'Flamingos walk and sway in peace, seeing this, it makes my troubles cease. The sun is hiding leaving a pink scar. It stretches right across the sky, that's all we see so far....' [Ross Wilson - A Touch of Paradise]
...Well maybe its not exactly about Bali but that song plays in my head as we sit at Billys Esky on the beach watching the sunset...It's as if all is in slow motion, the boys playing beach soccer, the slightest breeze just barely giving respite from the heat and a blur of color stretching across the horizon....
....Hang on, what the...'.hey lady you want watch, give you cheap price, hey lady you want sunglasses, I give you cheap price, hey lady you want'.....hey hey hey....
Mmmn the magic moment is broken as the touts invade my brainspace and I am jolted back to the reality of Legian Beach....
A few days earlier...
Arriving in Bali docking at the gate about a half a click away from arrivals, why oh why do we always get this one... Anyway there must be another 2 planes which have arrived as there are queues at VOA and immigration. As I already have a visa I go to the right hand side where Indonesian nationals and Foreigners with visa queue. It took about 10 minutes to get through and in that time I had phone my friend to check he was outside to pick me up and called some aussie friends to check on the party which was being organized for that evening....
All that done thru to collect luggage and customs...one bag off and one bag not, oh well, only about another 10 minutes and am chatting with the customs guy. They don't seem to be interested in my 2 bottles of champagne and he lets me go even though I have some extra cigarettes. I even had my ‘donation' ready to give this guy but he waved me on.... Woohoo I am out, through the doors to my friend who is waiting to pick me up. Just too easy, too quick..
Aahhh , outside the rush of heat that descends upon your body, rather like opening the door to a sauna. It's such a wonderful feeling as your skin starts to glisten with a fine layer of sweat.
Love that drive from the airport. Still remember the first time I ever travelled to bali and oh how the sights have changed. Tuban and Kuta now a frenetic hub, but regardless of the number of times travelled this road I still lap it up as if it were the first.
My home for this trip is Downtown Villas in Seminyak where I stayed at xmas time. The unassuming entrance to the villas, no signage whatsoever embodies the tranquility and privacy offered at this stunning property. There is no check-in, they wave me in and tell me to go straight to my Villa. After a few minutes I am greeted with an icy cold welcome drink and yet again I feel like I have arrived home...
Later that afternoon...
Well after settling and unpacking clothes, my friend and I head to Bintang supermarket to do a quick shop to stock the bar fridge, go pick up my champagne supply [thanks Kerry & Milton]. It would be a dry argument without you guys...we drop off some medicine for a friends daughter who has the flu and stop in at Billys Bar in Garlic lane to see the boys and check on things for the birthday party that night.
I had asked some other friends Pat & Jim to organize the birthday cake for Jack and Alex and it is sensational. Thanks to AngieC [aka Double D, you had to be at Bob's bali party in January to know how that came about, you really are a bad influence Angie] who recommended Bali Bakery. Mate, you are a wealth of information .
The cake is huge and beautifully decorated, a chocolate mud cake...The cost was around $40 AUD and worth every cent. This is the only place to go if you want something special...
That evening about 15 of us meet at Billys Bar to celebrate birthdays for Jack and Alex who work at the restaurant . Its great to catch up with everyone again as it has been a year since we gathered in Bali as a group from Qld, SA, Vic and NSW. I had taken brightly coloured frangipani leis with me for everyone to wear that night including the staff and there were balloons and streamers up thanks to Pat and Jim. The cake was the highlight of the night for the boys as we all sang happy birthday and cracked the champagne. One of them asked for a photo of the cake as they had never had a birthday cake before - one of our traditions, not theirs it's amazing what you take for granted.
You know it's the little things that make you stop and think how lucky am I. Good friends, and a cold glass of champagne who could ask for more.....