Part 4
Countdown and last 9 days....
We decided that the standard breakfast at SuriWathi wasn't quite standard enough, so walked across to Breeze for delicious breakfasts. They make great pancakes and the mixture was cooked all the way thru!
We shopped down at Ketuts fixed price shop and spoke to older ketut about young Ketuts eye sight. Apparently she has had 2 ops in Bali and now has great difficulty seeing. An Aussie was taking the doctors report back to a friend in Australia to see if further treatment can help. Younger Ketut is unable to read sizes etc on labels. I am not sure what the overall problem is with her sight. Sad all the same.
I ordered many reprints of our wedding photos from the Kodak shop in Jl Padma near Jl Sahadewa. They charge, which I think is standard price, 1500 for 3R, 2000 for 4R (standard preprint size), 5000 for 5R, 10000 for 6R and 25000 for large 10R. They were sending them away to print as I insisted that I wanted good colour. I think they got the message that I wouldn't pay if the colour wasn't true.
Went to Gosha for dinner as Denise and Bob hadn't been into what I call a traditional Bali restaurant. It was quite popular there and the standard has remained the same. We ordered gi-normous cocktails and I oh course chose a snapper for the grill.
Last day for Denise and Bob today. Don't you just hate finalizing the packing and then beginning to worry how much excess you will need to pay.
I had ordered on eBay a set of digital scales for weighing our luggage, but unfortunately it didn't arrive prior to our departure. Oh well, I have it for next trips. It weighs up to 50kg.
We walked along the beach with Jules, to La Lucchiola. The walk took us about 40 minutes and Bob arrived before us in the taxi. We waited for the absolutely gorgeous handsome, 10 out of 10 eye candy waiters to set up the restaurant then we sat upstairs. Their sarongs are made out of lovely fabric and they are all so handsome and most attentive waiters. We had a routine that if any of us were retelling a story, rather than say you have already told us that, you put up your hand to indicate, you are repeating yourself, get it? Well I was telling a tale and Trevor shot both hands up into the air, you should have seen how quickly the waiters came running over, thinking Trevor needed urgent assistance. Smartie pants, served him right. He felt a ning nong!
We over-ordered our breakies and over ate the food. Delicious. I had the bircher muesli with apple and toasted tamarillo and side serve of yoghurt then coconut toast with guava jelly, then coffee. We really should have walked home too, but chose taxis.
Jules Denise and I called into the Bintang Supermarket on the way home and the boys went in a separate taxi straight back to SuriWathi. Wine of the Gods shiraz was only 135000rp there, best price we saw. Later I walked up to Climax to collect my second pair of bathers/tankinis. I will happily get them to make me bathers in the future. Two pairs for 500,000rp, or do you have your hand up, did I tell you that yesterday?
Since it was Fathers Day in a couple of days, I decided to get a face to face key ring made for Trevor with a photo of our Abi, cavellier king charles spaniel. Her and Trevor are great hunting mates. When I realized that the images is actually transferred from photo to etching by computer I decided to give it a go. Cost 155000rp and took 24 hours. I was thrilled with the result and so was Trevor on Sunday.
Wayan came to pick up Denise and Bob at 8 to take them to the airport and left Trevor and I to spend the rest of our honeymoon alone, together, woo hoo! (Denise and Bob married July last year and the 4 of us came to Bali for their honeymoon plus another 4 or more, same time as Jess and Marks wedding).
Next day was Jules last day so we met her for dinner at Wayan and Friends. Good as always.
Trevor and I were picked up by Wayan Merta at 10 on Sunday and headed for Ubud. Along the way we stopped off at Sukawati market as I had heard about it many times on the BTF but never visited. We found it similar but different in that it sells the same market lines but with variations. You know, if you find something in a colour or style or pattern, its always better to buy then and there as you may never see it again. There are lots of hand crocketed items for sale too.
We arrived at Tegal Sari around 12.30 so since the room was not available, as expected, until 2pm
we were driven into Ubud market area and went for a walk up Suweto. We found terazo, that Jules, Jess and Mark had raved about so called in for lunch. Lovely restaurant with an Italian influence. We both ordered hamburgers, just for a meat fix and enjoyed them immensely. We noticed back out on the street and babi guling being carried on a large tray up on a shoulder, heading for Ibu Oka. We glanced in on the way past, but we just haven't been interested in ‘dining' there.
We walked back along Monkey Forest Road then past the soccer field then along Jl Hanoman (isn't it interesting how I/we say MF Rd but Jl for Hanoman).
Our room was ready so we were shown to room #24 which is the upstairs room furtherest of the new rooms out on the rice paddies. Tears well up in my eyes when I get there. It is so peaceful. The staff are so quietly spoken, so polite and helpful. I love Tegal Sari! We read out on the balcony, had a sleep on the day bed, then after the sunset decided to order room service and ate there. Too good to move!
Monday morning we found a secret door along the back wall of the 6 new rooms and it opened into Padi Prada Hotel, which is along Monkey forest road, close to the monkey forest. Bonus!
We walked thru the monkey forest and there were lots of monkeys along the walls and pathways. Lots of cheaky ones, but no terrors or grumpy characters. We spent the late morning around the pool then ordered lunch there. Good old avocado and prawn salad for me and more club sandwiches for husband.
That night we walked down to Dirty Duck. Unlike last year, Trevor did not order the dead over crispy
duck. Never again. We both had delicious meals and sat in the last area at the very back over the rice paddies upstairs. There were heaps of guests dining there.
We headed for the markets first thing next morning with a driver from Tegal Sari. He confirmed that we had stayed at Tegal Sari before and then asked if we had stayed in room 12. He remembered us. They are so amazing to recognize so many faces, but to even recall our room number from 12 months ago, amazing. We then booked a driver who took us to Taro elephant safari park. It took about 45 minutes from Ubud, off to the left on the way to Kintamani.
I realized at this time that my 3 camera batteries were lamost flat and the fourth was on the charger in Legian. Now that's not a good situation to be in! I remembered I had my home mobile tucked away so turned it on (and fortunately didn't receive any business calls) and used the camera to take photos. Only one megapixel but better than none!
The elephant park is a really outstanding attraction. The grounds are superb and exceptionally well maintained. A lot of money has been ploughed back into the site. Nigel Mason owns the park as well as Bali Adventure Tours, White Water rafting and kayaking, Mountain cycling, and Triple Trek adventures. They used to run the helicopter tours, but with the reduction in tourist numbers since October 2002, it ceased operating. He and his wife also own some restaurants.
We paid our us$53 each to enter the park, watch the show and take the safari ride thru the tracks.
During the show, the three well trained Sumatran elephants, play soccer, shoot some basketball hoops, use a hooler hoop on the trunk, carry a trainer on the trunk, walk over narrow beams, hold trunks and tails and walk around and paint. Nigel spoke at the end of the show to offer his condolences to the Irwin family and have a few words about Steve Irwin. Steve had visited the park a couple of times and since introduced Sumatran elephants in to the Australia Zoo. He spoke very highly of Steve.
There is a 200 seat restaurant overlooking the elephant swimming pond and new accommodation villas been built. They are just about to introduce a breeding program so they can grow elephants at the park.
On the way back down south, the water bottle leaked a little and guess what, it dribbled on to our wedding photos and stuck them together. I was able to pull them all apart without any damage but I could see a water mark on some. I had them all preprinted!
I hope you are enjoying these tales/ramblings, as I am enjoying recalling/writing what we did. Almost feel like I am back in Bali again, but not quite!