In Reply to: Could you use wheelie walkers posted by Sharon on Friday, 25. March 2011 at 18:03 Bali Time:
seriously, in a traditional village likes ours someone old who can get around will usually die, it's mind over matter, we do not have anyone that cannot walk around, in fact one lady is bent over like a candycane and she is very good at picking up things off the ground but I know she would not take one as it means she is not useful. My Balinese Grandmother has a bad hip and one day I suggested she get on my motorbike instead of walking as it would take too long and she slapped me across the face for making the suggestion in front of everyone in the main street.
Its a reality, harsh in our minds, but works for them. Even the disabled are useful in our village, they manage to work something out. Unfortunately people with mental illness are the ones that do not survive, the minute you start talking to yourself the villagers get scared and think you are possessed by demons, these people are usually taken care of. I will not elaborate on that as that is village witchcraft and religious law that is a whole deeper issue and I am no expert nor do I agree with their methods.
I thought of this one child as he lives on a sealed main road, but most live on small gangs so cannot use wheelchairs.
Many thanks for the thought.