Continuing on in Sanur.
Jules had to catch a quick ride to Ubud so she left us at breaky.
Denise and I wandered over to Hardys and stocked up. Gee they had very different coloured dogs collars and very reasonably priced, unlike Dog Tails, which also has great, different stock, but quite expensive. We caught Trevor in the Guardian Pharmacy, Apotek, chatting to the pharmacist amongst other things, about the price of 'Make man very strong' medication! Denise and I bought Oil of Ulay on special, 89000rp for the pump pack model. Glanced thru Animale and Tina Collection and bought some glam gear, shoes and jewellery. Lucky us, or should I say our new husbands!
Had dinner at the Village, which is up market and really nice.
Headed over to Kuta on Monday to, number one priority, pick up my wedding ring, and my new, bling, bling, ring. Gee Toko First did and excellent job of making the ring for me. I am thrilled. Denise left an opal ring set in white gold to be remade in yellow gold.
Stopped at SuperNova for Martha Tilaar products for Denise and we also bought our sponsor children some tshirts. Gee, they were having a sale and I bought some lovely quality tshirts, and after discounts paid 34000 for three. Mad to buy and bring from home in future.
We went down to Brisbane Tailor to order our clothes. I had taken a couple of pieces of fabric for dresses and shirt. They supplied the lining for one dress and charged 25000 for the lining, so I wont bother to take it from home again. Trevor had trousers made and we have found that their fabric is excellent quality, wool blend, micro fibre. Bob had a dressy/casual zip up jacket made. We were all thrilled with the finished garments after Mr Anson delivered to our Hotel for final fittings (and alternations were made to fit to size.)
We called into Ketuts fixed price shop and young Ketut was there. Bought a few dresses, shorts and tops. Also paid 3000rp each for 3 Umbal umbels, Bali flags, for home.
Lunch at Bamboo Corner then up to Discovery Shopping Mall for a purchase or two.
That night we went across the road for dinner to a smaller warung and while enjoying our dinner chatted to the local 24 hour, doctor on call, Dr I Wayan Astawa Suta. He is hoping to get a job in Australia next year. He spoke reasonable English and had a joke or two in him!
Trevor woke up the next morning feeling quite crook. He had a headache, aching limbs and had been to the bathroom a few times overnight. I was immediately concerned as I didn't want him crook for the next few days. Since we had already developed a relationship with a Doctor, thought it wise to go over and see him. A lady was there till about 3pm, and Dr Astawa was available after then. Trevor laid low all day then he and I wandered over. The Doc checked out his BP, listened to his tummy and drew us a picture of how Trevors insides were behaving. Arrows down this way and more arrows showing movements upways. Looked pretty serious to me! He prescribed 3 lots of pills, Spasminal, Lodia and Miraflox and drink lots of water. He said Trevor was suffering mainly from dehydration. Hmm, well, maybe I have been right when I have said that its important to drink water in the tropics. Beer does not replace your fluids when you perspire!! Yes dear, no dear, three bags full dear!
The doctor also said that there would be no charge. He would visit us at 7am, on his way to his morning job. If Trevor was better, we pay, if not better, no pay! Cant be fairer than that!
Later in the day Trevor felt a lot better and had been drinking lots of water, so he joined us for dinner at the beachfront restaurant of Vila Shanti. There was a band playing good music and about 40 Indonesian Government workers were there for dinner and meeting.
Next morning Dr Astawa arrived at 7 and examined Trevor again, and needless to say we paid. Cost 300,000rp for the consultations and 350,000 for the pills.
Heading for Lovina.
We headed off with Wayan Merta at 9am for Lovina.
We called into Wayan Merta's brother Made's shop just south of Pacung. Its great calling in there, Firstly its always nice to see Made and his wife Ayu and two children, but great to buy the local products at local prices. I have bought rice there previously and taken to one of my sponsor childrens home. Made's shop is about 10 minutes north of the coke factory, and Sobangan market.
We stopped for a pee stop at Candi Cuning markets and happily paid our 5000 rp each to visit the best western loos around! We bought lots of stuff from the market sellers and Adopta ladies. The guy who sells tshirts on the right hand side, next door to Crackers, needs to understand that he wont attract good business when he proudly says, ‘yes, I have jumbo size tshirts to fit you', thanks buddy!
Denise bought a few spices and lost the ‘saffron' and lemongrass in customs.
We had never visited the Botanical gardens in Bedugal previously so Wayan drove us thru the gardesn. They are really spectacular, very colourful and beautifully maintained. Apparently lots of locals visit there on Sundays and sit on the lawns with picnic. We didn't stop to try the rainforest treetop walk but will add it to our to do list.
Checked into Rambutan Cottages in Kalbukbuk, Lovina area at 2pm.
