In Reply to: GIFT FOR DRIVER ? posted by marklyn on Thursday, 1. December 2005 at 19:32 Bali Time:
Small gifts I have taken are picture books for children in english - the ones with words for everything written beneath them. (Every driver has a family of their own or brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews). I also like to buy red lipsticks there (30,000 to 50,000 each) so the driver can surprise his sister/mother/girlfriend with a pretty lippy for dressing up for temple. Large plastic buckets, storage containers, knives etc (buy there) are useful kitchen items a family is glad to receive too. I like to buy some of the more expensive fruits and veges as they are not on the shopping list for the average family, so a nice healthy treat. Vitamins are promoted heavily on Indondesian TV so some multivitamins would be valued too, and a good gift. We have given an electric iron, electric jug, electric mozzie repeller and refill, all welcome. (All purchased there so they work there). Scrounge up a bag of bras from your friends and family (every woman has a few that 'never fit once home from the shops' and sit in the back of the drawer) and your driver will (after some possible embarassment) be 'king for the day' when he takes them home to his village! They don't take up much space in your luggage and cost several days' wages in Bali, so they are precious treasure to the village women.