Day 14 - Wednesday 26th October
Our last day, BOOHOO!
Didn't wake up this morning till 9 am. It was so nice to have a sleep in on our last morning. Headed down for our last buffet breakfast at the hotel restaurant. After breakfast the couple we had met who also live in Adelaide and myself set off on a mission while Mark stayed back at the room and relaxed. He had suffered a migraine over night and had little sleep.
I had split one of my nails about half way up my finger on one of the first few days. As I have natural long nails I was not keen to have acrylic put over it but knew this was the only way to save it at the moment (the split was too high up to just cut the nail) so I had put it off as long as I could. Being our last day I wanted to have my nails painted but needed to have this fixed before I could have that done.
We set off to Sari Ratu which is located at Gang Benedesa 3, just off Jalan Legian (almost opposite Matahari which has now closed) to have the crucial repair done. Well it started to rain on the way and eventually we decided it might be time to purchase an umbrella. Picked one up from a stall along Jalan Legian 30 000 Rp (AUS $4.00) she initially wanted 50 000 Rp (AUS $6.67) but we managed to bargain her down. It is amazing how the price of umbrellas suddenly goes up when it is raining. Well wouldn't you know it the minute we finished paying for them, all 3 of us bought 1, the rain stopped. Never mind I later packed this into a bag of things to be sent up to Wayan, our new Balinese son.
Once we reached Sari Ratu it only took about 10 mins and cost 34 000 Rp (AUS $4.53) to have the nail repaired. This salon is beautiful with huge plush chairs to sit in and a plasma screen t.v. that was playing music videos while we were there. From here we headed back down Poppies II as the Adelaide couple wanted me to show them where Wayan's shop is and I was headed there to have my nails painted and hair braided with extentions.
Quickly stopped in at Leo's to see if he had been able to get the last few DVD's we were after but no luck so far. The girls from Perth will pick them up and post to us when they get home if they do come in. The Adelaide couple spent some time browsing at DVD's and 50 or so later they were set.
Spoke to Wayan about the cost for hair braiding with extensions and nails painted and as I was happy with the price I took a seat in her shop and the transformation commenced. Wayan is just learning to braid with extensions so a friend of hers Jenny helps her to do them. I opted to have the corn rows as they look better, I think, and are back off your face so not as annoying. They took about 3 hrs all up and as my hair already came half way down my back the extensions come to about my waist. I was amazed to see the strapping they pull apart to use for the extensions but they match them really well with your own hair colouring and look really good. While there, the Adelaide couple chose to stick around and chat with myself and the other stall owners here. We had a great time with many laughs. All up it cost me 200 000 Rp (AUS 26.67) for the extensions, 50 000 Rp (AUS $6.67) to have my finger and toe nails painted and I then also gave Jenny a 50 000 Rp (AUS $6.67) tip for helping Wayan, although she probably did most of the work. My girls loved them when I got home and my eldest says that they suit me. I had actually been told this before as I had my hair braided while in Fiji at the beginning of last year, although not as cheap as Bali.
Once the transformation was complete we headed back to the Bounty Hotel as I needed to pack all of our luggage and see how much space I had left for last minute shopping. The Adelaide couple joined us in our room for a cold bintang while I got the packing done.
After I had finished we decided to head out for lunch although by this time it was about 3.30 pm. Back to Enhay Café for our last meal here. The Adelaide couple had not been here before and vowed to be back as they thoroughly enjoyed the food and were very impressed with the price. Three of us had the Enhay beef burger while the other had chicken cordon bleu. The Adelaide couple had a serve of garlic bread each. The other three had a coke while I had a small bintang. All up it only cost 108 000 Rp (AUS $14.40) but I think we ended up giving them 120 000 Rp (AUS $16.00). Mark and I said our teary farewells to the staff and vowed to be back to add to our names on the wall again.
In the stall across from the Enhay Café I bought another bintang singlet and a hot tuna t-shirt for our oldest nephew 60 000 Rp (AUS $8.00). I also bought 5 shell necklaces from here, one for our youngest daughter's teacher, one for each of our girls and two for myself 50 000 Rp (AUS $6.67). We proceeded back along Jalan Benesari towards Poppies II. We then stopped at Benesari Foto Digital to have photos transferred to cd as our camera memory was full for 15 000 Rp (AUS $2.00). From another shop along Jalan Benesari I also bought a small sequened bag for one of our other nieces 25 000 Rp (AUS $3.33). It actually had a price sticker on it for 55 000 Rp (AUS $7.33) but I bargained with them.
