We are up to day 10 of our 23 day honeymoon.
We have spent 2 nights in Legian, then 4 in Sanur, followed by 3 at Rambutan Cottages in Lovina and now we are heading back south.
We stopped in a Crackers loo to try and squeeze out a drop, rather than risk needing to go at the sports ground where the Rotary day was being held. I needed to urgently ‘spend a penny' at the 2004 distribution day and it was not money well spent, well in one way it did serve the purpose to ease the need, but boy oh boy, it hadn't been cleaned that morning!
We arrived about 10 in time to see the children involved in all sorts of games and competitions. My Mum and Dads sponsored girl Lodi was dressed in traditional dancing costume, all made up looking stunning. I found my two girls Made and Tina quickly and Tina's parents. As always, lovely to see Noel and Geraldine. Met Sunset Jo and saw her Mum, again. Met Julie and John and a few others. Its such a full filled day for the children. Noel and Hugh did almost do themselves proud when they were asked to dance with the girls. It was the hand movements I think, may need a little more practice Noel! A few presentations then the children each received their custom measured back pack of school supplies, books, pens, pencils, shoes, socks, tshirts, shorts etc. $110 well spent.
Wayan drove us back north to Pacung Indah where we got our rooms sorted and enjoyed another lovely lunch. I chatted to Julie and John for a while. Lovely couple. We chose to order off the menu and since Denise and I had become fine connoisseurs of avocado and prawn salads, we ordered again. Oh dear, we were served one of the best. (I think I had prawn and avocado salad for about 20 lunches in Bali). David arrived later in the afternoon and drove us up to Candi Cuning market again as Denise had a few more items on her list to buy. We paid 3000 for mangoes and a bunch of passionfruit also cost 3000. David gave me the much promised can holders for Smokey and I hope we get them to him soon!
That night we enjoyed a lovely peaceful evening, dinner down on the lower level with David and Moira. I think they felt relaxed too and we thoroughly enjoyed their company. Three bottles of red later plus a few beers and I think we all slept well.
Denise and Bob could hear ‘creatures' in their roof and we had a dripping tap. We have since heard that the creatures have been located and since relocated. They were possums. Our dripping tap in suite 1 had a little trick to it, turn off the tap and it keeps running a little, then turn it back on a tad and its off completely!
We did go up and visit Barbie and Spanky and Trevor stood a little too close on one visit and got swiped by one of them. He got quite a surprise and did think it very funny!
Next morning David took Denise Trevor and I for a drive to the secret waterfall. Oh dear, what a glorious drive, down into valleys, up steep hills, winding roads, thru little villages, saw outstanding rice terracing, lush green veggie crops and eventually made it to the running stream and waterfall. A real highlight of our trip. Thanks David and Moira for being such great hosts.
Wayan P picked us up at 11 and when we inquired, yes, he had almost finished the RK mongoose!
Along the trip back south we saw lots of school children marching on the road, practicing for the up and coming 25 km walk from Tabanan to Denpasar. The traffic was really quite chaotic held up by the children.
We checked into SuriWathi and were happy with our new rooms, 17a and 18a. both have double beds. For the cost, Denise and Bob were amazed at the standard of the huge rooms.
We ordered a leather jacket for Bob at French Leather and picked up ours, both made very well.
Dinner that night at Breeze. We had to bring in our own wine as they had run out, so paid 195,000rp for Wine of the Gods shiraz from the convenience store on the north side of Padma, opp Sahadewa. We checked out the price of W O G in numerous places and sometimes found we could order it off the menu for around 150,000rp and Bintang Supermarket sold it for 135,000rp. Unfortunately the W O G cellar door was closed each time we drove past.
D. Antoni (Bali rock star) who is one of the brothers who owns SuriWathi and Legends, arranged for us to go fishing off Sanur. Antoni, brother Ketut, driver Davey and Ryan another guest at SW, Trevor and I headed out about 8.30am to go fishing together. Antoni's friend Toron owns My Darling fishing boats. We had to wait a little while while the tide came in, then we headed out past the reef. It amazed me, that when you looked at the reef, it appeared to be almost all surf waves, but the boat driver drove thru a calm section so we could anchor and throw in our lines. We stopped at about 6 or so locations, trying to find the big catch. We caught about 15 fish in all, and I might add, all terribly undersized and very colourful! They would have looked far prettier actually thrown back into the water, or secondly in a fish pond, lastly on a frying pan, but they cooked them and ate them!
