Panti Asuhan ('orphanage') Kesaya Yanikang Papa
is an orphanage that caters for children with handicaps. There are only about 25
kidz there but that is enough in one place for me.
It took about 5 minutes for the very well behaved kidz, who were obviously
almost bursting out of their skins, to win us over.
Then came the carers, attracted by the inevitable noise when Chupa Chups are distributed, and in about the same time they impressed us with their dedication to these kidz and their love which transcended simple care.
After the balloons came the distribution of the toiletry bags (from last years project) filled with soap, soap holder and face washer, comb and shampoo, tooth brush and tooth paste.
If you were a contributor to the toiletry bag project you might see one of yours here.
As the kidz dug into the strange new contents of their
bags one of the carers took each item from his bag (Yes, the carers deserve one
too.) and tried to give the item its English name as well as its Indonesian one,
then demonstrated with exaggerated vigour how each was to be used.
The kidz were wrapt in his dialogue and we were restrained only with difficulty
from wetting our knickers at his actions
I really believe that international dialogue should be only be undertaken with a Chupa Chup in the mouth and a coloured balloon in hand.
The kidz were so well behaved that some of them even pretended to be interested in my geography lesson.
These girls were introduced to us as 'the twins'. Have another close look and weep!
We believe the disfigured girl is to go to Melbourne later this year for cranial facial surgery.
We hope that this is so and that she is presented to her sister as a real 'twin' after the operation.
In casual conversation with locals after our visit we were introduced again to the belief in the activities of the local demons in a household that has not performed the appropriate rites and offerings. The balance between the gods and the demons has got out of whack and the demons prevail with this effect.
It was also suggested that they may not really be orphans as we understand the term because they could have both a father and a mother but they have both been excluded from the family to protect it from more assaults from the underworld.
In January 2007 we heard that the disfigured girl had been flown to Adelaide, South Australia, for a series of operations done by the world renowned 'Cranio Facial Unit' of the Womens and Childrens Hospital. The local Balinese community ensured that she was never alone for long and she returned to Bali late in 2006, a re-newed young lady, more confident and happier although not quite as beautiful as her sister.
There are Gods!
If you get a chance do visit these kidz and carers. They ask for nothing much. The orphanage is in Gianyar on Jalan Elangga. Any driver will find it within 3 questions of the locals.
Gianyar is only a short drive of about 30 kilometres from
Seminyak and the road passes through that shoppers paradise, Sukawati, if you
need some incentive.
Gianyar is also an interesting town in its own right as a centre for the
spinning and weaving of cotton, silk and ikat cloth.
Its an easy half day trip but it can be extended to a full day if you want to
return through Ubud with its different shopping, including art displays and real
museums as well as a genuine palace that you can visit and some of the classiest
restaurants on the island.
If you happen to visit our favourite, Lamak, in the middle of Monkey Forest Road, Ubud, then do go to the toilets and look up in wonder.
This demon pig's head is the chef's carving in a watermelon.
The links below will take you to other photos of parts of our holiday.
Not all will be ready and active straight away but they will evolve as July rolls in to August and so on.
The pillow case run to the NEGARA ORPHANAGE.
Stuff we took, the flight and the airport taxi fare board.
Friends including the girls on the beach, little Kadek, the feet and fingers, driver Made and family including the newly-weds, waitresses and food, and of course the old boat builder of Jimbaran Bay.
The Baleka Beach Resort and the Baihai.
Silver jewellery and bead shops, Handbags, woodcarving and leather.
Rice and the Subak Museum at Tabanan.
Pura Luhur Batu Karu, north of Tabanan.
Food, glorious food.
Kintamani and the crater and lake of Mount Batur.
Kites and batik quilts, tea/coffee/spices plantation.
Back to the 2006 contents page, 'The Year of the Pillow Cases'?
Right back to our home page for the shoppers Cheat Sheet, the first visit to the Negara Orphanage, a long Bali story (the 2003 'Rushed Trip'), the details about Bali's peoples, rices, religion and culture or history or things to do and see in Ubud as well as many others.
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