Day 6
Up at 6am still can't get the hang of sleeping in, guess its all those years of being a farmers wife, organised with the guy who had collected us at the airport to drive us around for 6 hours we first drove up Mt Merapi in the hope of getting some photo's the drive itself is quite spectacular and I was amazed at the number of very large houses as we drove up the mountain. Reached the last area for parking and it was on foot from there walked to the start of last years lava flow and even though the mountain was still hiding from us the views and the atmosphere were incredible, still managed to take lots of shots including houses half buried but a tree growing in amongst everything, Even without the volcano being visible it is a must see just to look out over the city and up towards the mountain. It seemed incredible to me that sitting amongst the lava were everything is so grey a lady was selling dried flowers with the most incredible colours. We travelled from here to Prambanan and on the the advice of all did not go in we were lucky enough that our driver knew where the back gate was and he took us in for a quick look and a photo op. Many areas are off limits and fenced off due to the volcano, went to Koto Gede to look at the silver and to be honest nothing really said buy me, however next to one of the silver shops was a small puppet makers and yes I bought those instead. We then left the rest of the trip in the hands of the driver and he took us to a temple that for many years had been buried under volcanic ash, and then discover and dug out it sits in a huge almost amphitheatre and it is hard to imagine that once it sat level with the ground and from where we stood some many metres above this was the amount of soil build up that had taken place over the years. Back to Malioboro Street for a coffee then to the Rumah Mertua. During the day I had found a tourist paper and found a restaurant called Hanis Bakery advertised went for dinner and the food was amazing. While we were having dinner a tropical downpour with thunder and lighting started and it was so amazing to sit in a bale enjoying great food while the rain poured down, and who needs fireworks.
Day 7
Not realising today was a public holiday due to the Buddhist ceremony we basically spent the day bumming, had a chance to talk to the staff at the Rumah Mertua, and they were keen to ask us about our thought on Yogya, my comments were this; the people were so forthcoming and friendly without wanting us to buy something in return, the city itself was so clean compared to some places we had visited and so well organised re traffic etc, the history is something I would not forget and to see so may different cultures appreciating Borobudor was something we could all learn from. We met and saw some very interesting people including the totally naked man with rastifarian hair wandering up the street, a dutch Australian who spends month about in Yogya and Brisbane the batik salesman who's brother lives in Adelaide and the professor from Zurich who is teaching economics in Yogya. At no time did we feel uncomfortable or out of place.
Day 8
Our last day and the final purchases re the list we were given when we left home, the obligatory tourist t shirts for the kids and other bits and pieces, I do have to say that I did look for leather handbags etc but did not find much I had been told this was the place to come to for leather, but I obviously was not looking in the right places. Our flight back to Bali left on time and we arrived in Bali at 10pm caught a taxi to Sanur for the final part of our holiday 7 days at the Aston Legends Villas.
Day 9
Had breakfast served in the room and it was beautiful, the place is absolutely beautiful, last year we stayed at the Parigata Villas in Sanur but this place is sooo much better, an outdoor sitting area with kitchenette, not that I cook when I am on holidays, but it is nice to have a full size fridge to hold the nibbles and grog. The bathroom is amazing with a private courtyard outside for the shower and all the other bits inside behind a frosted sliding door. The outdoor pavilion was the ideal place for a quiet drink and read in the afternoons.
The location is great with a number of very nice restaurants within a 10 minute walk, went for a stroll down to Hardys to collect the obligatory nibbles and drink supplies. Went back to the room and went down to the beach and strolled along the promenade till we got to SIndhu Beach Markets, went to both Tootsies and Jennys and found Jennys had more of what I wanted this year, got some really nice cushion covers and shirts for Dad. Lunch at Benno's we were spotted by one of our favourite waitresses and it was hugs all round. Went down to Cemara Beach for dinner and sussed out the jet ski prices while we were there. Same as last year, and I know someone reported it is cheaper at Benoa, but hey we are in Sanur it takes 5 minutes to walk and they are the same guys we have used for the last nine trips, and mostly I guess we were happy with the price.
