Today would be the day the newest arrivals got to meet Bali Kuta style. We met for Brekky and having had a few meetings prior to the trip most had maps and an idea of what they wanted to do. Remembering that the road works were a big mess, all else was the usual hussle and bussle. Off to the money changers via Poppies lane 1 I introduced them to my good friends Ketut and Nyoman who have stalls there. They always look after me well and did well themselves out of this group. They also met Herman who is a huge personality who I've always lovingly called " Bloody good Boy". this is how we met as he said this 10 times a day to my kids last trip. He's a scream.
As we chatted curiosity got the better of most and they ended up here there and everywhere mostly getting ripped off and completely out of their depth mathswise. I had advised that a 24hr grace period is a good way to adjust to the currency and see what's on offer before going sick on the shopping. Nuh!!!!
The fifteen year old boy comes running up to me with a price of 725.000rp for 4 t-shirts - Get the picture. He didn't even have rupiah yet let alone an idea of prices. I bought the t's for 160.000rp as mentioned before - black market Billabongs.
They had a wonderful time in Kuta and wasted no time getting into it and booking massages etc. All would lick their wounds in days to come and regret not waiting a day or two to shop. No major blow outs just a few valuable lessons learnt. Over the entire trip they all made many new friends in Kuta and loved the central location. Never a dull moment whcih is a must for teens.
The next day we were off to another much anticipated treat - the mountain bike ride. This was organised months in advance thanks to the JBR I read of Norm's. We contacted Bali Budaya Tours and after a few e-mails re kids sized bikes etc all was sorted. They collected us at 8am at Hard Rock and we drove about 1.5hrs toward Mt Batur??? I know it's the Batur trail anyway. Half of us hadn't been on a bike in 20yrs - OK just me - and were a little apprehensive. No need to worry all went well and again a memory for a lifetime was made. Thankfully the ride is 95% down hill riding your brake a good deal of the way. The peddling on the flats is easy. You get to stop in a market garden, temples, a rattan weaving factory, visit a family compound and have a lunch that is divine and most unexpected as per Norm's observation. We were the only Westerners that we saw on this 2.5hour ride and as happy as we were to see all we saw it seemed they were just as happy to see us. Couldn't possibly count the hellos and smiling faces we saw. High fives to the max to rows of children who rush out and line up as you whizz by. There were a few stacks including one of the guides but no majors.
Two incidents that cracked us up. In the garden where they explained all the cash crops and herbs etc they were proud to show a ground cover that you use to stop bleeding. Much detail on the item was shared. On walking out to the road Tony in our group scratched his leg and it started to bleed. Quick as a flash the guide had a mouthful of this stuff that he was chewing up and then spat it into his hand and stuck it on the cut. Well it did stop bleeding but we were all in stitiches watching Tony and his wife and knowing what was floating around in their heads. We spent the next hour asking Tony how his HIV was and had his Hep C symptons kicked in yet. Next thing the same guide has a crash and cuts his leg. When he catches up at the next stop we ask how he is and he says fine and that he had put Betadine on it. I don't know if he got the joke but I had facial cramping from laughter.
Next funny one was gliding along through a village the tranquility was disturbed by what I thought was a staged gag at first but not. An actual village idiot - quoting guide here - ran down the hill buck naked, spread eagle and waving a spear like thing towards us. You have to imagine that the colour of his skin was black like he was pretty outdoorsy and had never worn clothes in his life, his teeth were so buck as to be horizontal and stick strait out, He had like an afro going on and was blessed down below in a way he wasn't blessed up top. The missing link is the only way to sum up here - sorry. Man that wasn't in the brochure. Some seriously fast peddling was going on right about now.
The guides told us at the next stop that he is harmless and an Idiot and well looked after by the family and village. They didn't call him an idiot to be mean that's just what he is. Very happy man though, seemed to be trying to get us all to pull over for a hug maybe.
This bike ride is a must and something I strongly recommend. We had the lunch together and I don't want too say much here as overtalking something can ruin it for those who will do it. Probably said too much already. The guides are a great bunch and a big part of the fun times we had.
The next adventure was White Water Rafting. I'll make this brief. Ketut organised a sensational price for us and chose the Klung Klung?? area as this is the one with the fewest stairs to get down and none at the other end. They were also happy to include my kids -other companies wouldn't according to the brochures. Due to the size of our group Ketut got to be our guest for free. Man we laughed. Everything was funny on this trip. Again the guides or boaties????? make or break these events. Perfect weather, perfect conditions on the water, perfect and amazing scenery and sights, so glad we did it. Again I was reluctant at first but I have the two kids under 11. They loved it. The older boy got to paddle for the whole thing and the 7 yr old was a very happy passenger next to Mummy. Ketut being the eternal joker was pushed overboard more than once. A great Day. We had lunch at the end and this too was very good - buffet style. Oh and Ketut had to eat with us but was happy to. Those who had WWR before said this was a grade two and quite impressive as it had such a lot of rapids as opposed to others that have more still water. It was about 75% rapids for the whole trip.
Still so much more to tell. I leave out pricng etc to keep the story rolling on but am happy to answer all and any questions.
Bye for now - Still got Makcro and Orphanage to cover, visit of friend in prison, volcano climb, motorbiking and husbands 40th.
Happy Travels