Today they wanted motorbikes and had found the confidence to give it a go after being a bit put off early on. The bulk of us grabbed taxis while the bike riders followed and we set out for a day on Sanur Beach. Once there we all did our own thing for a few hours including massage, Plait your hair and manicures. Lunch was lovely right on the beach and we were happy to pump some money into that area as there were hardly any tourists to be seen compared to Kuta.
Some then went motorbiking for a few hours, some went back to do the Kuta thing and two of us and Ketut went to mackro. We spent up big and half filled his van. We bought pens pencils rulers rubber sharpeners exercise books - beatdine bandaids panadol all ages balms and lotions sanitary pads shampoo toothpaste tooth brushes soap washing powder - Milk powder sugar milo cooking oil biscuits chuppa chupps and toys. Can't remember any more but in most cases we boutgh carton quantaties and 100 of anything we thought they'd need 1 each like toothe brushes. The toys were actullay bought at Mataharis by my husband and kids - this was there responsibility.
Ketut took the stuff back to his village and returned to collect us the next morning. The 18 of us arrived there a liitle nervous but spent a few hours there and had a wonderful time. Later confessions would reveal that all were fighting back tears on arriving and leaving. What can I say the kids are beautiful and live with next to nothing. The buildings are very basic and mostly unfinished. There is a wing that has been donated by a South Australian FM station bless them. They farm pigs here and have 70. This is there only income a part from a few government handouts that don't cover the electricity bill. The smell is really special. You'd just have to go to get the picture here, my main memories are of the kids.
We all looked around the place in small groups and each had an entourage of kids with us. They climbed trees for coconuts to give us a drink and by and large we had a nice time together. They have swings and would sit together with our kids on them just wanting to be close. Some had english and listened with great interest to all being said. Ketut and I whipped up to the village to get all the stuff and while we were gone the kids did a dance and some singing. I was spewing to have missed out on this and only got to see how funny it was on the video. They got all of our group up and involved and again it was very funny. We took in the loads of stuff and the kids helped. When the toys were being handed out it started a near rit that Ketut had to resolve for us. The joy and desperation to recieve a frisbee or tennis ball showed us a lot. We settled them down by handing out chuppa chupps.
All of us had brought bags of clothes accross and while it seemed inconvenient having so much stuff laying around the hotel it was now a blessing and all were glad to have helped. About 25- 30 bags in total. I'll be back there in any of my future visits as I have a better handle on what they need now and can start organising at this end. They really need sheets and pillowcase for instance and I have a cupboard full as does everyone I've talked to back here.
After this we went to Made's compound for a Blainese feast that had some of us ecstatic and others turning grey. For those of us who had done the cooking class here we knew what to expect but the germaphobes were really struggling. All but 3 feasted and enjoyed the fabulous food and hospitality. The 3 scardy cats apologised and told Made they had crook guts. We'd already worded her up on their fears and she was enjoying a good laugh about it out the back with a couple of us. My main partner in crime Jen and I were in stitches watching the looks of horror as they examined the food preparation areas and the kitchen. When in Rome - don't look in the kitchen.
After this sensational lunch that cost a total of 200.000rp split 18 ways we were off to Ubud. One van load returned to Kuta - mainly the kids. In Ubud it was off to the markets with instructions to Rendezvous at the Monkey Forest in 3 hours. Jen and I had done all this before and were keen to branch out a bit and look at Art. This was my personal agneda for the trip to bring back some special pieces - and I did. Now while in Ubud I also had to meet with Gloria from Bali Crisis Care as I had another stash of stuff for her and was just overjoyed to be able to unload it at long last and all in one day. Co-ordinating our meeting was nothing short of a miracle and only she and I will ever really understand the coincidence blessing or fete that syncronised it all. I had to cut short my art hunt as it was time to go to her family home stay in Hannoman road for our meeting. What a lovely woman. Her adopted balinese daughter is also just an angel. We only had a brief time together due to the maddening pace of this day but managed to cover a lot of ground and photos etc. The medical crisis she's dealing with at the moment is nothing short of horrific. She showed me photos of babies born with all of their organs of the outside of their bodies. 8 of these had been born in 6 weeks and so far there was no common link. None from the same village etc. This is why she was in Ubud, to meet with goverment medical officials re this crisis. She had also just been to the cremation of the owner of her clinic. With him dying now the clinic has an uncertain future and recently her van was torched and burnt to the ground. Now these are the bad things we discussed but she is amazingly upbeat and so happy to emphasise all the wonderful success stories. More about this if you ask me.
After this we all met up and it was back to Kuta. Couldn't even tell you what we did then - hope I got a massage - need one just remebering that day. Bali the Beauty and the Beast.
I'll try and wrap this ting up in two more JBR's. Thanks for your enthusiastic replies. There's still so much more though.
Happy Travels
Nicno