It never ceases to amaze me how long it takes for a holiday to arrive and then quick as a wink its all over and back to work to daydream for another year!!! Physically I am here but mentally I am still under the palm trees!
The end of my first week in Bali started with a lovely free foot massage and pedicure at Febris Spa. This is only fairly new and was a really pleasant experience once we got past the fact that they didn't really want to honour their free vouchers that were among our travel documents. Off to Pub Bagus in Poppies 2 to watch some more footy while downing some icy cold Bintangs and some yummy satays. More dvd shopping and then off to our hotel to laze by the pool. Dinner was at Gracie Kellys at the Dynasty. The food there is quite different and reasonable prices. Usually the band plays Irish songs but tonight they played requests and did a lot of rock n roll which suited us oldies (but young at hearts). My hubby and I love to jive (oops shows our age!!!) so we were up on the dance floor until my sore leg objected.
Next day we went to Geneva to check out all the handicrafts and my first impressions were wood, wood and more wood until I ventured further into the store and the wow factor set in at the array of goods on offer and how cheap they all were. After Geneva we checked out lots of shops in Seminyak area. That night we had dinner at Kori's in Poppies 2 which is always good value and a delightful setting. My hubby ordered the spare ribs and when they bought them out they put a bib around his neck. I can tell you now that he really needed it but thoroughly enjoyed his meal. After dinner we went back to our hotel and ventured down to the beach where we spent a lovely hour or two sitting watching the planes come and go and chatting to whomever wandered past.
Next day my knee showed some slight signs of recovery so I decided to check out all the shops around Kuta Square, I love Buccheri shoe shop. Bought some shoes in Mata Hari and got stuck into the kids clothes and toys for the grandie. She will be so well dressed this summer!! Wandered up Bakung Sari and Kuta Pantai. Fell in love with a painting but price was a bit silly. Will go back another day and see how I go with it. Dinner was at Pantai Restaurant on the beachfront, as recommended on BTF, next to Ma Jolie. I swear the garlic prawns were as big as a small lobster and so delicious. What a gorgeous setting right on the beach front and sooooo cheap!!! In the daytime the restaurant looks like a dump but at night with the fairy lights twinkling in the trees it takes on a whole new look. I am so grateful to the BTF people who told me about it.
The next day was a truly wonderful highlight to our trip. We were invited to visit our friend Ngurah, who works at UNS restaurant, at his home in his village near Tabanan city on his day off. We first went to the Tabanan monkey forest which was fun. There are over 600 monkeys there and they are all well looked after, as well as some huge fruit bats. Our driver, Malik, took us to the local Tabanan markets which were great. The children looked at us as if we came from Mars but the adults were extremely friendly even though there was a language barrier. I found a great pair of camel coloured leather high heeled slingbacks and in my best Bahasa asked the price. I thought I had heard wrong when I was told 20,000rp but no that was the price so I didn't even bother bartering. They are gorgeous and fit perfectly. For that price if they fall apart after one season who cares! I bought some lovely little girls outfits for $1.00AU and had some great conversations in halting Bahasa and English with the lovely people there. Malik tells us that not many westerners go there so they were thrilled to see us.
Then it was on to Ngurah's home. As we turned into the street he was out the front of his house pacing up and down in his excitement. The whole village had turned out to have a gawk at these strange Aussies. We took 40kg of rice and 5 big bottles of water for them. He had gone to a lot of trouble cooking food and getting Bintangs in for us. He proudly showed us his house which consisted of 2 bedrooms and a small lounge and verandah area. Outside was another bedroom and kitchen and toilet. He had a beautiful garden and was very proud of his one hole golf course except his dog had run off with his one and only golf ball!!! There was a small river running at the back of the property. It was a lovely experience and when I thanked him for inviting us he replied that his home is our second home when we are in Bali. That made my heart melt and my eyes leak!!!
After that we headed back to Tuban through all the magnificent rice paddies. We had dinner at Green Garden which was only average. Went to bed feeling very special that night.
I will finish my Bali ramblings off with my next JBR. Cheers Jeanne