Sunday 18th March
Brekkie at La Lucciola's. As yummy as ever.
Went to Bintang supermarket for Nyepi supplies.... Geez was just like shopping here on Christmas Eve! There were people everywhere and we bought enough supplies to last 1 week not 1 day.
Popped down to Super Nova and Matahari's. By this stage I was beginning to feel the effects and wasn't really that enthused about shopping... didn't actually buy a thing! Amazing I know but you guys know I always tell the truth so totally believable.
Got 4 bikes down to head off and see the Ogah Ogah parade.
What a spectacle! One of my favourite things to do in Bali is to see the local people celebrating. I had never before been in Bali for Nyepi but had been there for Kunnigan. The Ogah Ogah's were amazing. These people are so so creative & talented.
Went and had dinner and Un's which was lovely. Then walked down towards bemo corner. Transport is virtually non existent on Nyepi eve but we did manage to score a couple of bikes... whilst we were waiting for them to rustle up a couple more mates Tina observed an exchange that appeared a little suspicious. One of the exchangees popped on his bike and Tina absolutely said no way were any of us to get on. Belinda being the ever dutiful daughter of Tina promptly hopped on his bike and sped away into the dark.... Tina followed shortly behind, leaving Di and I with a young lad and one bike waiting.
Whilst we were waiting I was looking at this bloke when he was talking to us... no eye contact & he was jittery. When I did get a look at his eyes they were red, blurry and blood shot. I knew that look. Whispered to Di and she fronted him and asked if he had used drugs that night. He answered no. When I asked, maybe just a little bit - he admitted that yes he had been - just a little bit.
No problem we just told him we couldn't get on his bike if he had been using and headed off towards the beach. Managed to grab a cab at the corner of the beach road and negotiated a rate of 50,000rp for the trip to Legian. Way over priced but no problem. Later heard my girlfriend negotiated their trip for 100,000rp!
Nyepi Monday 19th
Spent a lovely day around the pool with Tina, Belinda, Di, Struth, Petron Julie57k and her hubby along with the hotels other guests of course.
Had a gorgeous verandah lunch. Ketut - head cook at Suri Wathi came along and had a bintang with us - he really is lovely man. Antoni came along for a chat too. I think we all had a bit of a nanna nap before an early dinner and retirement to Di's room to partake in a wee beverage or two.
Tuesday 20th
We awoke to rain. Our plan for the day was to go to the beach markets... we decided to have brekkie and see whether we needed to make a plan B. There was no need, by the time brekkie was finished the sky was once again beautifully blue.
Cabbed down to the beach and spent a couple of hours or so just wandering through the mass of people all out celebrating their special day.
From Kuta we headed to Makro - disappointed in their stuff this time although still managed to get rid of some Rupiah.
Back to Suri Wathi for a well deserved swim. Dinner at Ketumbar, one of our finds from last year. I was a little diasappointed this year, didn't think the meal was a nice but still wasn't an awful meal at all.
Wednesday 21st
Had a late brekkie at Ma Joly in Tuban. An absolutely gorgeous beach front setting. The waves were crashing gently on the wall, then more insistently they came causing some giggles from us and the table of Japenese tourists next to us. The waitress came over and asked us to remove our bags from the ground. Yep sure we did as asked but thought it a rather odd request. The reason soon became clear when the waves came crashing in, up and over the 1.5m high wall. Tina and Belinda were saturated, we were all sitting eating breakfast with our feet in a pool of water. Just another glorious Bali memory.
Next stop Centro. I didn't go to Centro with the girls last year. Brought a few items but not really my sort of place. I can do that sort of shopping here in Australia. From here we girls went our separate ways for a few hours. Belinda chose to walk back to Legian, Di to go to Matahari's, Tina to stay at Centro and me... well it's was time for a swim.
Lisa came over and worked some magic, mid spell Tina arrived back and decided she was in need of a little magic too. Lisa certainly did well out of us over the two weeks we were there. I did have a chat with her to make sure that any money she makes she gets directly, none of it goes to her boss. She works all day everyday and only gets paid if she actually sells something. For her sake I wish she worked in a shop where the items are actually worth buying. Times sure are tough.
We had booked a ‘warm stone massage' for 3.30pm and as time was ticking on I called Di from my room, which adjoined Di's. The noises in the room next door told me Di had snuck back in without us seeing her. We grabbed 3 bikes from outside Suri Wathi, Belinda still wasn't back but met us at Melasti Spa - she had got lost but ended up in the right place anyway. Shared a massage room with Di, the two of us spent the hour giggling and wondering where the hell they were going to put the next rock!
Tina and Belinda headed down to SnS whilst Di and I grabbed bikes again and had some drinkies back at Suri Wathi.
As we were heading out to dinner we met Struth on her way to eat alone. Hijacked Ruth and met Tina and Belinda at Warung Kartini, the little gem Di found last year, tucked neatly away down the twisting lane that is 3 brothers. Had a great dinner, around 125,000rp for the 5 of us. Whilst we were eating we decided sweets at Drops may be a good idea. Hmm we blew the dinner budget just slightly.... 500,000rp for sweets and a cocktail.
Ruth then suggested we continue on to Legends for another cocktail and well it seemed like a fantastic idea.
Welcomed back by the staff, grabbed a table and ordered drinks. We were joined by Antoni, the owner and Budi the Bar Manager. There followed a ‘what happens in Bali stays in Bali' moment or two. Gee there were a few this trip! And you're not going to hear about them from me. Private memories are oh so much sweeter.