:: Bali for Kids.com Magazine

Welcome to the new and fresh 2010. Quite happy we made it, with never ending fireworks for almost two weeks - I wonder how many kids got burned hands, feet and more worse. In our little "village" there were four kids who had minor or major injuries from the fireworks and the bombing of a boys runners with almost loosing a toe, suddenly gave us three days of silence before New Years Eve. Sad enough that always something has to happen before someone wakes up - in this case the parents...

Our music features again Arti Foundation with a new song "Under the Mercury Lamp" from the Album "Reaching the Stars" - I hope all of you enjoy our music features combining the new and old Bali.

Bali SoDa - School of Dramatic Art in Bali - Royal Dance Academy - Shows, Dramatic Education, LAMDA, Dance, Performance, Talents

This year we like to focus more on helping those kids how really need help. Though the Bali Street Kids Fund Raiser Party on the 19th of December I learned a lot about how much these kids are in need to get help. Almost shocking for me was to see that the Bali Community did NOT show up for this major party helping those kids. All was set up well: Games for the kids, food from Ketumbar Restaurant, an incredible performance from the Street Kids, which have been trained for weeks, smaller performances, great painting made by the kids for sell - we got one in our house now - as well as a fabulous Santa how brought

those kids who were there lots of wonderful presents. So why did nobody show up and help us raise money for those kids? Was the time not right? We sent mails to 17000 mail accounts! don't tell me non of the readers of Bali for Kids.com have been in Bali. I think one of the major reasons was that it was an event which had nothing to do with glamour and show, it was a simple event. Showing up for two hours and donate 100.000rp would have been easy. On the other hand I think most of you have NO idea at all what the life of this kids is and how much they struggle to have a normal life. We will feature those kids in the future far more, as well as making the Bali Community aware that those kids do not chose to live like this. Even if they want to life a better life, they are not allowed to do so. It makes it hard for those to help these kids. So please join our upcoming programs, tell your friends about it and we hope at the end of the year, the Bali Community will be more helpful for those kids and the next fundraiser a great success.

Rain has finally started - no sup rise the big holiday season is over. So I hope all of you are ready for rubber boots, rain coats and leaking roofs... My roof leaks and my drainage system is

blocked with unknown matter. What better can happen to us? But as an oldie here in Bali, our family is used to the times of floating inside and outside of the house. Anybody has hot tips where to find rubber boots for kids? Really! Second hand would do... The umbrellas did not survive the dry season, they been used for weapons in knight fights and the rain coats have been lunch for the rats. Normal live in Bali... There are only two choices, getting a crisis or having a laugh. We decided to laugh and use the raincoats for the roof until the rain stops and a worker can fix it without being washed off and hanging in front of the bedroom window and the umbrellas for more knight fights. For many families, rainy season in Bali can be a challenge. On the other hand it can be fun. Staying at home, outside wind and storm and watching a video with your kids. Plans have to be canceled and new plans must be made, best if they include "don't leave the house at all until its over". Have a hot bath with your kids as long as we have more than enough water. Or go for a muddy walk down the rice fields. Make sure you watch out for snakes! They are having swims all over the place. I thought I saw one the other day weaving at me going down the stream next to my house. Sort of snake rafting for advanced. Rainy

season brings out the fun. Flooded roads, traffic jams. Lost children in cars floating down Sunset Road. Know that part? Nothing to worry about. The kids love the adventure, the drivers take it easy and used-to-it expats just add an hour to the arrival of their kids - one more hour of lush Bali live. If you irritated by the rain: Open your travel book and check out the weather. There you find it. Two seasons: Dry and Rain. Now is rain. Wet and damp bed, moldy smelling clothing, your living room a swimming pool if you have a tropical open style house and freshly painted walls looking like a graffiti from Salvador Bali. But the kids love it and decorate the house with mud prints - the terrazzo loves it too! So easy to get it out. Memories of the rainy season can stay with us forever. Moms and Dads rushing though the rain to bring their kids to school, wet kids sitting in classrooms - Au de Bali! Yummy! When the little stream next to your house becomes a lake reaching Kuta, just take the rubber boat to bring the kids to school. Almost like in Venice, but far cheaper and without the singing part. But if you're lucky your Balinese neighbor takes some time and plays the gamelan to your farewell. Nothing to worry about - in a few weeks it's over and you can be proud of surviving another rainy season in Bali. Next year you can join the Oldies and laugh about the newcomers! And add an hour to your kids arrival - Splish - Splash, Bali soaks...

