In Reply to: so glad you posted by mackas on Sunday, 26. June 2005 at 16:40 Bali Time:
Many many years ago there was a Balinese family that used to have a clothing stall in the Legian markets. I had bought from them on numerous occassions and became quite good friends with the family. Each year I would take them over some gifts from Oz.
The wife became pregnant and had a little baby boy who I spoiled with clothes and toys. He was always dressed so poorly, and quite often had a dirty runny nose you know the look. One year I was looking for some accommodation and the father had told me about a new house they had built and asked me if I would like to rent it... He arrived at the hotel driving a new Panther car, we went to look at the house wow it was lovely - amazing. We then went to the home that he lived in with his wife and baby what a shock that was just a small one bedroom losmen with nothing. I asked him why did he live there when he had such a beautiful new house with all ammenities?
His response was that he had a number of houses that he rented out.
Everyday his wife would be in the stall with the baby Wayan, a gorgeous baby but always dressed so poorly and quite dirty, the reason for this was that when the tourist came to the stall they would not barter that hard with is wife and would always give some money to Wayan. I was one of these tourist. I still see them now and then when I go to Bali but after the above experience I always think twice before giving anyone money in Bali. You never really know what they have.
Sorry for taking so long in explaining the story.