Day 10
Off to Janoko in Poppies 2 to organise some work clothes to be made, my daughter had some evening dresses made there two years ago and she was very happy with the quality. Organised to collect all the clothes on Friday, wandered down to Melasti purchasing all the gifts we needed, as per the 'kid want list' Went to Sana for lunch in Melasti, wandered down Garlic Lane and found a painting of a cat in orange tones no body but an incredibly stretched head reminded me so much of our daughters cat Jangles (found in a winery and it took them 2 days to catch it, now a pampered puss with attitude), bought the painting the sales lady was older and very nice then back to Aston for a swim. Down to Bennos for dinner, fresh snapper and prawns on the BBQ, followed by my favourite Balinese Liquor Coffee, met up with Karrie and Barbara, and talked about what the go was Barbara owns the Pondok Ayu in Sanur and we stayed there three or four years ago, lovely place beautifully finished and she said she has been really busy. Karrie is doing well with her shop and clothing factory and it was good to catch up.
Day 11
Jetskiing again today, had my nails done while I waited very happy with it and lady liked to chat, will have a massage with her tomorrow, asked at the Aston for another ice cube tray, and it was liked we needed another bed or something major after ½ hour I was informed it was one per villa so off the Hardys to buy one. Had dinner at Donalds on the Beach food was ok but the service was terrible nice setting though. Nearly died of thirst trying to get a drink.
Day 12
Off to Geneva in and out in 15 minutes had a plan and it actually worked had a look at some paintings in shop two doors from Geneva haven't found anything that said take me home yet, back to Double Six for the obligatory sarong purchases one shop had some different things so I ended up with a few for gifts. On the way back to Sanur went down Sunset Rd and saw a sign 'Gastro Kitchen Equipment' now I know to most people this would probably not spark their interest but I'm in the hospitality industry and it earned a good chuckle, not something we all aspire to. Collected my clothes from Bennos tonight I had bought some linen shirts in Australia without trying them on and I'm not small but they swam on me Karrie had arranged to have them altered and they are much better now. Dinner was great once again and I sometimes feel guilty about going back to a restaurant over and over, but it is to good not to.
Day 13
Off to the local shops 6 pairs of shoes in 10 minutes, a silver head on a stick, shorts and two bowls, all is good with the world, it is now 10am and swim is required, lolled around down to the beach for lunch and then a massage, no jetskiing today as it is very windy and to much chop, the only action at the beach was parasailing. Went to dinner tonight at the Mago Resto and Bar food was ok, but the people across the road appeared to be having more fun in the Cat and Fiddle, was full when we went to have dinner.
Day 14
Off to Janoko to collect my clothes, skirts fitted really well and very happy with the tops, only problem they had forgotten to line the skirts, no probs come back in an hour, oh the stress another hour of shopping to fill in the time, quickly got on the net for a quick catch up and then wandered Poppies for a bit, more bits for us and the kids. Collected the clothes then off to Denpasar to Hasanudin Street to look at the gold, 5 minutes later I am the proud owner of a beautiful ring, needs to be made bigger so we will collect it tomorrow very happy with the price, (had it valued since I came home at 4 times what we paid for it.). Trundled down the street to a clothing shop called Bermuda and bought some more bits including a great canvas backpack in case all the stuff does not fit in the luggage. Back to Sanur, swim drink, jet ski and general laze around.
Day 15
Last day, took all excess bits down to the beach 2 bags of clothes and other things we always leave behind, donated all the read books to the hotel. Off to collect the ring, the taxi driver waited and then back to the Wida in Melasti to spend the last bit before the trip home. Found a few spots in the luggage we could still fill and Charlie bought a painting that we had been eyeing off all visit in Garlic Lane it is 1.5 x 1.5 and the colours are lovely, he assured me it would fit in the overheads, but it ended up going on with the luggage. Off to Ketumbar for our last dinner, and because we wanted to upgrade we left for the airport about 8.30pm. All Starclass full but we were able to get exit row seats. Plane late leaving we occupied ourselves in one of the lounges and for the 100K each well worth it. Back into Melbourne long wait at customs but my bird cage passed and we lost nothing, to the car and we were back in Griffith about 2.30pm. Planning again for next year only 49 weeks to go.