Day 2 - Friday 14th October
Awoke at 6.15 am which is extremely unusual for me but I guess this is part and parcel of the time difference. I usually have trouble getting up before 8 am at home. Mark was very surprised at this. We had showers and dressed and went to the hotel restaurant at 7 am for breakfast. It was already very hot even at this time. Could have been that we were not use to it either though after coming from rain and cold at home. Mark had 2 fried eggs and bacon with toast, orange juice and coffee while I had an omelette with ham, cheese, tomato and mushroom, toast and orange juice. Was all very nice. Full breakfast was included in our free package and although I rarely eat breakfast at home I was determined to make the most of it while we were on holidays.
After breakfast we went for a walk down Jalan Kartika Plaza. We stopped in at the Kodak shop (next to Dynasty Hotel, I think) and had some more money changed over. The average rate while we were away was about 7 500 Rp to each AUS $. I was very happy with this as last year it was about 6 500 Rp so this meant more shopping for me and as Mark will tell you I hate to shop. LOL.
Bought a cloth Bali handbag for 40 000 Rp (AUS $5.33). Stopped in at Jenny's shop which is opposite the Green Garden Hotel on Jalan Kartika Plaza. Bought a long sleeve cotton embroidered top and 2 bad girl skirts for myself for 110 000 Rp (AUS $14.67). Paid a little too much as was getting better prices for the rest of our stay but I was happy so that was all that mattered. Bought a carton of Longbeach 20's 60 000 Rp (AUS $8.00) and roll on deoderant for myself (She Sweet, this smells so good I could eat it) 8 000 Rp (AUS $1.07) and deoderant for Mark (Inuoi Noir) 12 000 Rp (AUS $1.60). We had a chuckle when we noticed that Inuoi also had deoderant with Tobaco (this is how it was spelt on the can) scent. We are both smokers but could not imagine having deoderant that smelt like tobacco.
We continued to walk down Jalan Kartika Plaza towards Kuta Square where we met up with Russ another Aussie guy from Sydney who we had met that was also staying at the Bali Prani. We stopped and had a drink with him at Pandan which is opposite Discovery Mall on Jalan Kartika Plaza. We all had a coke which came to 31 000 Rp (AUS $4.13) however we just paid them 40 000 Rp (AUS $5.33).
While at Pandan we also booked to do Bali buggies followed by white water rafting on Sunday through Nyomen at Bali Sightseeing. He is the little both next to Pandan. He is also a moneychanger and is very honest to deal with (no money shuffling tricks). Cost us 1 995 000 Rp (AUS $266.00) for both of us. This included transport, insurance and lunch.
We then continued our walk down Jalan Kartika Plaza toward Kuta Square and were ushered into a stall by a guy named Eric Banna. From here we bought a black polo top, Nike t-shirt and volcom boardshorts for Mark and a pair of white beaded flip flops for myself for 150 000 Rp (AUS $20.00). Had to do the hard haggle with him though as he wanted much more than this and we actually walked out of his stall at one point only to have him agree to our price. Also bought a pair of Arnette sunglasses for myself a few doors down from here for 40 000 Rp (AUS $5.33).
We decided to head back to our hotel as it was so hot and spend some time relaxing around the pool and have a swim. At 11 am H elgie came to our hotel to drop off the PS2, fixed and chipped, and our DVD and PS2 game orders. From the 198 DVD's ordered he was only able to supply 134 and from the 130 PS2 games he supplied us with 100. We paid 1 810 000 Rp (AUS $241.33) for the DVD's and games which included 53 free discs and 5 free DVD cases. It cost us 600 000 Rp (AUS $80.00) to have our PS2 chipped and 200 000 Rp (AUS $26.67) to have the controller ports replaced (Mark had stuffed these up while trying to install a chip he had purchased on our last trip to Bali). From all the discs we only had a couple that needed to be replaced which H elgie did with no problems and they now are fine. The PS2 is working well and Mark and are girls are all happy they can now play not only the games we got this time but the ones we had purchased last year that they had not been able to try out.
We decided to get a blue cab to Enhay Café which is at Arcade Bendesa No. 6 - 7 Jalan Benesari, Kuta for lunch. This was our favourite place to eat on our last trip. It is not only cheap but you are always guaranteed of great food and service. Donny who owns it is the loveliest guy so we were keen to go and say hello to him also. Unfortunately when we got there Donny was not there as he was unwell. This is a great place to come with kids as Donny used to work on a cruise ship and if you are not able to find something on the extensive menu to please or there is something you particularly want, if he has the ingredients he will make it for you. Mark had spring rolls 8 500 Rp (AUS $1.13), Enhay beef burger 17 500 Rp (AUS $2.33) and a small bintang 7 000 Rp (AUS $0.93) while I had nasi goreng 12 000 Rp (AUS $1.60) and an arak attack 8 500 Rp (AUS $1.13). The total bill came to 52 000 Rp (AUS $6.93). We paid 70 000 Rp (AUS $9.33).
