A bit of background. At my school we have a mascot bear that comes to assembly (5-8year olds) and a teacher picks the best class. This class gets to take Cuddles (the bear) to their class for the week. He was getting very worn and needed to retire. I took him to Bali for a holiday.
Went to S&S. Introduced Cuddles to everyone. No-one mentioned the fact that he was naked (except for his sun safe school hat of course). Took photos of him with Made and Iluh. He enjoyed his water while watching the sunset (he's too young to drink Bintang). He had his photo taken with the lifesavers too (thought the teachers would like that). He also had a great time lazing around the pool and shopping.
Went to the dentist on Tuesday. I had visited Dr Wayan in Denpasar in July. He is Dr Sucipto's associate. In July I had a tooth repaired (the side broke off) then went back and had a new filling done and an old one drilled out and replaced. 2 weeks ago the tooth that had the filling replaced broke (the side broke off). I went to my dentist here for as check up and she said as the old filling was so big the sides have weakened. She quoted me $230 to repair it plus $250 for the one next to it which had decay forming under the old filling.
Dr Wayan fixed the original one for free and the other one for 450.000rp($59). No pain. Yeehah. The massage I had later in the week was MUCH more painful.
I have a bit of a phobia about dentists as I had to go to the dental hospital when I was a child as my mum was on the pension (that's where they train). The whole time I'm chanting to myself 'don't hurt, don't hurt' with a few 'finish now' thrown in. I had to laugh, as the drilling stopped the radio was playing Kylies 'you should be so lucky', Yeah Right! LOL
He is very good and professional. My only criticism would be that he doesn't take the few extra minutes to finish off. It's like 'I'm finished now'. See ya. The tooth is not as smooth on the outside as I would like. But as I saved $421 I'm not complaining.
Had a massage at Made's Salon in Gg Benasari. It was OK- 35.000 for 1hr. Amber had the cream bath for 20.000 which I usually have. It's great. They wash your hair, massage conditioner into it and wrap it in a hot towel. They massage your shoulders then wash your hair and dry it. The girls kept commenting on how think and lovely Amber's hair is.
We went to AP Inn where Amber had extensions done last time. She paid 400.0000 but they wouldn't do it for that price this time so she decided not to get it done. They wanted 600.000 ($78). I know it's a lot dearer here but that's a lot of money.
Had a massage at Bali Shinju which is above Matahari Bungalows. They give 20% discount for guests of the hotel. So it was only 44.000 for an hour. Now I must be a have a low pain threshold because massages often hurt me. I don't like the way they dig their thumbs in you. I need to find a place that does gentle massages. I want the AAHHH feeling not the OOWW.
Shopping.
Jl 66- Seminyak. I bought lots of the silk type scarves mostly 20.000rp. A few silky type sarongs with gold embossing 20.000 and a few cotton scarves 8-10.000. Most just gave decent price. Only one asked for 40.000 for the scarves so I walked out. She chased me but I'd rather give business to the ones that don't try to rip you off. This street always seems so hot and stifling so it's best to go in the morning. Amber ended up vomiting from the heat. They are not open Sundays.
Millenia- Denpasar. Just up the road from Matahari. @ floors of clothes. Pretty cheap. European designs. Some with price tickets still on. I bought a lovely dress for $10 and a pair of black pinstripe pants $9 and a pair of sport track pants $9. Worth a look. Sizes are American/European. That's the only reason the 8 fitted me (that's never happened before).
Bali shop- Jl Sahadewa (Garlic lane). Fixed price shop nearly opposite The Legends. Good range of stuff. Nice not to have to bargain. When you ask how much something is he says 'I not bargain with you, I'm fixed price'. Same prices as Ketuts. Bought mens surf shorts 30.000. Sheer ladies tops 30.000. Sleeveless ladies surf shirts 25.000
Ketuts- Jl Sahadewa. First lane on the right from Jl Melasti. Bigger range of stuff. She didn't tell me I'm fat this time (she must have gotten used to it). LOL You see lots of people here from the forum. Amber bought a Bali bag sized 6 for 50.000. It's really big. I bought Surf Tshirts for 30.000. A pair of cotton pull on ¾ pants 25.000.
