11th March
Up early this morning to finish off packing and off to have a quick breakfast. Raceng is there before we know it and it is a quick goodbye to Dayu and staff and back in the car. We have been looking forward to this day for ages. We are off to see our sponsor children. Our sponsor boy is Lanang Putra and he is 11. We have been sponsoring him for about 6 months and he writes to us all the time. In his letters he always speaks about how much he loves riding his friends bike. Our little sponsor girl is Ayu Putri. She is 9. We only just sponsored her about a month before we left so we know very little about her. It was Brandon who wanted to have a girl to visit as well as a boy. So we contacted the charity and with the next intake we got the pictures of our new little girl. We had decided that we were going to get Lanang Putra a bike seeing as it is the one thing that he always mentions. We ask Raceng to help and he tells us it is best to buy from the same place as the locals - cheaper and more appropriate for a balinese child. We also ask for his help to get some rice in bulk and a some food for Auy Putri's family as we are not sure what else to get her. After leaving Ubud we stop at a bustling town but I have no idea where we were. The first stop is rice. Raceng takes us into a shop that has 25kg bags stacked from floor to ceiling. The owner talks to Raceng and then stabs about 4 bags with a little metal rod and gives the samples to Raceng to have a look at. He explains the difference is the quality (we just take his word for it.) and Raceng picks a good quality rice. Raceng lets them know that we will be back with the car soon and we walk around the corner to a bike shop. I look around and we now have a crowd of people following us. We walk into the shop which is stacked with new bikes. Raceng speaks to the shopkeeper and we get the run down on all the bikes. I shrug my shoulders. I have no idea what size or style of bike to get. Raceng norrows is down to 2 bikes. 1 that would be the perfect size for him now but it would be too small in a few years and would need to be passed down and replaced or a bit larger bike that has all the extras that will be ok for him now but will last him alot longer. We opt for the larger one. Raceng says that it isn't fixed price and he will negotiate if we are happy to pay what is settled. We agree and 10 minutes later we have a bike, water bottle, new reflectors and a bike pump for 400,000rp. As we walk out the crowd has grown. Raceng tells us not to worry. It is unusual for tourists to be walking around here and even more unusual for them to be buying bikes. Raceng runs off and gets the car and loads the rice and bike in. The up the road and to a supermarket. Raceng grabs a basket and walks up and down the isle picking out foods and treat that would suite the family given their circumstances. Once the basket is overflowing we pay (37,500rp) and leave thinking that we could have got more and we are then back on the road. A little while later and we are at Candi Beach Cottages. We then meet with Bambang the charity co-ordinator. We head inside for a drink and a chat and Bambang tells us that Lanang Putra has contacted and been to see him several times and it very excited to meet us. It is then back on the road and we follow Bambang to Ayu Putri's village. They are a very poor family and as we enter their 1 room house it hits home how lucky we are. We had seen pictures of Ayu and keep an eye out for her. Then in walks 2 little girls. I look from one to the other and couldn't believe what I was seeing. She is an identical twin. My heart then sinks. We have a bag of gifts from home for Ayu and nothing for her sister. Ayu steps forward and holds my hand and her twin follows and holds my other hand. We sit down and Ayu opens her gifts and is cuddling her money box. Her sister is clearly jealous. Mason and I just look at each other and try and get the girls to share the craft sets and exercise books but Ayu is holding tight. I feel terrible. We give the food and a bag of rice to the family and they are really really greatful. Brandon is hugging the girls and shaking hands with anyone that comes his way. He is loving the attention. The girls also have a younger brother who looks about 4. He is not in the least bit interested in what the girls have and prefers to play with his Dad. They take us for a walk around the compound to meet with the rest of the extended family including the playful and happy grandfather. We take some photos trying not to scare them all too much then say our goodbye and make a quick exit. As we get back to the car I had a bit of a go at Bambang and ask why we weren't told about the twin. He says that he didn't want anyone to feel obligated to sponsor both children and they are alot better off to have 1 of the girls sponsored and he chose the one with the higher grades at school. I guess I can understand what he is saying but in any case we let him know it instantly register the sister and we will sponsor her as well. Then it is back in the car and 15 minutes later we pull up at Lanang Putri's house. We take all the plastic etc off the bike and unload the gifts from the car as a little balding man comes running down the road. Bambang says it is Lanang Putra's dad. He runs over and shakes and kisses our hand saying thankyou constantly. Mason gives him the bag of rice and he puts it on his back with a big smile and another million thank yous and runs up a path. Before we have even finished unwrapping the bike and picking up our other gifts he comes running back down the path and picks up the bike and all the bags. Raceng offers to push the bike up the hill but he says no he doesn't want the tyres to get dirty before Lanang Purti sees it. We get up to the house and out comes Lanang Putra and his mum and older and younger brother (who we did know about). They are all so greatful for their gifts. This family is extremily poor - even more so than the first family. We take Lanang Putra to his bike and his face lights up. He has a huge big grin on his face and runs over with more kisses. He tells Bambang that he didn't expect a bike but was dreaming and wishing that we would get him one. It is a little big for him but he jumps on and rides up and down the path. Raceng explains about the gears but Lanang Putra has a firm grip on the bike and isn't letting go any time soon. Lanang Putra then takes my hand and leads me over to their little 1 room house. He has glasses on the steps with flowers in and a big heart on each that says Happy Birthday to you for both Mason and I. It is so sweet. Bambang explains that he knew we were both having our birthdays in March and wanted to do something for us. Bambang helped him with the writing and he wandered the streets and picked the flowers for us himself. Brandon is once again the centre of attention with all the neighbours who came to check out what was happening. He is happy. We take some photos and the family are astounded by the digital camera. It is the first time they have seen one and they can't stop laughing at seeing themselves on a little screen. They show us their kitchen which is so tiny and doubles as the chook pen and they show us the room where they live and sleep. It is then time to go. It is hard to say goodbye. They are the sweetest family and so greatful. We get back in the car head back towards Candi Dasa. Raceng said that he feels terrible seeing how hard it is for these families and wishes that he was able to do more for his own people. He said that it is a bit of a reality check for him as well. Not that he has money either but he is alot better off than alot of people. He said he would like to say thankyou to all the Aussies that help out the Balinese in various ways. He said from seeing the Adopta girls and now this charity he realises that Aussies to alot more for Bali than what most are aware of. Raceng then says he needs to stop for a toilet break when we get back to Candi Dasa. He asked Lanang Putra's dad to borrow their toilet but they don't have one and must use the bush or the river when they need to go. Only in an emergency are they allowed to ask permission from a neighbour to use their toilet. Now I know this is not unusual for a Balinese family but I just can't imagine living like that. We decide that we will speak to Bambang when we get back to Australia and arrange for a simple toilet to be built for them. After our quick pit stop it is back on the road and on to Seminyak to the Pelangi Hotel.
