In Reply to: Children posted by Tommie on Sunday, 28. August 2005 at 19:47 Bali Time:
I've not heard about any of this, would you please explain about the 'heinous crimes' committed against Australian children
BTW, whether in Bali or ANYWHERE, I would never let my 9 yr old roam about on her own in any hotel. Even with the most trustworthy staff in the world, there are also the other hotel guests to think about and you can't possibly know anything about THEM. When I was 11 and my sister 9, we were staying at Chicago Hilton hotel and our parents let us go to the indoor swimming pool alone (!). No lifeguards, and no people. While we were in the pool, a man arrived, got in, and started playing little 'games' with my sister. I won't go into detail, but it was not good. Luckily I somehow understood enough to make an excuse that we had to go to the ladies room, and I locked us in there for 10 minutes. Luckily the guy was gone when we went out again. Whenever I remember this little incident I get shivers thinking about what might have happened to either or both of us, and I also wonder at the incredible irresponsibility of my parents letting us wander about alone like that!
There are also swimming pools to consider (kids don't walk, they RUN - so a slip on the wet concrete/tiles, fall and hit head, and into the swimming pool with no one about.... or maybe staff are about but can't swim?) My daughter can't swim and fell into swimming pool a year ago at a motel, went right to the bottom and people in their swimsuits around the pool paid no attention, and even when I was yelling 'she can't swim!', people were looking at me with puzzled expressions - apparently it can take a long time for people to register what's happening in situations like this. I had to jump in with all my clothes on to pull her up and out.
If you're going to go ahead anyway and let them roam about, atleast let staff know to keep a sharp eye on them. But really, how would you feel if anything happened to them?