After lunch we stopped in at Bagus Pub in Poppies II for a couple of drinks. Mark had a small bintang 10 000 Rp (AUS $1.33) while I had another arak attack 14 000 Rp (AUS $1.87). While in Poppies II we bought a six pack of bintang stubby holders for 30 000 Rp (AUS $4.00) and I bought 2 chiffon tops for 60 000 Rp (AUS $8.00).
We then headed back got a cab back to our hotel to cool off and prepare for our evening out as we were booked to go on the Bali Hai sunset dinner cruise for our 10 year wedding anniversary. When we got back to the hotel I went to the bar in the restaurant to see if I could get another arak attack to drink by the pool. I was shown an extensive drinks menu and then informed that all they had to offer was bintang or soft drink. Unfortunately this would be the only complaint I would have about our stay here. As we had bintang and duty free Jim Beam in our room I decided to have one of our bintangs instead.
I needed to have some clothes ironed for tonight so spoke to reception to see if they had an ironing service or an iron that I could use. Within a couple of minutes Ayu appeared at our room with an iron where she promptly ironed my clothes for me while I had a swim. When I asked her how much I owed her for the ironing she said that there was no charge but I gave her 10 000 Rp (AUS $1.33) and several new outfits, a small stuffed toy and a clip on koala for her 2 year old daughter. She was very grateful and happy with this. This small gesture also bought about a wonderful new friendship between Ayu and us.
At 4 pm we showered and dressed to prepare for our dinner cruise. At 4.45 pm we were picked up from the hotel by a driver sent by Bali Hai in a very nice new van. We arrived at Benoa Harbour at about 5 pm and were greeted by welcome ladies dressed in traditional Balinese costume who placed a frangipani lei around our necks. We were given a welcome drink and then waited on the grassed area to board the cruise boat. At 5.30 pm we had a photo taken with the welcome girls and then proceeded to board the cruise boat. Once on board we were given canapes to eat while awaiting everyone else to board. There was only about 20 people on the cruise that evening although Mark thought this was great as he said it meant he did not have to line up at the buffet.
At 5.45 pm the cruise boat departed the harbour and there was a lifejacket demonstration. After the cruise director's announcement we were ushered onto the sundeck to watch the sunset and listen to the band (Trio Batakos Singers) that were playing. They were more than happy to play any requests anyone had. The sunset was absolutely gorgeous and the staff were only too happy to assist with taking photos.
At 6.15 pm we returned to the main deck for where a buffet dinner was served. The buffet consisted of corn soup, teriakyi chicken, beef steak in BBQ sauce, vegetarian noodles (spicy), steamed rice, ham, prawns, sauteed vegies, potato salad, greek salad, corn salad with avocado dressing, smoked marlin, steamed seafood with Balinese spice, pasta salad, beef curry, whole baked snapper and fresh bread rolls followed by Balinese cakes, pastries, fresh fruit and cheese and crackers. All the food was absolutely gorgeous and we both ate heaps. During dinner a female singer and a male keyboard player on the main deck entertained us. They were very good. However if you preferred quiet background music you could sit on the bridge deck to eat.
Drinks was the only thing you had to pay for only the cruise. Mark had a couple of bourbon and cokes 35 000 Rp (AUS $4.67) while I enjoyed several cocktails 30 000 Rp (AUS $4.00). In actual fact I had 5 different cocktails whilst on board (a tropical moon, star passion, pluto's punch, baileys comet and an eclipse). After we had finished eating we were encouraged to get up and dance by the singer and staff. I was in fine form by this stage and actually ended up being the only one up with one of the cabin crew dancing up a storm. We had a great time. After some time a few others finally lost their inhibitions and joined us on the dance floor. At 7.30 pm the buffet was cleared away although dessert remained available until 8 pm. A cabaret floor show then commenced at 7.30 pm on the main deck while a band played on the bridge deck. The cabaret show was very enjoyable and their costumes were very elaborate. We did not see all of it as we went onto the bridge deck to enjoy some of the band playing up there as well. At 8 pm the cabaret show finished and we proceeded back up to the bridge deck to continue listening to the band. As I was firing on all pistons by this stage I ended up getting up singing with the band. This is not a usual occurance for me. In actual fact the more I drink the less likely I am to get up and sing even though I am known as a party girl. Mark thought this was quite funny and captured this along with many other events of the evening on video. I am sure to not hear the end of it for quite some time.
At 8.45 pm the cruise boat returned to the jetty. It was all over so quickly but we had a great time. As we were leaving the boat we were shown the photo which they had taken prior to us boarding. There was not obligation to purchase but we bought ours as a momento of the fantastic evening we had on board. It only cost 30 000 Rp (AUS $4.00) and is a sensational photo of us together. Once we had departed the boat we were transported back to our hotel and were in bed asleep by about 10.30 pm. What a fantastic way this was to celebrate our anniversary. We will remember it for a long time to come and feel it was worth the money we had paid for it. We had booked and paid as part of our travel package so I'm not exactly sure how much it cost us but I think it was around $50 each.
Cheers
Balibabe