BALI - CHILDREN WITH SMILES

 

Balinese children are born to sun, row and swim in their lovely tanned complexion. 

 Oh, how I wish for  their natural sun baked colour. I go out in the sun, just to dry the laundry and the freckles on my face light up like bulbs on a Christmas tree 🎄.

Taking a page from my 2017 holiday collection, when holidays were a norm then, I found these children just having a good time. 

The sun was hot in the early evening. No need for expensive toys, speed boats or jet skis to have fun.

A ducky float and 

a good friend makes their day.

When the sun got low and it started to get cool, the babes got wrapped up into cute bundles.

 The sun has gone to bed and so must I.

'Tis time to bid you "selamat tingal" (adieu).

"Mak's waiting with 'makan' and I must 'pulang ke rumah' (be on my way home)."

BALI BEACH BABES

BALI - THE ISLAND OF SMILES,HAPPY FACES,

ADVENTURE,

RELAXATIONAND SUN-BAKED CHILDREN. As the sun sets, the weather gets cooler and the kids warm up in their colourful cardigans and hoods. The Best Things in Life are FREE - Fresh Air, Water and Sunshine.
This is really true with the Balinese kids as theyhave fun with simple things - a kite, stick, a ducky float, a rented kayak and sand castles. I did not see any handphones, MP3s, iPods - stuff that city kids find so necessary. They posed and smile for the pictures so happily and naturally

The sun has gone to bed and so must I start my journey home

A PLACE I CALL HOME

Road into my township - the mad rush of traffic to the city lies just beyond.
Double storey terrace houses line the inner roads.
Plenty of trees planted 7 year ago by the developers.

Kids are out on their bikes by 6 pm - note the setting sun.

Its shorts and T-shirts everyday.

When I read the blogs I have been following, I am a bit envious of the acres of land. There is just miles of greenary with creeks and rivers in your photos and I just wonder what it's like to wake up, go out the front door and see all that space. Breath-taking must be the only word for it.

I live in a township about 20 km from the city. The houses are a mixture of terrace and semi-Ds (semi-detached where 2 houses are connected by one wall). There isn't acres of land, we measure our land in square feet. If I walk 9 normal human paces to the left of my house, I already hit my neighbour's wall. We share roads, drains and playgrounds.

Us mothers having our evening exercise. In the evenings, the boys ride from house to house.

MartianGirl and her Great Escape - Martians never use gates.

Living in a community with so many neighbours has many benefits. The kids meet at each others home or at the playground every evening. MartianGirl makes her get away at 5 pm and does not return till 7 at night. Many times I have caught her sneaking out by 4 pm even before her homework is finished. During the weekends, she is out by 3pm. She is quite safe wandering around, as we look out for each other's kids and pets. I have rescused Crystal, a top poodle, from the fish pond when the kids were too engrossed playing, and settled squabbles in the playground. The kids get fed with cakes, buns, fruits, chocolate, ice cream and what ever else is available in the different homes. I have chips on standby for the forever hungry troops. It is amazing how fast they drop in, wish a polite "Hello Aunty," grab some food or a cold drink and their skinny legs are rushing out the gate. At 7 pm, all mothers "chase" the kids home for their dinner and homework - it's an unwritten rule. Life here seems very different from the farm.

KIDS WITH EXPIRY DATES

Pre-school expiry date - 6 years

Primary school use by date - 12 years

Kids are great to have around. They are fun, but there can be difficult years along the way. Some phrases from my teenage daughter, MartianGirl:

• "MUM, you are so last season,"
• "MUM, you are a royal pain."
• "MUM, you have to chill."
• "DADDY, is mum allowed to do that to me."
• "DADDY, she is persecuting me with all the books."
• "DADDY, please come home."

I don't have to tell you who is wicked and who is her hero. But, MartianGirl loves me in her own way and she is my Number One. KIDS DO COME WITH EXPIRY DATES. They expire from being adorable babies, from the terrible two's, from spaced-out teenages to count-me-in on everything students. When MartianGirl was a toddler she would never let go off my hand when we sent shopping. I wish she would hold my hand forever. Do you all, like me now, despair at every expiry date knowing your kids will never return to their former USE BY SELF?

Primary school expiry date - 12 years Secondary school use by date - 17 years