Firstly, a big thank you to Cracker for dragging us out of our comfort zone and enticing us up north to see and meet some wonderful people.
We arrived on Tues 20 Mar at 9:30 Perth time, 8:30 Bali time, (what a bonus as we'd forgotten about daylight saving), easy run through immigration and was going well through Customs till the European couple ahead of us produced a huge TV type camera in their baggage. Their whole kit was then inspected and then they were taken away. We were left at the head of the line with no-one to wave us through for about 15 minutes. Talk about champing at the bit! Arrived at Samsara Hotel about 40 minutes after arriving, dropped the bags off and went to Bagus Bar for a relaxing Bintang with Roy and George.
Samsara is a lovely boutique hotel, not good for children or party animals. The staff are lovely, as is the owner, Hera, who looked after us so well. A mob from Bunbury would come home late and party or argue around the pool, which ruined it a bit for all the other guests. They won't be allowed back again, as they wouldn't take the hint because "we're on holiday and enjoying ourselves". They should have stayed at the Bounty!
We always changed our money at the money changer near Bemo corner, Pt. Dirgahayu Valuta Prima,(between the two elephant statues), and got better rates each trip there. We got between 7250rp and 7500rp over the 17 days as the Oz dollar improved.A lot better than the 6330rp from Travelex in Mandurah and at the airport.
The weather was hot, humid and it rained all night and all day once.Big deal, you get raining price then, to go with morning price, first customer price, honeymoon price etc.
The first week was acclimatising, eating, drinking lots of water and a few binnies, and catching up with old friends from previous trips.
Went to S&S for drinks, met Smudge, and handed over a suitcase full of clothes for the orphanage.
Finally got to Uncle Norms on the Wednesday. Met Norm, Robbie and Eddy and had a good time with Frank and Kim who were staying at our hotel. Frank has a line of Gym-wear called "Pump'N", so all you Sydney gym junkies get some of em and support our Bali friends by doing so.
We sent a list of dvds we wanted to happy "H", who duly delivered same the day after we arrived. He told us that he has shut the shop near Waterbom Park, just prior to Nyepi, due to the "heat" being attracted by the other rip-off merchants around him. He's still in business though, via his email/website, (Mcshop)
I like to walk, which helps my bad back, so we explored more of Seminyak, having never been up that way before on "shanks' pony". Unfortunately Gerri's heal blisters returned, so the long walks went out the window after that.
A quick observation here. After only one week we found that we had met more people, local and foreign, than we had met in total on previous trips. Why? Because we weren't in a group, just Gerri and I. From now on group travel is out.
Thanks to Cracker we got to stay with David and Moira at Pacung Indah and the view is "to dine for" from their restaurant. The weather was a refreshing change from the humidity, although the rain upset any wanderings we wanted to have. David took us for a quick tour of the area, including the huge unfinished hotel, Candi-Cuning markets including Crackers Bar and Grill for a drink and bite to eat whilst my gift of a premiership flag was attached to the ceiling. After two days there, David and Moira drove us up to Lovina and Rambutan cottages, where we were to stay, to visit Richard and Tini.
What a wonderfully peaceful place the north is. Had my best meal this trip at the poolside restaurant at Rambutan Cottages. It was mixed seafood in Balinese sauce. The ambience, weather, hunger and the food combined to make a memorable meal, with great company of the owners and staff.
Our trip north was for a reason. To visit the two kids we sponsor through Helen Flavell. We got to see them on the Friday (30th). Went to the Learning Centre in Singaraja to learn of the excellent opportunities the locals get from this volunteer service. We were then taken to our girl,Yasmimi's school and met the headmaster. We offloaded some exercise books, pens and pencils we had purchased at Macro, and tennis balls. Then we were taken to Yasmini's home to meet this delightful young girl and her family. We distributed a lot of ball caps that I had accumulated over the years to family members, and after Yasmimi showed us her dancing skills we all went to the market. Gerri and I decided that we would purchase a 300.000rp food pack for each family. This consisted of a 25kg bag of rice, carton of noodles, garlic, shallots, chillies, beans,cooking oil, soap, washing powder,herbs and spices which filled a large box.
Our guide, the director of the learning centre whose name escapes me still, told us that this would last the family a month. from the market we went to visit 9yo Made and his family. Here we found that Made's parents were dead and he was being brought up by his Uncle. A lovely, shy little boy, Made wants to be a soldier. I gave him a soccer ball and an Aussie Rules footy in a Magpies backpack.
The day went so quickly, but was emotionally draining for both of us, and we slept soundly that night.
Next day it was back to Kuta. Our driver was a rarity, never using the horn the whole way there. (I reckon it must have been broken).
The last week was just relaxing, eating, drinking and a little shopping.
Our last night in Bali has become a tradition of finding a fine dining establishment and having a really nice meal. This time it was Un's, just off Poppies1. What a great fine dining establishment. Good venue, great staff and wonderful food. Where in Oz can you get 2 margueritas each, mains of fish fillets and baby chicken , plus coffee for under $40 ? And we were given complimentary entrees and welcome drinks (mini margueritas). We'll be going back there again. Thank Kadec.
We met Rick from Foo-kin Pub at the airport, on his way home to Geelong.
Trip home was spoilt by screaming,talking young child in seat in front of us, being stirred up by grandpa sitting next to us. Some people have no common sense at all.
We started getting the Bali blues on the last day there, and it remains with us. I desperately need a full massage, Gerri wants another foot massage, and we both need a mee goreng afternoon fix.
Every sleep is one closer to going back.