Geneva. Fixed price, gigantic handicraft warehouse. Jl Raya, Kerobokan. They had 60cm carved giraffes for 28.000. Maybe next time. I bought earings 990-2750rp. Incense packs (always good value for presents) 3.500+. Couldn't believe the scarves were 40.000 (I paid 20.000 in Jl 66).
Macro. Bought rice, sugar, biscuits etc for my sponsor family. Plus lollies, cigs etc. I paid a driver to take us to Geneva then to Macro and back to the hotel. I bargained for 50.000 but gave him extra. He was lovely. He had his son with him who was having a great time playing with a plastic straw. I bought him a ball and a donut. He was so excited.
Bintang Supermarket. Bought Nivea cream. They had a moisturizer called 'placenta'. MMM tempting.
Mel Gibson (cnr Jl Legian and Jl Melasti). Bought many watches 25.000- 30.000. I set them and watch to see if they lose time. I had to take one back.
Shoes, Jl 66. Rani's Collection. Heading towards the beach it's on the right hand side less than half way. They will make them if they don't have what you want. Up to size 43. Most are 55.000. Better than the Bali ones with the heals.
Softcom for DVD's. Amber didn't like this shop. Bit crowded.
Red eye- started off Ok but froze.
Sky High- not good yet.
Lord of War (Nic Cage-YUM) sound not real clear.
We both saw '40 year old virgin' but thought it looked stupid. Now it's out here. Son says. Why didn't you get it?
On the last day we visited SD1 Sobangan school and gave the kids lollies. They were excited as they don't often get visitors.
Went on to SD3 Sobangan where my sponsor child attends. I didn't see her at first then she came up and gave me a hug. It's great that I have known her now for over a year as I see her maturing. The school is looking great now, with the new roof, library and toilets. Compared to when I first visited it looks great. They have new desks also. Next time I will bring posters and things for the classrooms. They are so bare. 2 families that were there the same day put in and bought the school a table tennis table. They had a great time with that. Cuddles met Gek and the teachers. I took photos of him with the kids and with the new bear Gede (Gday).
We went to visit Gek's family again. Amber was blown away by their house. It's 3 rooms. The loungeroom is the parents bedroom plus a workshop (dad is a wood carver). Out the back is a kitchen and a small room with 2 beds for the girls.
In the afternoon we had a swim and took photos of Gede by the pool.
After packing bags we went to Tanaya's for dinner. We contemplated going to Matahari for a last minute shop but couldn't be bothered. Lucky as that would have been the time of the bomb. I have already posted about this so won't elaborate.
Back at work this week. One of the kids in my class (5yrs old) came up to me and said 'I missed you. I thought you might be bombed up'. I could have cried. I was worried that they would be scared as they knew I was going to Bali.
Last week I thought I'd wait a while before going back. But here I am a week later and can't wait to get back. There are a lot of things to consider. My family of course being the biggest thing. I really feel for the Balinese that I have come to know and of course the ones I don't know. How could I not go back to help them. In fact I feel that I could be doing more and promised myself I will do more in upcoming trips.
At assembly yesterday I told the kids about cuddles holiday and showed them the photos. One child asked me if Cuddles met S Co^by. I told the kids that Cuddles met Gede at his school. Gede wanted to come to Australia but couldn't because the kids at his school would be sad. Cuddles decided he would stay there as he loved Bali. The kids were all very excited. I had to pick the best class. Everyone was sitting up straight and really trying to be the first class to take Gede for the week.
I put all the photos on cardboard and put them up in the front foyer so the kids could all have a look. The teachers loved the lifesavers. LOL