In Reply to: My Bali posted by Hammockman on Saturday, 1. November 2008 at 22:51 Bali Time:
Thankyou for sharing this wonderful tale. It shows not just the great aussie spirit but also the remarkable acceptance and willingness to learn the Balinese possess.
I recall a local friend of mine on a trip ten years ago. I arrived in Bali fresh faced and ready for a Bintang only to find her in tears. Story goes that her mother in law had passed away and she had to go back to husbands village up in the hills to prepare for burial. This was not the upsetting factor believe it or not. Her angst was that the hours of travel in a non airconditioned unit stuffed in with 10 other sweaty bodies chickens etc along winding roads always made her incredibly ill. How much for your own driver I enquired? "No not can't afford" was her reply. But how much would it cost? Short answer is about $8 - which for me was todays lunch and Bintang but for her was two weeks wages! I gladly handed over $20 made her promise faithfully to get the very best driver, sit in the fromt with windows and air conditioning as required. Four days later she returned to say that she had travelled both ways as instructed , never got sick and thanks me her "aussie Sister" for this miracle. We have been firm friends for more than 20 years. In September I took my two young children to Bali for their first trip. Auntie Lee was waiting with open arms, a huge Balinese smile and the biggest heart you could ever imagine!!
Please formites hold on to the good and remember to always PAY IT FORWARD.