We will feature over the next months themes and children of the Yayasan Ksahih, Peduli Anak. A Foundation helping those kids living on the street, educating them, looking that those kids get more than just a packet of instant noodles - real nutrition. Here is the story of Tista, age 10. It is taken from the year 2010 calendar the Street Kids Foundation has set up and sells to raise money to help those kids. Tista is a cheerful child who loves to dance. Before coming to the Yayasan, he never attended school because his parents are very poor and the school is far from his village. As a normal in his village, he was sent by his parents to beg in the tourist areas to find money for his parents. He didn't like the streets, because the police would catch him many times and his friends would fight him for his money. When he came to the Yayasan five months ago, Tista was completely illiterate and had never touched a painting brush. He came because he wanted to go to school, to be "intelligent" and to be able to have a good job. Tista wants to be an airline pilot. - To read more stories of Bali Street Children, please go to www.ykpa.org and order your very own Hand-Painted Bali Street Children Calendar 2010

Eleven year old Nyoman Pakeh was found 2 months ago riding on the back of her father. For some years, he has been using her birth defects as a source of begging for the family income. Nyoman is thin, has congenital club feet, one of which is black with a large open sore because she has had to walk on it for years. She also has a large birth defect mass (spina bifida) on her lower back (about 15cm). With the help of two Italian Bali residents, the police located them and took her to the public hospital, but while the doctors were looking the other way, the father took her away back to begging. This week (Jan. 8, 2010), Putu recognized the father and child begging in Kuta. She called the police (women and children police), and they took the child and her parents to the hospital again. Doctors in the emergency dept. recommended the child be in protective custody, and receive extensive evaluation of her problems. The police required the child be sent to YKPA for protection while she gets care,
threatening the parents with jail if they take here away. The child and parent(s) have been staying at YKPA in a private bedroom with meals provided. Every day, Putu, Michael, the child and parent(s) spend many hours at the hospital where Nyoman is just beginning to be evaluated by multiple specialties (Orthopedics, Urology, Neurology, Surgery) for the defects, and anemia,

hourly urination, and probably osteopmylitis in her foot. She is undergoing laboratory and imaging studies. Nyoman will require multiple surgery’s. This child is totally illiterate, as are her parents. She has never attended school, never seen a doctor and never had immunizations. Her diet had consisted mostly of rice. Over the first week in the Yayasan, she has spent 98% of the time with her father, not talking with other children. The parents mostly talk with her secretly. She is slowly starting to smile and talk. Only slowly are we learning about her past. The family originally comes from a very poor area of

Bali, the same area where the street children at the orphanage come from. When the father was asked what kind of work he can do, he responded matter-of-factly with “I use my child for begging”. He is a security risk for taking her away, and must be watched. The entire family will need support to learn a new life. YKPA needs help affording her care, already over $100 USD. The cost of the tests and surgeries is not know yet, but will easily be over $2000 USD. Anyone who can help, please contact Putu. Thank you! Putu Etiartini, Founder - Yayasan Kasih Peduli Anak - www.ykpa.org - care4child@ykpa.org - +62 (0)8192 55499

We have added little Nyoman to our "Sponsor Me" program and would be happy if the help for this child would go beyond what Putu from YKPA is asking. We like to find someone who will sponsor her operations, healing and education in the future. Please contact us if you want to help, even as a volontaire to bring the girl to the doctor ect.

Fails believes about what is dangerous and what not has lead us to a very strange believe system. Alcohol and Cigarettes are blamed the biggest killers, but reality tells a different story. There are far more dangerous substances your child can get in touch with - total legally and often supported by the parents themselves. Read what are the real killers and dangers for today's youth and were we have to radically change our believe systems...:

Alcohol is not the worst

ADD-KIT

Please read all previous ADD-KIT articles on our add-kit-page...

DRAGONS IN THE BATH from Cat Wheeler, a long term resident and expat here in Bali, is something I like to suggest to all those who plan to live in Bali, plan to spent a longer time here or are a part of our community for a long time. Cat Wheeler has been writing the "Greenspeach" Column in the Bali Advertiser as long as I remember. Her stories are out of life and all expats can reflect themselves in them, as live here in Bali is just like this. Snakes, kites of local kids in the trees, the magic of traditional healing the housekeepers here can bring you and much, much more. I believe "Dragons in the Bath" are a good step into Bali life, some sort of "What can happen to you", "What to expect out of daily life" and "Meet some of the social activists here in Bali". Sort of user manual for Bali. Ibu Cat, as she is called from those around her, has created her book over her years here in Bali. For me it was really fun reading "Dragons in the Bath" because almost each story I was reading back than in the Bali Advertiser and each story has happened in one way or another to me too over the years. It is a great book to have in your libery, to give to friends when they are visiting. A great book to read with your older kids and a great memory of Bali if you moving on. You can buy "Dragons in the Bath" via Ibu Cat's website www.dragonsinthebath.com or Ganesha book stores around Bali. Best to contact Ibu Cat yourself, she even has set up her little delivered or sent-to-your-home service. You can find "Dragons in the Bath" on our Moms - Page