At a stall on Poppies II, two doors down from Bali Corner Café, I bought another 3 packets of 10 wooden pencils with wooden animals etc on top for our other daughter's classmates. Stopped in at Fast Eddy's again and bought 2 chiffon bather sarongs for myself, a lined hippy skirt also for myself and 2 pink LV sunglass cases for our daughters 140 000 Rp (AUS $18.67). Got back to the Bounty Hotel at 5 pm to find Made waiting for us. We had booked him to take us and our 4 new friends to Jimbaran Bay for dinner. We had said prior to leaving Adelaide we would not go here for dinner but once there we had changed our minds. Quickly went back up to our room to pack the last few things. Rang reception and asked them to send up some porters as we had decided we would check out of our room and leave our luggage in the foyer area while we went for dinner. Porters arrived and moved all of our luggage to the foyer area and I went to reception to settle our room tab which had a couple of drinks on it from last night. Once the hotel were happy that the mini bar had all been accounted for we met the two Perth girls and the Adelaide couple at the front of the hotel to head to Jimbaran Bay.
On the way we stopped quickly at He lgie's shop to return the DVD player we had hired from him. He had planned to come and pick it up later but we felt better dropping it to him as we had checked out of our room. From here it was off to Jimbaran Bay.
We arrived at Marina Café just in time for sunset. The staff seated us at the front table on the beach and we took a few moments to take in the scenery and take some photos of the sunset. It was naturally very quite at Jimbaran Bay. Mark and I had asked Made to join us for dinner here. He insisted that we get a 20% discount rather than him get commission. Mark and I opted for the seafood package no. 1 which consisted of a 1 kg lobster, 1 kg king prawns and snapper while Made chose to have fried chicken as he is allergic to seafood. Three of the other 4 had fish while 1 also had chicken as she does not eat seafood. This is definitely a more expensive dinner by Bali standards and the other 4 found the meals to be quite small. Mine and Mark's meal wasn't too bad in size. The food was yummy. Our bill including Made's meal and 3 softdrinks was 425 700 Rp (AUS $56.76).
While having our meal there were locals trying to sell pearls and flashing junk toys (as I call them). Mark and I did not buy anything but a couple of the other girls bought some pearl necklaces and earrings. They got the earrings for 20 000 Rp (AUS $2.67) per pair and I think they paid about 50 000 Rp (AUS $6.67) for each necklace. I am not a pearl fan so didn't bother. We also had a group of locals who came up to our table playing music. We had not asked them to do this. I thought it was rather cheeky when they then put their hat on the table expecting a tip. Only one of us was willing to give them some money. Mark and I would have had no problem giving them money if we had asked them to play for us but to expect it when they just come up and begin playing I think is a bit rude of them.
We left here and headed back to the Bounty Hotel to load Made's van with our luggage. He then just parked it at the Bounty Hotel and we all headed across the road to Rainbows Café for our last few drinks before heading to the airport. Mark and I had two arak attacks each 10 000 Rp (AUS $1.33) each and Made even had a small bintang 9 000 Rp (AUS $1.20) which we paid for. We had never seen Made have a beer. Actually there were a couple of things he did this trip that we had not seen him do before. It was good to see him loosen up with us.
Of course I couldn't help myself and had to do a little last minute shopping with Fast Eddy next door. I bought a navy long sleeve chiffon embroidered top 27 000 Rp (AUS $3.60), a gold gucci watch with diamonds (fake of course) down either side of the watch face with quite a chunky gold band 30 000 Rp (AUS $4.00). A couple of doors up on the other side of Rainbows Café I bought a pair of beaded thongs for our youngest daughter 30 000 Rp (AUS $4.00).
Just after 10 pm we said our farewells to our new friends and headed for the airport. We were a bit torn as we didn't want to go home yet at the same time wanted to get home to see our two girls. We bid a very teary farewell to Made at the airport and paid him 200 000 Rp (AUS $26.67). We had also given him a bag of things to take to Wayan and some photos for the school. Made was very upset to see us go. We promised we would return and I would heavily promote him on this site. Unfortunately the day before we left he was forced to sell the motorbike he had worked so hard to get only a few months before due to the massive down turn in tourists and therefore work for him. He is very fearful of losing his job and having to return to his village.
If you need a fantastic driver who speaks English fairly well, now has an esky in his van, is fantastic with children please contact Made Wira Sanjaya. His email address his madebagus2002@yahoo.com you can book him in advance. His mobile number is +62 813 387 637 18 from Australia or 0913 387 637 18 once in Bali. You can sms him or call him. He is extremely reliable and will look after you well. Tell him that Mark and Jacqui recommended him.
