In Reply to: That whole begging business...... posted by Paul on Sunday, 13. December 2009 at 10:41 Bali Time:
Quite often it is their position in life to beg for a certain amount of time. It is a tradition that young men from Trunyan village travel the lowland areas of Bali living as beggars at some point in their lives. This is something they have to do. Similar to the itinerant monks of Thailand. Unfortunately many villages saw the money that could be made from this & followed suit. It was then taken over by organised gangs.
It is best to spend some time in the area getting to know who the real needy beggars are. Watch how the locals react to the beggars, when they give & how much they give. In a culture like Bali, there are time honoured traditions for helping the needy. Following these local religious protocols is often the most culturally appropriate way to give money.
Just remember, the money you give them is less likely to improve their lives, than those controlling them.