Well, We arrived Thursday afternoon from Syd via Melb and I left Sat night - again Syd via Melb. Not the way I would have chosen to do it but that was the only way I could get my Christmas trip to Bali in this yr.
Funnily enough, I had the same crew on the way back as on the way over. By the time I reboarded the aircraft for the last time after transit in Melb I remarked that I felt I was going through a revolving door and the steward just laughed and suggested I was in the movie Groundhog Day.
I bought so much stuff at Geneva and it came to about $150 - 3 trolleys full and 2 boxes later plus a shopping bag! The things i bought (tray sets, coasters, table runners, candles) will be given as gift packs to teachers as I haveone child leaving high school and my youngest leaving primary school. Better than any box of chocolates! Plus I bought handbags, wind chimes to replace my old broken ones, laundry hampers etc.
Indo National was excellent for eating again, and Billy's was good. Warung 96 was a disappointment this time.
My friend went to the shoe warehouse near Poco Loco but I thought they were too tizzy and instead bought my standard normal sandles from a little shop opp.(sort of) Indo National for 25,000 rup again.
While waiting for us at the shoe warhouse a friend gave 10,000 to a beggar with a baby. He then saw her get another donation within that time and still stay there. His observation was that she would probably be making much more than the people working. No wonder the Balinese do not support giving to the beggars (yes, I kow it is hard not to but I have often given food instead) because they may be doing quite well out of it.
And to those who knew how concerned I was about the girl who "was framed" for drug importing. Well, in the end I took all my donated clothing which was gratefully accepted. I padlocked my Bali Bag and then put tape all around it and over the side pockets which could not be locked. I vowed I would not go near my bag if it looked like the tape had been disturbed. There were a LOT of padlocked bags, and hard cases on that carousel (or was it just my imagination?)
It really did unnerve me but I am glad that I was a big girl about it and the look on the guy from the Adhi Dharma who took my stuff to distribute to his village (I hope - but better than the rag bag here) was worth it all. Makes you feel all warm and fuzzy and now my travelling companions will do the same next time as well.
That's it folks, rate was 6800rp.