WARUNG OLD DELHI in Kerobokan has just opened a few weeks ago. The other day I thought I give it a try and was blown away by the warm atmosphere of the place. An Indian Warung just right down a road I drive a lot. The owner is Indonesian, but very mixed. Old Indian family mixed up with Sumatran Indonesian. His food is family food and made with lots of thought. The menu is still developing, so even if you pop in right now, you might find new Indian delights coming soon. What I really like about Warung Old Delhi is the warm atmosphere, it has been lovely designed and even a mom and her baby will find a comfortable space. The food is made without MSG or artificial stuff, means real healthy. Organic food will be soon added to the menu to support local organic farming. We had almost all dishes on the menu by now and the Samosas are really good, as well as the traditional Indian fried rice and the vegetable dishes. I look forward for the bigger menu to come... Warung Old Delhi can also cater food for your kids birthday party - as an alternative to french fries and Hamburgers. Why not getting an Indian style party set up for your next kids birthday - with real nice and tasty Indian food? The Belly dancers you have to hire yourself or get your kids doing it. Sure Warung Old Delhi is also doing delivery, so stay at home and has a lazy one... Pop in and check out our new entry on our Food Stuff - Page

MUSEUM PURI LUKISAN in Ubud's main road offers what I was looking for Bali for Kids.com for a long time - Balinese workshops and classes. All you need to learn about Balinese culture. Batik, Balinese Dance Classes and Mask making for you kids. At Museum Puri Lukisan you and your kids can spent days or just a few hours to learn and create wonderful things out of Balinese culture. Museum Puri Lukisan has a long history in arts and culture for Bali. Now they offer many classes with Balinese crafts and art man from Ubud, such as Dewa Gede Oka Suparta, an experienced wood carver, who will guide your kids though making an own carved piece or Wayan Warta Yasa, who can show your kids how to paint classic Balinese characters out of the Ramayana and Mahabhrata. But for sure for most kids Batik classes are the most exciting. So book your kids into a few classes at the Museum Puri Lukisan in Ubud and enjoy learning some real Balinese art stuff. Something you really got to do when you are in Bali! Find out more about what classes Museum Puri Lukisan is offering on our Culture - Page

BALI QUAD was so much fun... We were lucky again and got invited by Bali Quad to join their buggy trips though the mountains of Bali. Located north of Ubud, the drive was already beautiful and brought me to an area I know well from some years ago. Short after we arrived at Bali Quad we saw the first buggies coming back and I got a little worried if it was a good idea to go with a 6 year old on a trip like that. After my first test drive around the Bali Quad area I was sure it will be fun. And it was! My girl sat next to me in the buggy while we were driving down bumpy traditional roads and screamed: "Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!" The whole track is using village roads and farm roads. At a dead end is in a wonderful forest, and a little break with a wonderful breathtaking view over a valley with tea and coffee makes it to a real Bali side seeing experience. The minimum age is 6 years as a co-pilot and 16 years as a self driver. and I think it is a great thing to do with your kids. They see Balinese villages, a lot of nature and all during a trip though paddies and wonderful nature. One tip aside: Don't wear white cloth! I saw some guys in the latest top hip white outfit after we left - You should have seen us: Mud cover us until the hip, but it was worth and fun. The guys looked a little worried when we left the buggy... We had a local meal and left, feeling we experience a little adventure. As Bali Quad is also offering a Canyon Tubing, we decided to go back and try it too. So next month we tell you how wet we got doing Canyon Tubing in a Balinese river... Feel like driving the buggy, check them out on our Adventure - Page

Farewell to Lucy Wisdom by SOS, the Wisdom family and Charlotte Jones

In 1994, Lucy Wisdom was working as a performance artist in Europe, when a holiday to Indonesia to recuperate from cancer treatment unexpectedly changed her life. On a visit to a rehabilitation center for endangered Sumatran Orangutans, she found herself overwhelmed with the desire to help. For the next three years, Lucy visited Sumatra regularly as a volunteer to help orphaned ex-captive orangutans return to the wild. In 1997, Lucy set up the Sumatran Orangutan Society to raise funds and awareness about threat of logging to the Orangutans disappearing habitat. Despite the constant political instability in Indonesia and the onset of secondary cancer three years ago, Lucy refused to give up the fight for the island’s estimated 6.600 wild orangutans. In 2001, together with Panut Hadisiswoyo, Lucy founded the Orangutan Information Center (OIC) in Medan to promote awareness of environmental and orangutan conservation issues amongst local communities living in North Sumatra and Aceh. Her passion landed her the UK’s Women in Ethical Business Award in 2008 and saw her appear in the hero of the month pages of magazine Marie Claire. She was born on 21st November 1956 and passed away peacefully at home on the evening of 19th December 2009, surrounded by love & light. The funeral service was held at Epping Forest Woodland Burial Park, on Jan 4th at 1.30 pm. It was really quite a fantastic day, The sky was clear blue, the sun was shining brightly on the sparkly frost coated fields & woodlands, and the spirit at the funeral was a joyous one, a celebration of a beautiful life, lived to the full. There is a collection for the Sumatra Orangutan Society Lucy Wisdom Fund. A scholarship for an Indonesian Postgraduate to study orangutans & to buy land in Sumatra as a wildlife sanctuary. If anybody would like to support this Fund please email Anja Saunders anjasayasaunders@yahoo.com or bali@orangutans-sos.org