We have heard so many bad reports about this place that we are expecting to totally hate the place. We arrive and Raceng help occupy Brandon while we unload our gear. Raceng is great with Brandon especially as he is so full on. Raceng has the patience of a saint with him. Raceng leaves and after formalities we are show to the room. It is really large and clean. Best thing is that Brandons bed is in the sitting room which has a lockable door seperating it from our room. The bathroom is huge and has a spa in the corner. We rest for a while and then go for a walk past the new Contiki Resort which looks deserted and to the minimart for Icecream and bits and pieces then head back to the room for room service and we all fall asleep early.
12th March
We get up and book ourselves on the shuttle bus to Legian. We have breakfast and then in the bus and drop off at Melasti Street. We meet one of the funniest guys called Harry Butler. He has us in stitches. We sit down with him out the back of the shop so that Brandon can run around but not run away and he brings us clothes, glasses, watches, wallets, billabong etc for us to look at. We pick out about 10 items and then the fun begins haggling for a price. We get down to a price that we are happy with and leave. Brandon wants an icecream and I need a bintang so we wander up Padma Street to the new Indo National. The new premises look great and the cold face towels are so nice. When finished we walk up Padma Utara to Merry's Collection to see another of Colleens friends Aristos. He isn't there and they tell us to come back tomorrow. So we jump in a cab and back to the hotel for a swim. I get a message from Kerry to say that she will be at Jesens Cafe at 3:30pm if we want to meet her there for a drink and DVD shopping. We say yes and Brandon has a nap before it is time to leave. We book back on to the shuttle. Even though the Pelangi hotel is a fair way out of Legian and there are very few cabs in the area the shuttle makes up for it and saves on cab fares. We meet Kerry and once again we can see why her and Colleen get on so well. She is an ex-pat from Perth and is a total crack up. She has been living in Bali for 17 years and lives with her partner Danny who is from Lombok. She sells DVD's and Danny sells CD. She charges 10,000rp per disc and has checked all the movies she sells. She refuses to sell any movies that have been filmed in the cinema or is poor quality and tells us if we want those kind of movies to get them from any of the corner stores. I have to say for the sake of a few thousand RP it is the best way to do DVD shopping. We sit back with our beers and sift through the piles and piles of DVD's and CD's and Lisa entertains Brandon. It sure beats walking around the shops. We give her some lists from family back home and she says she will get these movies that night for us. Some of the CD's we wanted weren't there so Danny jumps on his bike and comes back half an hour later with them. It turns out that when Kerry was in Perth she worked for the same company that Mason works for now and they know some of the same people. We sit chatting with Kerry until 7. We arranged to meet the next day at 5pm and we jump in a cab and head back to Indo National for dinner. The food was beautiful and they have a heap of toys for kids to play with so Brandon is well catered for. Milton and Kerry are running around working just as hard as their staff and Kerry was even playing nurse to an European tourist who passed out from the heat. We finished our meal and cab back to the hotel and bed.
13th March
While at breakfast we get a message from the lovely Amy that the samples of the stubby holders are ready if we want to double check them. So we jump in a bemo and head off to Tuban. The samples look fantastic. We make some changes to the writing style (which Amy had recommended before we had the samples done) and we tell her to go ahead with the order. I can't help myself and buy a few bags of things while I am there. Then we wander up to the Dynasty to say a quick hello to Warsi and have a drink or 2 at Gracies and some lunch in the airconditioning. Brandon is starting to get a bit tired so we catch a cab to see Aristos at Merrys Collection. He is a really lovely guy and him and Mason sit and discuss suites and fabrics. Mason is then mesured (and Brandon as he doesn't want to miss out) and it is back in the cab for Brandons sleep. When he wakes we head back to Jensens to meet Kerry and Danny. Kerry has our DVD's and we have a few drinks with her and some other Aussies who are regulars there and then head off to Ricky's for dinner. Brandon is so happy when we arrive and he sees that there are 2 little girls for him to play with so we get to sit with Ricky and have a wonderful meal in peace. The food is fantastic. We stay there chatting until Brandon is sleepy and then it is back to the room.
14th March
Last day at this hotel so it becomes a lazy day and we spent the whole time in the pool or on the beach and in the restaurants. The most we did was walk around the streets in the area checking out what was around
Next...... Tuban