When we travel to Bali, normally twice a year we use the same Driver each time. He is almost like family and we do what we can for his family (wife & 3 kids)with clothes books pens etc. Since the last 'B' he has been doing it tough with the downturn in tourists, he is probably a little bit better off because he drives for some expats who do manufacturing in Bali. One of these expats, an Australian Lady who is a friend of ours, has just spent 3 months back in Oz with family. When she goes back to Bali from Oz she normally takes Wayan, the driver, gifts similar to what we do however, on this occassion when he picked her up at the airport, she got him to take her to Bintang Supermarket and bought, for him, 10kg rice, coffee, oil, eggs, biscuits, powdered milk. It came to Rp 150.000 (A$22.00) He was thrilled and said that this would help feed his family for weeks. I thought what a great Idea, and very practical, and probably more use than presents or buying lunch for the driver, and also you know that it is going to be used by him, as opposed to Cash which oftens ends up in the hands of the *Banjar (Excuse Spelling)
Food for thought, and for the Belly.
Cheers Gary