Bali for Kids.com is deeply touched about Lucy Wisdom. Having supported SOS for such a long time and seen, the amount of work and goals they have reached over the last years, we hope SOS will be in the future as Lucy wanted it to be. Keep Lucy's work alive by supporting SOS and the survive of the Orang Utangs in Sumatra. Contact SOS via bali@orangutans-sos.org and check out their work www.orangutans-sos.org Bye Lucy from Bali for Kids.com!

EVENTS

Past Events:

Denpasar Cinema Link

Singapore Special: With Kids in Singapore!

Kuala Lumpur Visa Run: A fun trip with kids!

Kecak Fire and Trance Dance in Taman Kaja Ubud - 19/08/2006

Coming Events:

Bali for Kids.com Magazine on Facebook

Regular Events:

For all those kids who like to learn Balinese dance, but find it hard to find a place to join a local group, Desa Seni in Canggu has now set up a free Balinese Dance Class for kids of all ages. The class is free as a part of their community work. Girls and boys can join, no matter if they ever been dancing before. Great idea and a chance for all kids now to learn Balinese dance together with local children, no matter if local, expat or holiday maker. Bring your child and let them experience something real Balinese.... More info at: info@desaseni.com

Swimming for kids from 2 to 3 1/2 years is now happening every Friday in Spice School Seminyak. A little class for kids to get started in the water. Splish - Splash for your youngsters, a lovely class not to be missed. Contact Jolena seminyakspice@gmail.com or call her on 081-514571738

and many new events on the biggest in Bali and its regular updates. Please sent us your event!

Please feel free to contact us at any time and subject:

We hope as usual we inspired kids and families living in Bali or visiting Bali to fun and joy. Don't forget your Valentines on the 4th February - a day to say "I love you!". We will be online with our next issue on February 15th. Until than enjoy Bali!

Ni Lah - Editor Bali for Kids.com Team

SPONSOR ME!

Sponsor Me! is new on Bali for Kids.com. We believe each child in the world shall have the best education, not just focused on maths, reading and writing. Some children have certain talents, which we, shall develop as their teachers. Unfortunately some families are not able to pay a more than normal education for their children. School fees and other costs are often already too much for some families. This is why we decided to help some local kids with talents to learn more than just what school teaches them. We want to find those kids sponsors who pay them an additional education, a more artistic education. In cooperation with Bali SoDA - the only ones who replied to the mail we sent out to several places!!! - we will give those kids fun and a basic education in dance, drama and music. If you want to sponsor any of our children you can mail to info@baliforkids.com or balisoda@gmail.com. Any amount is welcome. If you are a single sponsor we will put your picture and name or business logo under the child or group you sponsor in our column: Sponsor Me! Banner space on Sponsor Me! you can buy with any donation over 1.000.000Rp. Contact us about size and details directly on info@baliforkids.com. If you know a local child which needs to be sponsored for more than just a school activities, please contact us and we will see if Bali for Kids.com can help to find more sponsors for kids in Indonesia.


LUNA - 7 years - Ballet Class at Bali SoDA - sponsored by Kerry Smith - AUS - read more about Luna here	Jodie O’Shea Orphanage - 40 children need 40 drums - sponsor found! in process!	Eleven year old Nyoman Pakeh needs medical help and educational help. Read her story here

Many thanks to web sites where we getting our great graf ics for this and other issues from:

Free Gifts and Animations - www.geocities.com/Heartland/Ranch/4821/index.html - http://www.grsites.com - http://www.sevenoaksart.co.uk/Christmas.htm - http://www.hellasmultimedia.com/webimages/christ-htm/image-christ17.htm

If you contact Bali for Kids.com, please resent your mail if you did not hear from us within 5 working days. There are so many problems with sending and receiving mails here in Bali and nothing we can really do about it. Please be patient and just try again. Make sure that you put Bali for Kids.com on your save sender list. We look forward to hear from you and hope you will join and enjoy our site!