A Gift for You All…Merry Christmas!

“What would you do if I sang out of tune

Would you stand up and walk out on me?

Lend me your ears and I’ll sing you a song

And I’ll try not to sing out of key…”

(With a little help from my friends- The Beatles)

This certain section of the song kept playing in my head as I was uploading this song on the blog.

A whole more than a year ago, we attempted to make this recording as a gift for all our friends on the Christmas of 2009. We did not suceed then, but we had to this year. With much lack of practice, being a wee bit out of tune, but with a whole lotta love, and soul, the kids of Belang Singapadu belt out their rendition of a free spirited version of John Lennon’s contemplative Christmas hit- Happy Xmas (War is Over).

Please click on the link below, and download this gift we have sung for you:

Happy Xmas (War is Over)

We did try not to sing out of key, but then again, in a way, we didn’t! Thank you for lending your ears!

To all our dear friends, THANK YOU ALL! and have a MERRY, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

…and the funds keep tumblin’ in…

Over the past few months, donations of books and clothes are still coming in, and we are grateful for that. It is grounding for us to reflect, that which is superfluous for one, can be an essential for another. Thank you all who’ve still been giving.

Collecting is one hurdle, the next stride would be to bring it over to Bali. 2 wonderful people have heeded our plea and taxed their holiday-geared souls to lug bagfuls of donated clothes for us to sell here. Chee Meng and Asma, Bless you Both (in a secular way)!

Chee Meng with the little male dancers of the village Saba in Bali

I thank my mum also, who packed and posted the rest of the donated clothes over. Thanks mum, it’s arrived! Here it is flanked by our good friend, our landlord, our Banjar Saraswati dance teacher- Made Cat, and his lovely 2 year old son- Diva Adi Darma-

Finally, a big THANK YOU to an amazing lady, Putu (also our Banjar Saraswati’s dance teacher), who sorted the clothes, priced them, and sold them. Had we done without her aid, the bags of clothes could not have metamorphosized into funds!

Putu Rahayu, Friend and Dance Teacher for Banjar Saraswati.

So this is how, till now, our funds are constantly replenished. With gratitude and the consideration that we’re using money belonging to a cause, we’ll continue to strive to put the funds into good use.

take some TIME to READ this PLEASE

The JUNE HOLIDAYS are almost upon us, and with the economic crisis and the swine flu abound, many of us will be crackin’ our heads on WHERE TO GO.

Where’s CHEAP, CONVENIENT, relatively out of the way of bad news, CULTURALLY COLORFUL, has BEAUTIFUL SCENERY, and topping it off, have friends there to provide some inside info?

BALI, OF COURSE!

If you’re one of the fortunate few to have your “karma” bring you to do this magical mystical tour, do PAY IT FORWARD, any way you want, if you know how to.

If you don’t…well, here are a FEW THINGS YOU CAN DO THROUGH BANJAR SARASWATI-

1.    Come visit the few elementary schools we’ve  “adopted”. You can conduct fun/educational activities with the children there, or simply come read them a story.
2.    Donate used clothes, shoes or bags that are in good condition. We sell these at very affordable prics to the villagers to raise funds.
3.    Donate very simple English children story books.
4.    Tell your friends about us!

We have also collected clothes, and these will still be stored in Singapore as we have no other means to bring them over. We transport these clothes over when we head back to Bali everytime after a short break in Singapore.

WE NEED YOUR HELP IN BRINGING THEM OVER IF YOU OR YOUR FAMILY/FRIENDS ARE COMING TO BALI.

5 kg packs ready to go, destination BALI!

We have packed them in 5kg bags, unsealed for your inspection. If you wish to help, in any of the ways mentioned above, please contact us by dropping an email to :

banjarsaraswati@gmail.com

Peace and Goodwill be upon all.