In Reply to: The REAL Bali posted by Hanuman on Tuesday, 13. April 1999 at 06:35 Bali Time:
Man.
What's wrong with you, or what has happened? Everybody is sometimes frustrated and has bad experiences, even as bad as yours; quote: "The real Bali will eat you up and spit you out like a shell of beatlenut."
Partially you are right: "The real Bali is life within the most modest and remote of villages..", but there is also the other "real" Bali, that of the tourist world which allows many villages nowadays to go on without hardships common in other parts of Indonesia.
The way you talk about the Balinese shows you do NOT like them at all "the ultimate masters of how to get from you "all that they could steal" (excuse me, borrow...permanently as Balinese never steal)", but you even don't like yourself: "But I don't shave so I don't have to look at myself."
This is all YOUR problem, and your's alone. What I don't understand is your criticism of others who try to do at least something instead of only complaining and whining.
What's wrong with to "spend years there teaching the kids English, doing a little doctoring, showing them your ways and learning theirs. Shit...build them a whole new temple while you are at it. Pay to have some roads paved, bring them clothes and fill their bellies ..." ? It's not wrong only because YOU don't seem to do any of this!
Try it, it may make you a bit more happy -- you seem so desparate and without seeing any purpose or goal. But don't do it to be appreciated! Most people I know who give genrous contributions do it under the condition that the identity of the donor will never be revealed. But you might respect yourself more.
Good luck.