It was time to hit the road again. The boys were going home today. I always made them realise that they were gate-crashing my time out. They were suppose to be flying out with their fellow students but since that fell through, they were to go on their own. I was a little concerned especially since Air Paradise were having problems with keeping schedules due to a plane needing some maintanence. I had heard that they had their planes serviced by the Singapore Airline Mechanics. So dropping them off meant that we weren't going to be sure if they were actually leaving and we were staying in Ubud for the next few nights. We decided that we would go to Ubud first to drop off our things so that we didn't have them in the car at the airport and because we wanted to see in daylight where we were staying in the daylight. Good thing we did, but later for that.
We drove to Amlapura to fill up with fuel. This was so easy, like home except it isn't self serve, and we always got a buzz out of seeing their faces as these two white women come to fill up with fuel. For those interested we put in just over 33ltrs and it cost us approx $9.30 Aud. And we had travelled 325 kms up to this point.
I had always heard about the road through Sideman and how lovely it was. I really wanted to look at the material called Songket. It is the beautiful material that is used for important uses like ceremonies, It has gold or silver threads woven through it and apparently Sideman is known for it. We travelled a lovely windy road to Bangbangbiaung, Selat then turned down the Sideman road. Through Klungkung to Gianya. We had travelled about 2 hrs by this time. I didn't get to stop in Sideman but next time, most definitely to find the elusive beautiful material.
We finally got to Ubud and went to go down the road that we thought would take us to our villas, when we realised that it was just a walkway. Stupid map books!!! It didn't differentiate between small roads and walkways. We were headed to Sunset Hill villas. This was a hard place for me to track down, with many emails and a call for help on the forums. This beautiful place is owned by a French architect and his lovely Indonesian, business woman, wife. It's very private and is perched on the Woos river in Bangkiansidem across the gorge from the Neka Museum. There is a walk in the Lonely Planet that goes right past it. A really lovely walk. Jenny's phone hadn't been charged up and so we followed our noses. I think that maybe I should tell you that I have been in five car rally's and won all five, so my nose isn't too bad to follow. She was driving and decided to do a three point turn when 'bang' she reversed into a tree. Suddenly there was this rouse of applause and we turned , and to her embarrassment, there were about 50 school children all applauding her. It didn't go down too well. Very little damage, to the car, that is, but her pride was a little battered. We ended up on this dirt, holey track the likes that I have never been down before, but we found it! It's right next to Klub Koko's, yet another great place. The owner's an Aussie wife and Balinese husband were so helpful in helping me find Sunset Hill. It was 2pm. Time to off load then hit the road to take the boys to the airport.
Time to change back to the Jimny, so the owner, Nyoman was waiting for us at the airport. Because the boys were just turned 15 and 16, they could get assistance for the journey. I thought that it would be a good idea, especially going through customs at home. We tried to see the plane take off, but there is no viewing platform, so I kept asking at the desk and when they finally assured me that they were gone, we drove back to Ubud. The drive seemed to take ages in the dark and as we were on the small roads back to the villa, there were loads of people, a ceremony! On this tiny dirt track!
We hadn't had tea but I had bought some cheeses and crackers and we sat and had a real cup of tea with some chocolate. Finally, a time to breathe.
The rooms are beautiful, all individual villas, about 8 of them I think. With the morning we took a good look at our surroundings. We sat in the open aired dining area, just a few tables and we ate from beautiful Noritake dinner ware, fruit, freshly made bread and homemade jam, Lipton tea in a tea pot. We just sat quietly as we gazed over the gorge in absolute peace and wonder. This was home for us. Lanny, the owner was soooo wonderful. Her husband was away, which was a shame because I really wanted to catch up with him. He had lived in Australia for 20 years. I wanted to talk designs with him as I was designing our own home. But alas, it would have to keep until the next time.
Lanny showed us her home and I organised to have a massage, until then it was down to the infinity pool that sits on the edge of the gorge. I had a few calls to make as I was looking at buying some stoneware for my new house and had done quite a bit of research into who and how, but later for that.
I had never stayed in Ubud before, so there was a lot to see. It most definitely has a different feel to the south of the island. It was the place for me I think. We walked into town, about a km or more walk. Just right. We had heard so much about Honeymoon Guest house and the wonderful bakery called Casa Luna that we decided to stop for afternoon tea (we forgot all about lunch). Mmmmm, too much to choose from. I chose the Choc yoghurt cake and the apple crumble cake so that I could try both. Of course I let Jenny eat the other halves. Since going to Bali, we drink a lot of ice tea. So refreshing, without having water or fizzy drink. So we had a couple of those.
We walked through the markets and saw a lovely jewellery store, right in the middle of it. The prices were a little dear for my liking, but what a lovely collection to choose from. Another next time as money was short. Not much shopping this time thanks to Paul Harvey.
We were on a mission though. We walked down Monkey Forrest road, down past the soccer pitch and found Lamak! Another restaurant on my list with the mental note of coming back for dinner that night. Onward bound, with my trusty diary in hand... We continued until we found the Graha hotel on the left and on the right was the sign for Verona's spa. Down an alley100m and booked for tomorrow. The Lot for 260,000rps. Off back home and dressed for dinner.
Lamaks was a very upmarket looking place and the prices were a bit up there for Bali but half the price of what you would pay here in Australia. We walked in and saw Lanny with a friend and another couple that were staying at Sunset Hill. Well the food was beautiful and I was told not to go past the soufflé. Well I didn't. The menu said to give them 20min warning but I thought that it was out much quicker. What kind of soufflé would you like?? I got the raspberry sauce soufflé, with real raspberry sauce ( I know that there is a real name for it, but it escapes me for the moment).
We were going to walk home. We mentioned this to the waitress and she looked a little worried and asked if we were scared. Not a bit. We really could have done with a torch though. O.k mental note for next time. It was a good thing that we did walk as we found out later that Lanny and her friend weren't allowed to get through to home because of a ceremony and had to go back into town for another 2hrs.
Needless to say, we slept well.