Decided to take myself to Seminyak today. So off I trotted looking for wholesale street Id been to previous 2 years. I didn't find it, think I went there from the beach. Today I turned left out of Melasti.
Very hard typing tonight, writing has come off most of the keys so for some have no idea what they are until you strike them! If anyone has a keyboard they don't want please bring it over and give to the Melasti for their computers. Next time I stay here I'll try and clean out the cupboard and bring some, must be hard to replace as computer parts are expensive here.
Thought I'd try silver shops as never really been game to go in as I was sure they were too dear. Well am I surprised, that great bargain (30,000) I got on the street for fake silver jewelry was not so great after all! I got a lovely, delicate silver ring with pattern like a vine going around finger for only 25,000. Bought other rings there for 100,000, 20,000 got a coral pendant for 40,000 and other stuff, I asked him about a silver cloth to clean them and he threw that in for free! Shop: Solomon Silver 2 Jl Werkudara Legian.
Feelin v pleased with myself, went off for other bargains. Looked at bracelet in shop, lovely wide one with stones and beads, thought will probably be 20,000 - 30,000, tried out my indo 'berapa' dam I forgot the 'Harganya' so I just said 'How' to the poor shop man, he probably think I'm an Indian. He looked at me and said 10,000 - I think he felt sorry for me - naturally I bought.
A few shops up and saw earings round balls like large pearls in silver-imitation asked price - 10,000, word has spread looney walking around the streets, sell her stuff cheap and get rid of her. Me happy buy many pairs of different sorts.
Further on went into another silver shop, all around walls are jewelry with US dollars price tags $US25, $US60 etc feel very poor, lady looking at earings on turning display offered shop keeper a price in US dollars she refused. After she left I looked at display and saw little fish earings for 25,000rp. Asked about them and another pair of pretty blue ones. Shop keeper looked at me and said I could have any on the 2 sides for 20,000 - 25,000. It's my lucky day, I bought 4 pairs. Think I will have to grow more ears.
Bought a couple of lovely bags with silver and beads on them and most important a zipper to close it, away from those prying hands (65,000 for 2). Onto main street now (Don't ask me the names of roads, I am really bad at remembering/noticing them, I can only tell you a handful of roads in places I have lived for years.)
Love those bargain throw out bins of clothes here and at home. Got a beautiful crotched top for my daughter 20,000rp.
Note: Don't know if ive said this already but it's a great idea to write down what u buy and what u pay, in a little book you take with you each year, I got one a couple of years ago and everyone asks me, what did we pay for that last year and I can tell them and show shopkeeper if he doesn't believe me. I does help to be descriptive in your book as shirt 20,000 will have no meaning in 2 years - what type of shirt ladies/man/good quality etc as I have found out from my entries, but still a great tool to have, you must write in as u go though as if you try to do it later that night, all purchases will merge together with prices in your head - well it does in mine anyway.
I love trying the new lolly flavours in Bali. New one at the moment Mentos chews orange mint - so yummy, I only buy one packet a day as I eat then like a zombie until they are gone! Also Frozz bring out yummy mints that are hard and last a little longer - Barley Mint, I think raspberry mint, and of course yummy orange mint. Yummy garlic peanuts, handy traveling alone.....
Anyone know the word for CORN got caught again bought lovely looking lollies, looked a bit like coloured m&ms, outside yummy, inside CORN!!! YUK!! Please tell me the word in indo and I will look out for it and ban it from my food list.....
Had delicious sate today at Le Monde restaurant, the one that's upstairs near Melasti. Been there last year and was great to look down at the street while eating and food good. Today best nasi goreng (I know I said that about indonational - this is equal best). I wanted satay sticks but love nasi goring and usually I compromise and have one or the other. But decided as I had such a lucky day to see how much extra to have nasi goring instead of white rice with my satay - no trouble only 5,000rp extra.
Lucky me I even got it served over coals. Yum yum. Drinks Yak though had glass white wine although this was nice once I started eating satay. Also orange fanta very watery and flat and tasted yakky. Here's a question that I thought of after I took a sip, should they open those bottles in front of you so u know that's what u r getting, or do they always come opened, if so think I will skip softdrink from now on and stick to hard licker!
Another question; Do the girls on the street that hand out leaflets get paid for how many they give out? I usually say 'no thank you' as I get sick of taking them, but as I watched girl today from above she looked so sad I thought maybe I should start taking them.
End of another day in paradise, had to type tonight as I have an early morning rendezvous, don't worry its with me mum.. Nite to all