Hi again Jamar

That certainly is the sticks! I know Sawan, not well, but not Bontihing. I remember them boasting they have the finest rice in Bali, but they compete with their claims with the village of Sudaji. You certainly do not get many tourists there for sure. When I first went to Sudaji, right up to where the reservoir (maybe you know it) is, where the road literally ends, beyond where the bemos stop (villagers having to walk down a long way even to get that basic service), I think I was the second / third ever Caucasian the locals had ever seen (apparently a German couple beat me to that honour, having gone up the road by mistake). Funny how the adults would yaw (drop their mouths and gape) at you, but the kids would sort of hide, their little eyes peering out (I taught them everything they know about "peek-a-boo").

Good for you, they certainly need help in that area.

My sister-in-law's husband is a teacher in that area (not Sawan). I hope your teachers are as good as him and that you watch where the money goes. School budgets get divided up and allocated to each teacher; head teachers, unfortunately, are known to suggest certain percentages of the budgets are not spent on the children, but get divided by the teacher and them. My wife told me how teachers would take food from their 6, 7 and 8 year old pupils, and demand they buy all class materials from them. I credit you with passing 100% of the money down the line and hope that ethos goes all the way to the kids as it should. My wife (sorry, forgot to mention she is Balinese and from that neck of the woods), is now much more western and confident, and she talks now about life at school in Bali; it really does shock you sometimes. Growing up in Bali is really not an easy ride.

Regards
Mark

__________________
There are two categories of travellers, those that experience a country and those that take their home with them wherever they go.

Be warned, as with any forum, picking a fight with the admin guy is not recommended!