:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Susi http://susijohnston.com/2008/07/best-looking-bali-villas-site-on-the-web/comment-page-1/#comment-18 Susi Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:01:32 +0000 http://susijohnston.com/?p=105#comment-18 @ Rod: You are absolutely right! Expats in many places in Indonesia are familiar with the term "bule". Let's not forget the most famous "bule gila," our Flemish friend in Jakarta, creator of the inimitable Bugil's bar, author of Bule Gila, and gutsy blogger. The term "bule" in Javanese, Balinese, and perhaps several other related dialects refers to all-white cows. And it is highly derogatory, at least it was, but it has weaseled its way into common parlance among expats as if it weren't derogatory. Interesting how evolution of language works. Western residents of Java and Bali not so many years ago would be in their rights to punch the lights out of anyone who called them "bule". Similarly, African-Americans often use the term "nigger" when addressing other African-Americans familiarly, and in reference to themselves, and it is not considered derogatory in that context. So, we bules can probably call each other bules without risking offense. Thanks for commenting! @ Rod:

You are absolutely right! Expats in many places in Indonesia are familiar with the term “bule”. Let’s not forget the most famous “bule gila,” our Flemish friend in Jakarta, creator of the inimitable Bugil’s bar, author of Bule Gila, and gutsy blogger.

The term “bule” in Javanese, Balinese, and perhaps several other related dialects refers to all-white cows. And it is highly derogatory, at least it was, but it has weaseled its way into common parlance among expats as if it weren’t derogatory. Interesting how evolution of language works.

Western residents of Java and Bali not so many years ago would be in their rights to punch the lights out of anyone who called them “bule”.

Similarly, African-Americans often use the term “nigger” when addressing other African-Americans familiarly, and in reference to themselves, and it is not considered derogatory in that context.

So, we bules can probably call each other bules without risking offense.

Thanks for commenting!

]]> By: Rod Parish http://susijohnston.com/2008/07/best-looking-bali-villas-site-on-the-web/comment-page-1/#comment-17 Rod Parish Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:02:04 +0000 http://susijohnston.com/?p=105#comment-17 Hi, I think you get it wrong a bit when you say "There’s a double entendre in the name that only Bali expats would understand"; most of the other expats in Indonesia would as do most of the 240 odd million Indonesians that live here. Also, after living in Indonesia for almost 20 years this is the first time I have heard that Bule means “albino cow”. Can you let me know which dialect this originates from. Thanks and regards, Rod Hi, I think you get it wrong a bit when you say “There’s a double entendre in the name that only Bali expats would understand”; most of the other expats in Indonesia would as do most of the 240 odd million Indonesians that live here. Also, after living in Indonesia for almost 20 years this is the first time I have heard that Bule means “albino cow”. Can you let me know which dialect this originates from.

Thanks and regards,

Rod

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