In Reply to: I think I am really Shallow! posted by trayden on Sunday, 1. February 2009 at 09:31 Bali Time:
In bali possibly has to be actively searched out,yes it may be seen inadvertantly in a small way but not by the "average tourist" who in general will be on the mainstreets and not as a rule in the very small lanes that lead off them.Even these lanes in general wont put you in the position of seeing real poverty, as the fact that they are still in the general area of tourism there is a far greater chance the people living there will be employed.
The "real poverty" in bali is out in the villages,especially in the north east areas around Munti etc,but again you still wont see it by driving through these places on a general drive around the coast as the ones most in need are tucked well away from the roads and services,they simply cant afford it.The north east is a very very dry area of bali and this makes it very hard to even grow much to subsist on so the people may well,to a certain degree, depend on wild growing weeds (we all know weeds grow anywhere)to supplement their diet and plenty will just live in a "humpty" on the side of the mountain.
Again i presume that poverty is a very subjective word,the balinese as a rule are a very proud race and are very proud of the little they do have and they dont have the same vision of "poverty" as we westerners do,they are a very religious race,they,in general,dont live for their religion THEIR RELIGION IS THEIR LIFE and as such spend more percentage wise on it than most other people will and this of course reduces what funds are available for other "material" things in life,but this is their lifestyle and in general they dont crave the things most westerners do (the younger generation are fast emulating westerners though)and just get on with their life in the best way they can.
Most of the balinese you meet in the tourist area are fairly well dressed and fed but this doesnt show just how small and cramped a lot of their accomodation and general living quarters are,most of them are probably from a far flunf village and because there is no work in the villages they come to the tourist areas and live in very small cramped room with very limited facilities,often sharing 3 or 4 to a room, and the family back in the village depends on them sending money back to them to survive on.
The family house,if they have a proper one,back in the village might only have dirt floors and possibly no glass in the windows but this is a fact of life to them.
None of this means that all tourists should start tossing money at them and handing out "charity" to them but im just trying to say that yes there is a lot of poverty(as we would call it) out there but there is also a very rich fullness of life through their religion which in general most of us cannot understand(I know that i cant).
Some of us have met,and support to a degree,a balinese person or family but this is not for everyone,a lot of people will never meet someone who they make a "connection" with,personally both my and my wifes life has been enriched by the experience over many years but again this has always been and always will be a personal choice to do whatever small things we can do to help.One of the better things WE have done is sponsor a child through rotary,this will obviously help the kids by giving them an education they may not have been able to have through lack of money and without a doubt kids are the future of the world so the more education that can be provided will hopefully provide them and their future families with a better life.
Sorry if this has turned into a rant and i will now go and lock my soapbox away again.
TED