In Reply to: seasbabe re homeless in Ubud ?? posted by Carol T on Friday, 20. April 2007 at 10:20 Bali Time:
re the begging women and children in Ubud. She told me that she goes to the market for bananas, fresh fruit etc and gives these to the women when they ask and will not give them money.
Apparently they are bused in each day from north Bali and put to work on the streets with their very sad little children and babies. The money they collect is taken by their "benefactor". They don't get to keep the money they collect.
The expat told me that some of these women have been offered jobs in Ubud but have refused and prefer to beg. She also told me she has offered to take the children to doctors for various skin problems etc (I sure you noticed) but the children illicit more sympathy with problems.
The first time I went to Ubud and saw these poor people begging I spoke to our Balinese driver about them. He told me not to give any money and was very cold and harsh in regards to their situation.