Back in Legian I approached Paula in Sahadewa, ‘you wanna buy a watch', no not really, would she like to bring a pal and gives massages in Suriwathi. Her and sister in law Dina came. Bob wanted massage in room as he thought the pool lounge chairs too uncomfortable, fair comment, so he and Paula went to the room. No massage with happy ending! Dina was shocked as she said, oh no, they were married and no massages with happy ending. Someone they knew had given a massage with happy ending and her husband had found out. He cut off her head, head over there, body here. She dead. Wo, that sounded pretty final! Maybe a true story, never know!
Denise and I had our nails treated then I had a massage.
Jules walked around from Puri Raja later and we walked around to Ketumbar for dinner. Bob caught a taxi around. Ketumbar is becoming one of my new favourite restaurants. Delicious meals, well priced and great service. Trevor is anti up market restaurants in Bali which have white tablecloths, so fortunately we were safe there as the tables don't have cloths. Great location in Jl Melasti. We sat outdoors in the front area. You can sit outside, inside or upstairs. I had fish and chips and Trevor ordered Hungry Butcher. It had quite a bit of meat, as boys need their meat fix every now and then, but it didn't meet Aussie standards. We had crème Brulee for dessert, yummos. With wine we paid 270,000 per couple.
The rate on the street was 6825rp for one Aussie $ and we noticed petrol 4800rp per litre
Tuesday, Denise and I went for a walk along Jl Legian to try and find Climax swimwear. We were tried out to the max. We started around Legian Paradiso and checked out each lane. EVENTUALLY we found it. They have a few items of swimwear on display and maybe 10 - 15 fabrics to choose from. I chose 2 different fabrics and ordered 2 tankinis.
LOCATION of CLIMAX. Walk along Jl Legian from Melasti, heading to Kuta. Past entrance to Kuta Lagoon Resort. When you see the road coming in on the left hand side, CLIMAX is down the laneway opposite on the left hand side of the lane on the right hand side of Jl Legian heading to Kuta. There is a yellow Climax sign over the footpath out on Jl Legian. ASR (Action Sports Retailer) shop is on the other side of the lane on Jl Legian. If you reach Legian Paradiso, turn back around, you have gone way too far.
Denise and I then headed into Denpasar to check out Ramayana, bought shoes, sandals and thongs (for feet) then back to SuperNova, Centro, Hard Rock Café and back to Hotel. Great idea for the boys to stay at the hotel.
That evening, Wayan Merta picked us up around 4.30. We first stopped at Bali Hai Hotel to collect our ordered jewellery from Toko First. We were all thrilled with their workmanship. Trevor had been given a hundred year old or more, engraved pink gold ring and it needed to be enlarged lots of sizes. They matched the pink gold and did a terrific job.
Next we headed for Uluwatu to watch the Kecak at sunset. This had been on my to do list for a few visits. We hadn't been to the Kecak for 10 years or so and Denise and Bob has never seen it, and none of us has been to see the performance at sunset at Uluwatu. We were able to drive down the hill so Bob didn't had to hobble too far. The Kecak was really good and we all enjoyed the chanting. I still maintain that those older guys who sit along the back row and yell something different are just complaining that they aren't in the front row. Could be so!
Dinner at deMiMidi restaurant at GWK cultural park didn't let us down. We had been there for my birthday last year. The venue, view, service, food and prices are all wonderful.
Wednesday, Bob had planned to go to a local English speaking Rotary meeting. Denise Bob and I caught a taxi to the Sofitel in Jl Dyhana Pura and we left Bob there to do his exchange club flag thingy and he enjoyed the speaker and fellow Rotarians. Denise and I went down to Jl Double Six as Denise hadn't had the pleasure to walk along the road and check out the fantastic selection of sarongs, jewellery, shoes, bags etc. We bought some lovely sarongs and then I took mine to Ketut and her husband made them into sarong dresses for me.
Mr Anson from Brisbane Tailor came over to our hotel and we had fittings for our clothes. Its so much easier trying on the clothes in the air conditioned hotel room than at the back of the shop.
We wandered down to S & S later and met Ken and Chris from SCBA, Smudge, Lois and Gary, Julie and John (who we had bumped into a few times over the past week or so) and a few others. Jules and us walked up to Wayan and Friends for dinner, along with Gail who was leaving SuriWathi that night to return home to central Vic. Delicious beef and we took our own bottle of wine, so only cost 110,000 per couple.