We were all thrilled with our rooms once again. The deluxe rooms are huge and nicely fitted. The gardens and pathways are beautifully maintained and the pool is very inviting. We had lunch there and arranged massages for later in the afternoon. Rambutan Cottages is very peaceful and a lovely change from the hustle and bustle of down south. Richard and Tini are delightful hosts and are often close by if you want a chat.
Around this time, my throat was feeling sore and my nose started to run. What a bugger, I had three days of runny nose and it ended up raw and sore then erupted in the most cold sores I have ever seen on a person! I felt fine other than needing a tissue close by at all times. (Denise has arrived in Bali with the end of a bout of tonsilitus) What a pack of silly ole buggers we were. Broken leg, coughing, aches and pains, but let me tell you, didn't upset our happy holiday! Could have been quite worse. Wayan received a call to say his sister in law had been knocked off her motor bike, by a hit run driver and left on the side of the road. She was taken to hospital and operated on for broken jaw, broken arm and leg. Poor thing wont even be able to hobble on crutches, having a broken arm too. She was admitted to Sangleh hospital and in intensive care for a day or so. A family member then had to stay with her 24 hours per day to attend to her every need, The hospital staff does not attend to feeding or toiletry tasks.
We booked a boat trip for Denise, Trevor and I for the next morning at 50,000rp per person.
Knock knock on the door at 5.45am and we left at 6. We walked down to the beach with the boat driver and he wheeled the outboard motor in two wheels along the road. The shaft is about 8 foot long, looks like a huge beater. There were a few other tourists making their way into boats and we headed out to the west. Soon enough we were in a group of about 25 outriggers/spider boats and all heading to find pods of dolphins. The seas were relatively calm and the sunrise glorious. Once the dolphins appear all boats turn in that direction, sometimes they appeared in amongst the boats, so obviously enjoyed the chase and didn't mind us in their territory. Some pods had maybe 10 small dolphins, one pod probably had 40. We spent an hour or so watching the dolphins then our driver headed further out to where there were some fisherman. We thought, hmm, we may have been dudded here. He wants to do a bit of fishing. He threw in his line with a lure attached. Some boats appeared to have kites flying overhead with lines down into the water with lures attached. The lure kept bobbing along the surface as the wind caught the kite. We didn't see any catches, but saw the largest pod of dolphins! I expect the fishermen and dolphins are all in the same area for the same reason, a good catch!
We went for a drive later in the morning to check out the surrounding area. Bob needed to go to the Dr to get some drops for his puffy eyes. He had like an eczema rash, but with some cream his eyes improved over the next few days. We went to a lovely beachfront restaurant and enjoyed good food with the sea breeze. Our driver Nyoman joined us for lunch and we offered him a beer, but he was too concerned that if he had arak or beer, he might see ‘dooble', see two roads and not know which road to take!
Next day Nyoman picked Trevor and I up and drove us to the Melka Excelsior Hotel, closer to Singaraja. The hotel has a gigantic Ganeesha statue on the roof. I wanted to swim with the dolphins. The Melka is a lovely probably 4 or 4.5 hotel. It appears to have large conference facilities and caters well for large groups. I paid 225,000rp and Trevor was admitted free. We were shown to the first salt water pool and introduced to John the dolphin. I was asked to sit on the side of the pool and let John become accustomed to me. Then I was told to gently get into the pool. John swam around me for another few minutes, getting closer and eventually came up close and put his body up close to mine and I was able to cuddle him. It was an awesome experience. We gently spun around in the water together until he decided to break our ‘connection' and swum away. He kept coming back and remained very friendly. It was just John and I in the water together with a couple of staff wandering past. Trevor took lots of fabulous photos. I felt that all of my expectations were met in swimming with him.
There is another pool connected behind and it holds two dolphins. You can swim with them too I believe and snorkel. I did watch a lady in there and she was throwing hoops and balls and they were retrieving them. They are so playful. There are other animals in cages and enclosures which I believe have been rescued from less satisfactory arrangements. There is a dolphin show at 2.30pm each day I think.
On our way back to Rambutan Cottages we visited the Buddhist temple up on the mountain side above Lovina Beach. The view is great and the temple quite beautiful.
Nyoman picked us up at 6.30pm and drove us to a local restaurant for dinner which we chose to ‘turn our noses up at'. He then drove us back to Ranggon sunset restaurant past the Melka. Its down a path (Jl Pura Penimbangan Barat, Pemaron) and the road runs parallel to the beach. It was dark by the time we got there and we found the area well lit as the workers were still stripping rice paddies. There were lots of locals and a great band playing. We had terrific meals and service and the staff did ‘shoo' away a rat who wandered into the restaurant area under a table. No probs! We would happily dine at this restaurant again.
Next morning Wayan Parta (Wayan Mertas mate) arrived at 8 to take us south to the Rotary schools distribution day. He had left his village at 5.30am and we asked had he had his breakfast. He had eaten before he left. Had rice and had run over a mongoose on the road the night before so also had mongoose roadkill! Yuck. Not my cuppa tea!
Distribution day to follow....