Saturday
As the hotel pool water is so warm, I thought I'd try a swim in the ocean, I've always been somewhat wary given how dirty the beach and water usually is. This time though, it's spotless. What's changed I wonder? Really enjoyed body surfing in the waves, will definitely take advantage of staying by the beach and do this again.
We thought we'd try Zucchini for lunch today. It's just a little place on Jl Oberoi opposite the Champagne bar place (which i just think looks a really odd establishment by the way). We had salads with Beef Scaloppini and Crispy Fried Eggplant Scaloppini. They have a selection of salads to choose from each day and I really enjoyed it, which is saying something as being a good northerner I have to work hard at eating salads and fruit, took a big effort to overlook the Steak sandwich I can tell you, but glad I did. Salads were great.
It was mega hot, almost a clear blue sky and the sun was quite intense. Mar Missus tried vainly to do a little shopping but poor luv was wilting, so we retreated to our room and watched a movie I'd loaded onto the ipad. A bit sad I guess but we are really trying to relax this holiday.
We dragged ourselves out of bed for the second time, prettied ourselves up and went to Breezes at the Samaya for Martini's. It is a great spot this right on the beach with the ocean spray lit up by floodlights. It's a beautiful evening, we've just missed the sunset but never mind, I do enjoy watching the planes coming in to land. Am I the only one that finds this transfixing?
We plumbed for Bistrot for dinner this evening. This is a new place on Jl Oberoi tucked away in the corner near the weird champagne bar place. It used to be a furniture shop but is now a French Bistro. It's a two storey affair, not all that dissimilar to Mama Sans, but quite unusually decorated. I really like the photographs of India on the walls, but struggle to see how they fit into the French bistro style.
We went for the Steaks with MM having the Entrecote with Fries and Bernaise and me having the Tenderloin with Dauphinouise, Asparagus and Green Pepper Sauce. Very yum indeed. The (English?) maitre'd was a little overly formal and only warmed up a little when describing the dessert specials, one look at the girl clearly confirmed she had never had dessert in her life so I ignored everything she said and went for the Chocolate Mouse. I looooove chocolate mouse and you don't see it all that often. Twas delicious by the way.
We managed to tee up to meet with some friends who happen to be in Bali at the same time and we enjoyed a couple of hours chinwaging when we find them at Mykonos. Enjoyed hearing their motorbike riding stories and the places they've been too since they got here. We've not eaten at Mykonos ourselves was was interested to hear that they had enjoyed their meal. I personally think the Chicken Liver that one friend went for was a very brave choice indeed.
We're moving over to the Semaya where these guys are staying next week and our buddies J and N are arriving there too next week, as we have a one night overlap the 8 of us are going to catch up on Wednesday, should be fun.
Sunday
We slept in after our late night and even missed the hotel breakfast completely. My dad may have just disowned me! We only got up when housekeeping were quite insistent they wanted to do our room, go away..... When we eventually made it out we headed up to Corner Store and forgot they were closed on Sunday, so diverted to Zucchini again and just made their breakfast cut off, glad we did, the 'Green' brekkie MM had looked good and my breakfast Burrito with scrambled eggs, refried beans, salsa and yoghurt was darned tasty. Good coffee too. Sitting under the Mango tree and overlooking the offering idol gardeny thing was very pleasant. We were sharing the shade of the Mango tree with the ladies from a local spa, so the music for the morning was "hallo massaaaaaage", "hallo you wan massaaaaaaage". I think if they ever get a taker, they'd all fall of their little stools in shock.
Time for more shopping, I won't bore you with the details, correction I'm not going to live through it again, but suffice to say I was glad to get back to a lounger at the beach. At least it was a successful trip though. We have just spent a few hours on sunbeds at the grass at the back of the beach in front of the hotel, al la Cottesloe stlye but much more comfortable. I made up some Margarita's and sneaked them down to the loungers. Any body else do this? We later had a happy hour cocktail (you'd better stop counting cocktails now pls) which reminded me why I make my own. They are much better, besides which they only do frozen Margarita's at the pool bar, sorry only 18 year old girls drink these, no?
Had another couple of swims in the surf and notice how packed the beach is. I mean it is a massive beach so doesn't look badly crowded like Bournemouth on a bank holiday or anything, but there are 3 football games going on, volleyball, a ceremony and stacks of people. It is Sunday I guess. Made for a great atmosphere. Everyone very happy doing their own thing as the sun sets.
We can't decide where to go for dinner tonight, we haven't booked anywhere which is freat to be honest. I hate having to be somewhere for a certain time on hols as my life back home is run around my diary. We are toying between Queen's Tandoor and Cafe Jemme. Still can't decide....