Three events, three parts - a beginning, middle and an end..
The planning for this trip began upon my return from Bali in April, almost always 2 trips ahead, but the best laid plans of mice and men come unstuck when a company goes belly-up.
Late in November the announcement we dreaded [which had been rumored may occur mid 2006], happened 3 days after my direct deposit was transferred to Air Paradise. Like many others I was an orphan, the bearer of a useless ticket and an empty pocket.
The morning after ‘the announcement', at 7.00am I was on the phone to Qantas securing a seat, and once Garuda's office opened in Victoria had also secured a seat with them. Now it was just a matter of wait and see who would come through with the best deal. At the end of the day Garuda won out with only a one day difference in scheduling, and I was still able to fly direct in and out of Adelaide.
So, on Wednesday December 13th, I was still frantically packing as my friends waited to take me to the airport...On checking in I decided to upgrade my ticket to business class and go in style. Had a wonderful flight with many refills of French champagne, arriving a little late due to a delay in departure and again whizzed through immigration [on a 2 month visa], luggage was off in 5 minutes and out the doors to be met by my gorgeous friend Katak. It's only been 3 months since I was last in Bali so I don't even feel like I really ever left. We arrive at the Hidden Garden Villa in Legian to be greeted by 4 staff that will tend to my every need over the next 3.5 weeks. They present me with a sheath of tuberose and assorted flowers. The entire villa smells of tuberose which is in vases throughout and they have painstakingly put a frangipani flower on each step of the staircase leading to the bedrooms.
As I take in the surroundings and Katak nods his approval that this villa is better than the last, I realize time is of the essence and I have a 4.00pm engagement at Billy's bar in Garlic lane to meet with a green tree frog named Kermy...
The road to perdition lay just ahead of me and to think I had only arrived 2 hours earlier. How splendid to find a kindred soul so willingly led down the path to damnation...I don't recall exactly when our meet and greet broke up but it was somewhere between 10.30 and midnightish at which point the frog hopped off down the road and I flogged a bottle of bourbon from Billy so the party could continue back a the villa with Katak who has me in hysterics within minutes of arriving. start as you mean to finish, go hard or go home, shout, shout wipe yourself out...I vaguely remember falling into bed around 4.30am.
At around 1.30pm the next day, I struggle out of bed totally wasted...The staff who waited patiently for me to rise so they could serve breakfast were disappointed that I had missed the agreed 10am serving, however, it was a routine which they eventually became accustomed to. So at 1.30pm they served up breakfast including bacon eggs, toast, coffee, juice and fresh fruit. I wasn't hungry but managed to get down a piece of toast, half the scrambled eggs, a slice of bacon...at least I made the effort.
Today had been full of good intentions. We were going to the wholesaler to stock up on an essential brownish liquid and some sparkling bubbly stuff that tickles your nose, change money, buy groceries etc. At around 3.00pm I had the energy to organize a trip to the wholesaler to buy our bourbon supplies, however by the time we changed money and drove out there the warehouse had closed and all I could do was place the order to collect the next day. Decided to visit Makro while we were close by and so Meredith was able to buy xmas decs and a tree to decorate the apartment they were renting. The frog [Kermy] had not before visited Makro so this was a new adventure for her. We all bought stuff and then headed off in search of lights for the xmas tree...which we found in Bintang supermarket.
I didn't think I had another big night in me but managed to get trashed in Billys, then back to the villa where I crashed a little earlier than the previous evening. Thank god for that...
On Friday, we go and collect the first purchase from the wholesaler 10 bottles of bourbon and a dozen champagne. Returning to Kuta we arrange to meet Kermy, her son Justin, Meredith and her girls at The Pub down on Jalan Bunisari to sample the best sates in Bali. Even Katak thinks they are the best in bali...Hell, he's Balinese and couldn't get over how good their beef sates were the first time I took him there... After lunch we part ways and I decide to stop in at Billy's for a quick drink which ended around midnight with the frog joining me once again on the road to perdition....oops we did it again...
Saturday brings with it new hope and Kermy, Justin, Katak and I head up to the Candi Kunning markets to check out Crackers bar and the sensational toilets we have read so much about. On the way up we stop in to visit Jack [from Billy's] and Billy at their homes as it is on the way. Billy ever obliging as a host brings out a bottle of Wild Turkey and I mean it would be rude to say no....its 10.30am....OMG
We arrive at the markets around midday and head straight thru to the bar and the loo's. I have to say they live up to the reputation of being 5 star loo's....SENSATIONAL. Settling back for a cold beer and nuts we relax for a while. Bopgirl and the Frog sign the visitors book to prove we actually got there and make a purchase at the Adopta shop on the way out.
Back in Legian I manage to avoid Billy's bar and get trashed with Katak and Wayan and Kadek at the villa. Wayan passes out on the bed downstairs, intermittently waking and rushing to the toilet as he is not a well boy. Katak and Kadek are in stitches thinking it is hysterical until I suddenly find it in me to play adult and tell them it isn't funny that he is so ill. Everyone sleeps at the villa that night, bodies on all beds. Its only day 4 and already I have managed to laugh till I am in tears on a nightly basis with the boys....
To be honest with you the first week is pretty much the same routine so part 2 will pick up with the arrival of a few friends from home and Xmas day celebrations...it was huge, hope you enjoy.............