...but instead of a few coins or small bills (which they sure not are able to keep), I give them a sodapopdrink, like a local Coke, Fanta or Sprite. The people exploiting children, the beggarkid-pimps aren't far in most cases and toddlers carried aren't necessarily trolling along with their real moms. All is setup for the soft hearted tourists with their ATMs, creditcards and fat wallets. Studies have proven, that slumkids are being used as a tool for this trade. I strongly object that but the kids eyes....
Sure, some may say, they're often a bit young for a drink like that, but given the option of the 3 flavors here, the youngest grab mostly for the dark Coke. Nobody will take a drink away from the kid I gave it to and the adult beggar will opt for the deposit of the empty bottle.
Other kids will surely pop up out of nowhere within seconds, because their watchful eyes were trained on you for quite a while.
In some cases, I had to flee from there because a small crowd of kids quickly attracts a big one!
The dealers of Coca-Cola and Fanta will give you a really good price, if negotiating skills are netural to you. 500 Riels or 8 bottles for a Dollar is the going street-price. Don't get taken there!
If you ask for a photo, they never said "no". Its hot any time of the year and dehydration is a serious problem amongst street kids. Tap water ain't potable here and rain is being delivered free only if you have Rainy Season.
The smiles you'll earn will be genuine and if you're a big spender on beggars, consider financing a well for a community, it will bear your name for about 200$ and be drilled and installed under supervision of a respected German citizen, who lives in rural Tani and is involved in all sorts of community projects like wells and schools for the "have-nots". Contact the admin for an email address to contact if you wish.
The smiles are so adorable and the kids remember you next year, should you return here.
This little Sprite-lover lady drank the whole 10 or 12 oz. oz. bottle in a few minutes!
But be prepared for a few extra bottles for the late kids that did ran far to you. The rumor about the foreigner handing out free quality drinks spread faster, than wildfires in the Californian high desert.
