In Reply to: Perspective posted by Heatherbelle on Monday, 30. June 2008 at 16:34 Bali Time:
Heatherbelle is right - must keep it in perspective. Living in Sydney is now frightfully expensive as I'm sure it is in other places around Australia. Most people are in debt up to their eyeballs to maintain the lifestyle they are used to. We are fortunate to have social security if/when we need it - but don't forget we are paying for it out of our wages every week.
The thing I do admire with the Balinese, and Indonesian's in general (as well as many other countries) is that they are happy to live more simply, so they money they have pays for necessities or for families and their cremations. The also take responsibility for parents when they get older - and the parent help with the childcare. They are therefore more tolerant of each other as they live in each others pockets, and they are usually more spiritual. My 2 cents worth...