Next morning after a walk we decide to go to Ubud again and this time we are lucky there are (only) two spare seats waiting at Ibu Oka. The babi guling is delicious and it was good to see a broad spectrum of people enjoying the food.
I ask at the Ubud info centre on the corner if they have the book 'Ubud is a Mood' but here stock is habis. The bookshop a few doors down has one for 185k and I buy some other books and presents. We have a quick look around the Ubud market for a Naga for my husband. It's hot and stifling in the middle of the stalls. I see one that is quite good for over a million but I'm not satisfied that it's the right one so we leave it.
Next stop is the Blanco Renaissance Museum. I've been before and I'm a big fan of the master, so please excuse my frothing at the mouth. The cost is 20, 000rp or free if you are a local bringing tamu. I'm in awe of the talents of Antonio Blanco, the paintings of his wife Ni Ronji, who was a famous Balinese dancer, convey such passion. The museum, like the paintings and frames, is extremely opulent and has to be seen to be believed. In the studio downstairs we are told Marion has been painting for 2 hours earlier in the morning and good quality lithographs are available from US$800 to 1500.
Driving south from Ubud we decide to go to Uluwatu. We make our plans like this on the spur of the moment most days, which keeps things interesting. I have yet to see the Kecak dance at Uluwatu, so it's the first time for me and we arrive just in time at 6pm. Tickets cost 50,000 and guides receive commission. I enjoy the show even though I know this dance has been created for tourism. It is fast paced and holds my interest from the start til the finale where fire is kicked around. It's a superb spot for it too.
After we get back to Legian Wayan has to work again, so I get some dinner and a foot massage at Ambiente. After an hour of total relaxation I have to be careful crossing the street back to the hotel and I sleep easily and soundly.
Saturday we pick up my paintings from Syah. One is of a natural frangipani bunch and the other is a close up heliconia, both plants I have growing in my garden at home. They are better than I expected and the staff roll and pack them while we wait. We talk about Sariswati day, which is being celebrated today and Wayan tells me to go to the beach early next morning to see many offerings and people enjoying the beach.
Lunch at Warung Made as we are both feeling starving. Next we go to the Haveli outlet on Jl Kunti to buy some napery and cushion covers. I joke with Wayan that one day he will come to our place and see all the stuff we have bought over the years and think, oh yeah, I remember I waited a bloody long time while you were choosing that! Afterwards we go to Makro to purchase a bigger fridge for Wayan's new house, which I had promised in October when they had their ceremony. Asri will be able to use the smaller fridge just for preparing offerings now.
The last two days were just a blur of power shopping really.
I bought some stuff from Geneva. I bought a dragon statue made from bronze, dipped in silver from Ready 2 Buy for 170K.Jl Gunung Tangkuban Perahu No. 22A Kerobokan. Both of these places have such a wide array of stock, so much it's quite hard to find what you want. I also found a 1 metre long dragon at Ready to buy, but I didn't want to carry it home as it weighed more than 5 kilos. We are trying to think of how to get it back to Townsville. Post will be 700k. Does anyone have advice on how to clean and look after silver ornaments? If so, can you please let me know?
I bought the entire range of Biokos plus foundation, blush, eye shadow and lipstick from Supernova for 420,000 rp.
Went to Centro and drooled over some Guess handbags and nice shoes. Was attacked at the perfume counters once again and bought some Escada parfum. I received a free body wash, lotion, mini purse size parfum and two trial sizes, a real bargain as the price was the same as duty free.
I bought DVDs and Cds from a reputable shop along Jl Padma. By this time I was all shopped out and wondering how I was going to pack it all.
Sunday we had planned to go to Echo beach, as it's a regular hangout of ours, but sadly I ran out of time and just had another divine meal at Drops instead. Checked out from the hotel and picked up all my photos on the way to the airport.
The line at the international departures is unbelievably long and I worry about checking in late, but I get some assistance from some porters and all is well. Upstairs I look at the duty free and there are signs saying you can buy in the airport no problem. I err on the side of caution and decide not to bother until I get to Darwin.
I had 50,000 rp left in my purse just enough to buy a drink and a final souvenir, a pink and yellow frangipani hair clip that was 35,000 fixed price.
Flight was full and left on time around 12.10pm. Arrived in Darwin at 2.30 or so and I could feel I was coming down with a cold. It was fairly tortuous going through immigration and Customs, then having to check my luggage back in again. I had no problems at all but I saw someone with about 4 of those hairy lanterns, the officials were banging them on the bench and it was surprising how much debris was falling out.
Got to Cairns at 9am (7 Bali time) and was stoked to see my family. We hung out in Cairns for a bit then drove back to Townsville, and I slept the whole way. I don't think I will go alone again, it just felt overly self indulgent, but I did really unwind over the 10 days.
Sorry, this has turned out to be more of an epic than I intended, but I must thank everyone on the forum for all the info I've learned over the years and hope that I may be able to pass on something of value on to you guys too.
If anyone is interested in having a look at my pics please go to http://community dot webshots dot com/user/TrishRichardson.