In Reply to: bali baik ride posted by yak on Friday, 8. February 2008 at 09:48 Bali Time:
Hi yak,
I've never given out gifts to strange children in Bali, or anywhere else, unless i was donating to a charity.
In Australia, if we saw strangers offering gifts to children they didn't even know it'd be treated as a very suspect action, and so it should be. I shudder to imagine rich tourists to Australia handing out presents to our children. Soon enough our kids would be approaching strangers for money and presents.
I've read some Balinese childen have abused tourists when the tourists have not given into the child's demands for money.
My husband and i have only once been approached by children for money, (two sisters) and the parents were really embarrassed. They quickly grabbed hold of their chldren... and if they were mine, so would i!
Because i've only been approached once i'm guessing it's not the norm. so not expected by most.
If you'd like to help out where you know the need will be the greatest, perhaps help a charity? It'd be greatly appreciated :)