After seeing Made off we then proceeded through to check in. I was holding my breath as we had 10 pieces of luggage to check in and we then had 1 bag each for hand luggage, 2 kites and I had my handbag. I was not looking forward to the excess but at this point was still living in hope that we would not be charged. Well this hope quickly vanished when I saw the guy at the check in counter reach for his piece of white paper. Our total check in luggage weight was 67 kgs. They gave us an extra 20 kgs special allowance and nicely waved 2 kgs. This still left 5 kgs of excess baggage. We were lead over to the little glass window to pay up. The cost was USD $42.50 so Mark had to pull out the Visa card. Also be warned you can only pay excess in Rp, USD or by credit card. They do not accept AUS $. I am lucky Mark pulled out the credit card as I had been telling him for days when he was commenting on the amount of luggage we had that it would be fine, he had been saying wait for that excess bill. I was sure he would make me start ditching stuff.
Once we had finished checking in we headed straight up to the Premier Lounge where we paid USD $15.00 per person on credit card to use the facilities. This I believe is worth every cent. They have a buffet of food, fridges of bintang, soft drink, wine etc. and also spirits available to which you help yourself. There are also nice comfy chairs and lounges to sit or lay on, really nice toilets which also has a shower and a very nice outdoor smoking area. Mark was determined to make the most of it and proceeded to polish off the best part of ¾ bottle of Johnnie Walker red label. I was sure they were not going to let him on the plane.
The best part for us was that we were departing from gate 2 which was only just downstairs. This definitely beats waiting around on those uncomfortable chairs in the departure lounges.
While Mark made his dent in the scotch in the Premier Lounge I headed downstairs to get rid of the last of the Rp. I bought a pair of navy sequened thongs for myself 50 000 Rp (AUS $6.67), a beautiful book called ‘Balinese children's favourite stories' for our youngest daughter 97 000 Rp (AUS $12.93), 2 Balinese colouring in book called ‘The Balinese Dream', one for each of our girls, 25 000 Rp (AUS $3.33) and a Bali ashtray 35 000 Rp (AUS $4.67) and that was the end of our Rp.
Returned to the Premier Lounge to have a drink with Mark and a smoke and wait for the time to come to board the plane. Plane boarded at 1 am as scheduled and departed at 1.30 am, also on schedule. We flew Air Paradise coming home as we also did on the way over. We were very lucky and were seated in seats 7A and 7C so we were right up the front. We were given a bottle of water and cookie just after take off and then offered a packet of chips or tim tam wafer. They only played one movie on the way home which was 'Mr and Mrs Smith'.
We had no sleep on the plane as the cabin was very warm, the seats are small and we were not able to get comfortable and I had kids seated behind me who kicked the back of my seat most of the way home (I bit my tongue and didn't say anything as much as I wanted to ring their necks). The plane was pretty full on the way home. At 5 am we were offered either omelette or fruit plate for breakfast. I had the omelette while Mark had the fruit plate. We arrived back in Adelaide at 8 am Friday morning. We were through customs fairly quickly. We arrived in through the new international terminal which is ok but nothing flash. We bought back about 300 DVD's and 150 PS2 games without any question. The only things customs were interested in was food items and wood products.
We were greeted by two extremely happy girls that were keen to have their parents home although mum and dad were ready for bed. This of course was not to happen as the girls wanted presents.
Had a fantastic time and I am already starting to think about our next trip. Hopefully it will be next year as we have even more reason now. Next time we will take our two girls again as they also love Bali.
I know a lot of you are probably thinking ‘gee she did heaps of shopping' but I have now done all my Christmas shopping for not only our two girls but our 7 nieces and 4 nephews and can guarantee saved a bundle.
Our two girls and I also now have new LV luggage sets consisting of a trolley suitcase, large roll type overnight bag, small roll type overnight bag and a makeup case all for about $50 a set. All of our luggage also matches our handbags, sunglass cases and purses. This was the main thing the girls had requested and they love them.
A wish to extend a big thankyou to everyone on BTF who through JBR's and answering lots of questions gave us so much information. I have actually compiled what I call my Bali bible which is a word document of about 100 pages which I cut and paste information on anything and everything related to Bali into and then printed it out, cut it all out and pasted it all into different sections in huge notebook. Without some of this information our trip would not have been what is was.
I am now on a mission to approach my local Rotary club to try and get them on board with support for SD3 Boutihing, the school we visit and setting up sponsoring of some of the children in the village whose parents can not afford to send them to school. For now I will have to be happy with our wonderful memories from this trip until I give up being a kept women and go and find a job to pay for our next trip. Will be onto that one this week I think.
Cheers
Balibabe