One of the first things I saw yesterday, in the morning when we were out walking, looking for a place to eat breakfast. A group of young boys, about a half dozen of them, about age 10, just standing on the street, were huffing. It deadens the hunger pains. Very sad. There are lots of beggars here too. One mother with a young baby was obnoxious shoving an empty baby bottle in my face. These countries discourage people from giving to beggars in any form. Don't give money, don't give pens, candy or anything as it just encourages more begging. They say to give money to temples, to charities, to foundations, etc. In Thailand you often see lepers begging and it really frowned upon because there are government places for lepers. They are taken care of and they are given their medication. On the street they are not taking their medication like they should. It is really hard sometimes on the street to NOT give. I have been known to buy food for a hungry small child on the street but I don't give money. It is common in India for parents to purposly disable a child so people will find pity and give so even buying food is probably not a good idea. Hard. Sara, you'd like to know that the dogs I have seen so far here seem well fed. I did see a really obese dog in Trat, Thailand. It was huge and I wondered why. Then I looked around and it was living right in front of a bakery! One smart dog.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Pizza at airport in Bangkok, waiting for the flight for Nepal
One of the first things I saw yesterday, in the morning when we were out walking, looking for a place to eat breakfast. A group of young boys, about a half dozen of them, about age 10, just standing on the street, were huffing. It deadens the hunger pains. Very sad. There are lots of beggars here too. One mother with a young baby was obnoxious shoving an empty baby bottle in my face. These countries discourage people from giving to beggars in any form. Don't give money, don't give pens, candy or anything as it just encourages more begging. They say to give money to temples, to charities, to foundations, etc. In Thailand you often see lepers begging and it really frowned upon because there are government places for lepers. They are taken care of and they are given their medication. On the street they are not taking their medication like they should. It is really hard sometimes on the street to NOT give. I have been known to buy food for a hungry small child on the street but I don't give money. It is common in India for parents to purposly disable a child so people will find pity and give so even buying food is probably not a good idea. Hard. Sara, you'd like to know that the dogs I have seen so far here seem well fed. I did see a really obese dog in Trat, Thailand. It was huge and I wondered why. Then I looked around and it was living right in front of a bakery! One smart dog.
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