Day 5 - Monday 17th October
Had a bit of a sleep in today. We didn't wake up until 7 am. First thing we noticed was that it had rained quite well overnight and was a lot cooler this morning. We headed across to the hotel restaurant for breakfast. Had the same breakfast as yesterday. Mark had his two fried eggs with bacon, toast, orange juice and coffee and I had another omelette with ham, tomato, cheese and mushroom with toast and orange juice. If you haven't noticed by now I am not a tea or coffee drinker.
At 8.30 am we were picked up by our friend and driver Made to head out to do a bit of shopping. I had insisted Made stop at Makro again on our way as we were going past. As he knew I had been a couple of times before he was curious as to why I needed to go again. I told him I wanted to get something for him. He was very inquisitive as to what I was up to but I told him he would just have to wait and see. Once at Makro I proceeded inside on my own while Mark and Made waited in the car for me. Again I got a temporary card for the day at the service desk. Firstly picked up another drum of chuppa chups to bring home to our girls 41 624 Rp (AUS $5.55) then picked up another power point converter 8 900 Rp (AUS $1.19). This was for Made's parents as we had bought them over an old mobile and needed an adaptor for the charger. We also bought over another old mobile for Made although this one only had a car charger. Lastly I picked up a 24 litre esky for Made 169 900 Rp (AUS $22.65) to use in his van on long trips or even to use at home. Total bill including 22 042 Rp (AUS $2.94) tax for this visit was 242 466 Rp (AUS $32.33). I headed back out to the van where I presented Made with his esky (which was in a box). He had no idea what it was. When I told him it was an esky he was thrilled. He said he had always dreamed of owning an esky. Well he no longer has to dream about it. I told him to make sure it was loaded with ice and in the van for our big trip on Friday out to the school so we could all be sure of cold drinks.
First off we headed out to Sukawati markets. OMG. I am a seasoned shopper don't get me wrong but this place was too much for me. It was just way too confined for me. After a very quick look around we opted to have a little look at the stalls in the street beside the main market building. All we bought from here was two pairs of beaded thongs for 35 000 Rp (AUS $4.67). From here we headed on to Ubud to go to the markets there.
After some serious bargaining bought 1 larger harmony ball for myself and 2 smaller ones, one for each of our girls, for 210 000 Rp (AUS $28.00). She initially wanted a lot more than this but we finally settled on this price. Bought 3 silver chains for them from another stall for 80 000 Rp (AUS $10.67). Also bought 2 long sleeve cotton embroidered tops for 40 000 Rp (AUS $5.33) and a gorgeous long silk kimono for myself for 70 000 Rp (AUS $9.33).
By this time it was definitely time for some lunch so we headed across the road to Ibu Oka for babi guling. What an experience! This was another place where on first impression I was sure we were in for a bout of Bali Belly. On entering you leave your shoes on the step and then sit on grass mats on the floor at low bench type tables. We insisted that Made join us for lunch here. The food was so yummy however we did not eat the black sausage type thing they served up with the babi guling and rice. Glad we did not as we were later told that this was pig intestine. YUK! For the three of us including a small bintang, coke and iced tea the bill was only 60 000 Rp (AUS $8.00).
While at lunch it had started to rain very heavily. Had not seen rain so heavy in Bali before. Made later told us he didn't remember ever seeing rain so heavy in Bali.
After lunch we headed on to the Elephant Cave Temple hoping the rain would ease by the time we got there. No it didn't but we decided to go and have a look anyway. Made, the chicken, opted to wait in the van for us. We got absolutely drenched here but it was worth it to have a look. We didn't stay long for obvious reasons but quickly returned to the car after having a look and headed off again. Next stop was to Betuen which is the kite making village. We stopped at a kite making shop where Made had a friend. He insisted to his friend that he give us a good price. We bought two medium sized kites, one for each of our girls, for 50 000 Rp (AUS $6.67) each. They are fantastic. Our girls love them and we plan to hang them as ornaments from the ceiling in their rooms.
We headed back to our hotel so we could have showers and change into clean, dry clothes. We bid farewell to Made for today and paid him 200 000 Rp (AUS $26.67) for the day. Made always tells me to pay him what I think and as he is a good friend of ours now I like to spoil him and his family a bit while we are there.
When we arrived back at the hotel it was not raining here. Yet! Just after 3 pm Ayu and Ketut (another staff member from the hotel) came over to our room and proceeded to dress me up in traditional Balinese costume and take some photos. The plan had been to dress Mark up as well but he was asleep on the bed so we decided to get him another day instead. Ketut was very funny while dressing me up. He is a larger man and I am now sure he is gay. He fussed with my hair and the floral headpiece and then painted the dot in the middle of my forehead and little white dots on my temples. All three of us were laughing and having a great time while doing this. Ayu and Ketut said I looked cantik (beautiful). I had copies printed when I had the photos processed and gave them copies of them.
Just before 4 pm the rain started to come down in buckets here. We were supposed to be heading to Gracie Kellys at the Dynasty to meet up with others from BTF. I decided I may as well let Mark sleep a little longer and see if the rain let up at all. Before long the grounds of the hotel were flooded. It was still not cold even though it was raining which was good but definitely was not sunbaking weather.
At about 4.30 pm I decided to wake Mark and start organising to head off to Gracie Kellys. When we left we had to wade out through ankle deep water from our room. The rain had momentarily eased. I had reception ring us a blue cab to get there. On the way I received a text message from Cinnamonbell asking if we were hanging around as her and her friend would be running late as their driver's car had broken down and they had just had to push it through knee deep water. Poor things! We arrived at Gracie Kellys where we met Deerik, Balimagic, Cheza (again), MsMaggi, Bali Bob Marley and a friend, Cinnamonbell and friend when they arrived and of course Stitch. We all had a fantastic time. Well I did anyway. It was great to put names to faces and make new friends. After all making new friends is what Bali is all about. Everyone there were great people. We exchanged contact details with several of the couples and will definitely stay in touch. Drank lots of cocktails, danced and sang.
While there we had to go through the foyer to get to the toilets. They had locals here selling their wares. I bought 4 pairs of sequened thongs (gifts for our oldest daughter, two of our nieces and my sister in law) for 90 000 Rp (AUS $12.00). Also tried to bargain for a beautiful wooden chess board with original pieces and fold away legs but was not able to get him to come down to a price I would agree on. Never mind, just means I have a reason to return to Bali again.
While at Gracie Kellys Mark had fish and chips for dinner 40 000 Rp (AUS $5.33). He said the fish was very nice. I stuck to a liquid diet as didn't feel hungry anyway although this would prove to be a costly mistake by tomorrow morning. Mark ended up leaving at about 12.30 pm and left me drinking, dancing and having a fantastic time with MsMaggie and her son. Her husband and daughter had also gone back to their hotel. We were the last to leave at about 1 am. Walked out of the grounds of the Dynasty said goodnight to MsMaggie and her son and got a blue cab back to the hotel.
Cheers
Balibabe