In Reply to: I think I am really Shallow! posted by trayden on Sunday, 1. February 2009 at 09:31 Bali Time:
trayden and I've given this some thought also.
I think I'm your regular Aussie when it comes to being charitable...I do what I can, when I can and for the past few years now I've sponsored a little girl in Bangladesh through World Vision.
My first 3 or 4 visits to Bali I 'just holidayed' as anyone does when you work hard for a living.
I started reading a lot of posts on this forum by various long time regulars who would raise funds or much needed items, even dig into their own pockets and buy sacks of rice or other essentials for orphanages etc.etc.
I got to thinking that maybe this might enrich my overall 'Bali experience' and decided to do something on my next visit, so I rallied around with the help of some of my suppliers and ended up taking cartons of stationery and school supplies (pencil cases etc.) to an orphanage in Tabanan.
It was an interesting day and all the children welcomed us and showed us around and the orphanage director couldn't thank us enough for the items we'd brought.
I must say that it certainly did 'enrich' my holiday and it was a very emotional day for some of us. It was most definitely a different experience for me.
I have some very happy memories and great photos of that day that I will have forever...and yet on my last visit to Bali I didn't do anything 'charitable' except tip everyone and not bargain quite so hard.
So no! I don't think you're shallow...I think like most of us,you just do what you can,when you can.