Had lovely brekkie at MBR my favourite is their little rolls with many sesame seeds on them with butter and orange marmalade (I never eat marmalade at home). For brekkie usually watermelon, pineapple, honeydew melon and an orange melon thingy with a scoop of fresh yogurt (they have a bowl of pre-made fruit salad there but I found a couple of bits were a little yucky so I don't get that anymore) an omelet made for u when u order it, indo noodles, bacon, potatoes (they usually have these done a 2 different ways each day as chips or in a type of potato bake) and bananas with cheese (sounds yak but were nice with rice!
Came and used internet then to catch u lot and my family who reads this too, much better than trying to text it all or send emails to 10 people. Internet at MBR is 130,000rp for 600minutes. Dearer than internet cafes, but lots more convenient.
Note: I had a brainwave at brekkie today (day 4) why not type message in Microsoft Word and then connect and paste onto the BTF. I was finding I'd be on for 2 hours to post my messages, that is using up time on your internet card but if copy and paste then only use a few minutes and can use rest of time to email and search forum for handy hints! Of course this will not work at Internet cafes as you pay for time you r sitting at computer.
Some things have happened in these last few days that have brought home a couple of good and bad points about traveling alone.
Good to travel with someone because:
- They will tell you if your fly is undone (I didn't find out until I next went to the toot.)
- They can help you open up those annoying little packets of butter/honey/marmalade. ( I have not done this successfully as yet, I either end up stabbing it with a knife after not being able to peel it. Today I peeled it open only to find there was another transparent skin underneath it, then ended up stabbing it (perhaps u r suppose 2 stab it?)
- They will honestly tell u if u look fat in that dress
Fun to travel alone because;
- You can decide to walk up alleys that have hardly any shops and r advised they will take you a long time to get anywhere for the sheer joy of walking and seeing what u would normally not see
- Go for a swim after its dark, not go to the pool to get a suntan but just to swim under the stars, until u r to tired to swim anymore and then go to bed
- Getup and go to breakfast when you wake up, get to brekkie just as they open, get a table near the sea with no queuing up for food nothing has run out and the food is fresh
Of course there r many others if truth be told I think I prefer to travel with others to bounce off ideas and compare bargains. I'm lucky at the moment as my sis and her hubby are staying at a hotel close by so we can meet up and shop and eat at times together.
Changed money today at Kodak near Padma very nice people there and honest not trouble changed my money there last year, exchange rate 7550rp, much better than last year.
Note: When trying to convert money when bargaining I always use a base rate of 7rp to $1aus, if rate is higher then I know if an item is 21,000rp it is just under $3, if rate is lower I know that it is just under $3. Much better than trying to get it exact - who cares anyway - work it out later that night as u gloat over your bargains!
Note: I always write rp - $ on my hand it is a quick and easy method to see the rate of what u buy, I have been laughed at but after a few days whoever I'm with appears with the rates on their hand and a sheepish expression on their face.
Tried to find a fixed price stall we usually go to; turn left out of Padma then right, but it was closed yesterday and today so not sure if it is still there or not.
Went further down the road and found a shop (on left side a couple from the end I think) where a lovely man works who matched all our prices for stuff we had bought last year (stuff we had bargained for very, very hard). He even remembered us! I got his address - Buda Shops, JL: Saha Dewa no:5B, 1 Nenghaw Dupa.
From him we got - Butterfly dresses 35,000, Butterfly top 30,000, Black dress with gold - 35,0000, Crocheted long sleeve wrap top - 35,000, pretty stretch top with sparkles - 40,0000.
We stopped then for drinkees at a restaurant at the end of that road, here's where you can put your card/photo/message under the glass table top - sorry Deb your message is gone (perhaps on another table). Had a tropical moon again yum, sis had a yummy choccy drink and hubby dry ginger ale in fancy bottle. I'm finding the tropical moons come in much smaller martini glasses this year.
Next to the markets where there was no-one but us (funny as all the hotels seem to be packed) Felt v sorry for them and ended up buying stuff I didn't really want so they would have good luck. But did get bargains at their first price - butterfly dress - 30,000, crocheted top - 30,000 (yes the same ones I had just bought, but in different colours) wrap around trousers, the sort where the side opens ¾ length - 25,000.
Other bargains today were sunnies 5 pairs for 120,000rp, watches lovely spider second hand one 25,000 and other watches - butterfly 25,000, metallic bracelet/watch 25,0000.
A ring with green/grey stone 30,000 and one with 3 turtles and stones 30,000. A think I was ripped off with turtle one though as when I first saw it I'm sure it had all the stones in all the turtles but later he leant under the counter to get cleaning stuff and began cleaning it , it went a little darker and u couldn't tell if all stones were there, now I know there r only about 3 stones in it and about 15 missing. But I am not absolutely positive they were all there in the first place just 98% so didn't say anything - lucky it only cost me 30,000 cheap lesson to learn - make sure of what product looks like before they clean and that all stones are there then refuse if different. I had heard this before but kept close watch on him and didn't see it happen, oh well.
Went to dinner at Indonational (Think its called) best nasi goring I have ever had, prawn and avocado cocktail ok didn't like prawns much and too much sauce but avocado nice, satay v nice, calamari yummy like home. Noticed on menu its Aussie owned/Aussie hygiene. Staff v friendly, toilets clean, bit of a bistro feel, but ceiling/walls painted with murals just great to go and see these, a tourist attraction in themselves. Prices v reasonable.
Wow written too much will leave here and bore u all some more tomorrow