I am catching up with posts... trying (^^)

Viv and his birthday cake (^^)

Nomnomnom

January 3....  It's Vivian's birthday! And we are going to celebrate it Balinese style! It was a little challenging to think of what to do for him, because after all.... we're in a little village! We started the morning with a little meeting with our local acquaintance for our NGO project, discussing our ideas to provide the poorest children in the village with school supplies.  The meeting went very well with many good suggestions from our local acquaintance.  Basically, eligible kids will be registered, and supply will be given based on basic school requirements, distributed in packages at first, then kids may ask for more as necessary during the semester.  This way, donated money can be stretched if more kids are eligible to receive school supplies.  School supplies will be bought January 5, since we have to leave early morning on January 6, heading to Denpasar.
The homestay workers are such sweetheart.... I told them we will have lunch together and if she could suprise Vivian with something and candles.  To celebrate Vivian's birthday in Jakarta would be easy, however, this was one unique and simple birthday.

Shinji and Putu's family

Due to the rain and no guide to show us where one of the child lives, we visited the other child who lives not far from where we live.  His name is Putu, and he is 10 years old.  He lives with his mother, father and his little brother.  They live with a relative, since they have no place to stay.  Mother sells Balinese cakes, she was trying to sell them at the local market, but since she couldn't pay rent, she wasn't allowed to sell there anymore.  Now she walks around the village to sell her cakes.  Father works as a driver, however it's a seasonal work since high tourist season in Indonesia is during dry season.  Putu is one of the sponsored child through NGO Make a Difference.  He's a very shy kid, typical Indonesian child ^^. The family is very sweet and such humble people, and again, you see a lot of love towards each other even in poverty......  I think people should really travel and see how other people live in another country, especially in third world countries.  I think, the people I met here in Munduk are far richer than many people that lives in develop countries.  They have a rich heart, and that's something that they will never lose.  Even in poverty, people are happy and they work hard trying to do the best they can, and this is something I didn't really see in Canada.  One could only see this when they see it with their own eyes and feel the greatness in these people's heart.  Government don't provide assistance to help the poor, mostly due to lack of good system to determine eligibility for help.

Shinji and Putu

I think in developed countries, people have complicated lives.  Since basic need are met already, we tend to create our own problems.  Wanna be skinny, wanna be pretty, wanna be rich, want big breasts, want to be buff, the list of shallowness is endless and people never satisfied with what they have.  But what I see in the people I know in the village... they just want to live and most are happy just being able to eat for the day.... nevermind worrying about losing weight, latest iPad, or the newest fall fashion.  This happiness what makes them rich in heart and money doesn't bring happiness.... something many of us living in developed countries should learn from.
The local friend we're visiting next, his name was also Putu.  In Balinese culture, the names Nyoman, Putu, Gede, Ketut indicate order of birth.  For sure I know, Gede is first child.  Our friend Putu works as a manager at one of the resort in Munduk called Melanting. It was a fun visit, and just like the locals we knew there... he was fun!
We head back to our hostel, and had a quiet night then..... We hung out at BTS, an internet place, run by our local friend, Nyoman Bagiada.  That's where my first encounter with Nyoman occured, because back then, the place I stayed in (which was the same as where I stayed this time) didn't have internet, so I had to look for some sort of internet cafe.  Glad I met him, and I hope we have many more encounters after this!