Sat 9th ...........
Up early today as it's my cooking class at Bumbu Bali, had to be there by 10am. Felt quite strange driving in, it was the first time i've ever driven in Bali on my own. Soon arrived and found parking spot easily, went into Bumbu Bali where our cooking area had been arranged, they had put three tables together with places laid out for us and also on the table were the gas rings and all the ingredients that would be needed. Greeted by I Mede who was to take the class, given kopi and met the only other two participants. Brian and Steven who came from Victoria, they are both professional chefs so I was in a minority as I am only a pleasure chef. Talked for a while and was amazed to find that we all had all used some of the same recipes from Charmaine Soloman, just goes to show that cooking has no frontiers.
I Mede gave a talk to start with before we went across to the market to have a look at the produce on sale and be given an idea on how to buy and use the many spices and ingredients needed to cook with. We all bought some mineral meat tenderiser which is volcanic in origin.After a very extensive tour and mobile lecture we returned to the Bumbu Bali to get on with the serious stuff. This class is a sit,watch,query and try type. As it progressed we learnt how to use spices sparingly as we all know how easy it is to go to HOT !! and then not enjoy the flavours. We went through six different dishes using meat,chicken, fish and vegetable. At the end after trying all of these dishes we were certainly well fed, it was finished by I Mede making for us a fruit platter with coconut pancake washed down with brem (rice wine) and rose syrup sprite, all in all a very good few hours was spent and hopefully when I return home and visit the Chinese Wholesaler I will have all the ingredients I need to try to put into practice what we were taught. We were each given a Bumbu Bali recipe book and very smart black and white apron.
I returned to Santi by 3pm where Liz had been lazing by the pool in what was now increasing heat up in the mid 30's.
We went for a walk along the river Panaraga Giri, The Santi Mandala is built on both sides of this river, any one interested in having a look at this Resort and Spa go to <www.santimandalaresort.com> .
We went and ate at Prahda in Ubud, the restaurant part is on the first floor and we were able to look over into the palace and see the Legong dance going on. We had crispy duck which was heavenly.
Sun 10th .........
Started out by the pool, today it was hotter again at least 38c, but by midday we felt it was time to go into Ubud to buy any last minute prezzies etc. Dropped into Yanvan's to get my ring which they had to enlarge, then returned to Santi to laze away the afternoon before we went in to Ubud again (it's no more than 10 mins away) and ate at Lotus in Monkey Forest Rd, food very good bit more expensive than other places , I had an amazing Sri-Lankan fish curry, loads of flavour and heat, remember to try this again next time in Bali.
Mon 11th .........
Oh dear, the realisation that we only have two more days to go before we return home is upon us, suddenly our time in Bali is running out and we don't want to go home.
Again very hot, might be hotter than yesterday but when in pool it doesn't seem to matter, especially when you get brought wonderful fruit platters and kopi to keep you going.
Later on we popped into Sukawati to wander before going up to Gyaniar, where we bought a large koi made out of shell, I thought it seemed like a good idea at the time.
Found the Bintang Pusat Belanja (super market) just out side Ubud, prices good, we decided to buy two new suitcases so we could get all we had bought home ok. Found they had those Polo brand ones at very good prices , so bought two.
We ate at Griya (opp Miros) and I had the beef sate again, love their beef sate, wonderful as usual, then after eating our last evening meal in Ubud returned to sit and contemplate on the verandah on how much we had enjoyed the time we had spent in Bali again, drifted off to sleep to the sounds of water and frogs !.
Tues 12th ......
This is it, last full day. Pool in morning just as hot then into Ubud to finally buy last bits. Bought spices,mortar &pestel etc returned to drop off those items before we took the jeep back to The Three Brothers, again this time we had had no trouble with the jeep so next time we will hire from them again. After more kopi ( by now you must have realised how addicted to Bali kopi we are) we returned by the shuttle bus with some Taiwanese who worked in Singapore. We were greeted by another cake !!, this time they called it a 'happiness cake' in celebration of our time spent with them, they do know how to poil you. As usual we could not eat all of it so brought a good half back to them to share around the staff. After being at breakfast one day when another couple brought back some of their anniversary cake to be shared amongst the staff we reckon it's a crafty way of keeping them selves supplied with cake !.
Had our last supper, had to have Tom Yam soup again it's hot but the flavours our so wonderful. Spent the remainder of the evening chatting to Putu on reception, talking a great deal about music as were Dire Straight/Police'Stones fans, have to try and send him some T-shirts with stones on for him(I did). Still remember last year when we had a late session with some of the staff, singing (well we called it singing)Dire Strait tracks to the strumming of a guitar, really good night that. Anybody interested in last years trip around a fair bit of Bali look in archives under <The very,very,late JBR !!!!!> 22/05/04.
Oh yes we saw the Alu again today this time swimming in the river so he's still around.
If any of you might wonder why we didn't go to any of the main temples and other places of interest we have done them before, but it's not to say we won't do them again someday.
Weds 13th ........
Went to weigh our luggage, horrors !! so over weight, so we went through and left some clothes and stuff behind, still over but not so bad.
Wayan (the manager) gave us a 1kg of special kopi that he had had his wife go and obtain for us, and then Putu presented us with a box which had some more kopi this time in a tin, we are so lucky to have found such a wonderful place to stay, with such wonderful people there to look after you, we again have made more friends. Forgot to mention that we went and had a look at The 'T' Houses outside Ubud on the Sukawati road. These are made out of iron wood (99 yearslife they say) they are built on land owned by a village which you lease for 30 years,which is re-leasable. The houses themselves are bought and owned by you. They come in 1/2/3 bedroom sizes and are very reasonably priced, has to be a thought. You are able to rent them out if you want to when you are not using them your selves. Finally we took our leave after many good byes and went back to Ngurah Rai, flight left on time and eventually we landed at Heathrow in the RAIN, and then had to walk across the tarmac to the shuttle bus to take us to the arrivals area, not a good way to return.
Again Malaysian Airways were excellent, after clearing the baggage hall we had to return home by train as my brother in law was unable to meet us, and our cases returned home looking as though they had been in some sort of wrestling match, handles hanging off plastic clips broken etc, and rivets come away. So the moral of this short story is of course, don't buy fake named cases, they ain't as good.
Ironically enough not long after we returned home a local store had a half price sale on luggage so we bought more cases this time though there is triple stitching on the handles and the rivetted ones have proper burred over rivets ets, all we now have to do is book up again and use them.
There's no doubt about it Bali is in our blood, it's as though we have been looking for Bali all our lives but did not realise it until recently, everyday at some point I find myself thinking of someone/someplace or sometime in Bali. We have to return 'home' again sometime, hopefully soon, until then as our first driver in Bali would say 'enjoy the day'.