ok - I remembered later that the second night in Bali my girl (M) and I went to Jimbaren Bay for dinner.
We went to Matahari Restaurant as the two I had written down from the forum were closed (they reckon!) so not knowing either way we just stayed there (can amagine my driver got comish!).
I am a natural Scottish person BUT man things were not cheap there and it was going to blow my budget big time so M and I just had a small fish and I had about 4 prawns.
The setting was awesome - maybe even just a trip out there to have a binny and sit on the beach would have been ample for us.
We did get to see a really neat show put on by 4 little girls so that was a definate bonus.
M haggled with a cart vendor on the beach and bought 2 roasted corn for $10'000 rp - we were told by a waitress what to pay but the vendor wanted more than $10'000 but my wee precious was cottoning on real fast to this bartering business and KEPT saying that that was all she had (she told me as I sat on my a** up at the table).
M just loves Bali and all it is and she is more than capable of bargining!!!!!
The food was good and the guys cooking were a hoot and M was back and forth from me on the beach to them all night - more friends she has made!
The Bali people just loved M as she is not backwards in being forwards!
ok - done the orphanage thing, whats next?
Ended up staying at Seaview Cottages on the beach at Kuta as I was not ready to go out to stay at Tanah Lot yet.
I felt I needed more mad shopping and massages.
M had an hr surf lesson with Freddy on Wednesday and had the best time - she couldnt wait to come home to tell big bro and sis that she could now surf!!!
I sat on the beach with the rest of his kin, like Julianna and had my nails done and a foot massage all the while I was videoing M in the surf (what a hard life!)
Had invited Lucy from Patra Bali with her cousin Angel to come over on Tuesday arvo at Seaview for a swim and then I took us all out to Made's Warung in central Kuta for dinner and had a great time.
(sorry, jumping back and forth a bit).
On Wed late arvo we went to Le Meridien at Tanah Lot.
Most beautiful resort I have seen there yet. M got into the pool, which is not unusual as she is either shopping or swimming!
For dinner we just got burgers in room and whatched another dvd.
I was still not catching up on being SHAGGED from lack of sleep on way over!
Next day (Thurs) I got M to agree to go to the kids club for 3 hrs as I had had no time to myself yet and we were off home tomorrow night - man I did well all that time and not strangling her toooo much :)
My girl is very good, she wasnt too worried at all about kids club as she knew that I wanted some time out. It was just that there was no other kids there that day!
No worries tho as M ruled the roost and got to choose what ever they wanted to do - so it was games outside, some playstation and M also wanted to lady to teach her to make ofering baskets - pretty cool aye!
I went to Tanah Lot market which I feel is very cheap as they are a long way out of Kuta and the only real big business they get is near sunset with people coming out to whatch that.
It was around 12 midday and some of the stalls werent even open!
I got a couple of kites for $10'000 each and some more clothes for pressies so was happy with efforts there.
On my way back through the top Warungs I grabbed a binny for my walk back to Le Meridien (only takes about 10 min).
That night we had a Indonesian bbq and they had a whole Bubi Guling so I was rapt about that as I have been hanging out to try and it was well worth the wait - I love meat!!!!!
The next day we checked out after swimming and about 11am our driver (I had arranged) came to get us for the day.
First we went to the huge Denpasar markets as I had been there previously and knew I could get our flags there again - all the material there is just lovely and amazing.
I do have issues with the top shops though as they charge like wounded bulls so I never buy clothes there - just flags, spices and the like.
M and I were walking around the bottom floor where the fruit is and we found where the chicken was - the smell found us first!
M was seriously going to vomit so we had to high tail it out of there so fast - I didnt even get photoslthis meat hanging around and being chopped up in the heat as I thought I would vomit too if I stayed there a second longer - man alive, I have spent around 15yrs in the shearing sheds, untold years on farms, I have hunted a large selection of animals AND killed them BUT I could not handle this smelllllll!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyway - off to a temple next!
Went to a large Hindu temple in Denpassar for a few minutes - not alot to see but a guy came and told us a bit about things and it made it far more interesting.
After this we went back to the Kuta beach as M wanted to see Freedy and she got another surfing lesson and me on a chair being looked after by Julianna!
She was not getting any cheaper as there was not alot of business around.
Back to Poppies 1 for last of shopping and finnally dinner at Poppies Restaurant.
Boy Im glad we went there - what an amazing oasis in amoungst the hussle and bussle...
Had a pinna colada in the hand carved coconut shell - just amazing.
The restaurant may not have been the cheapest but it still was not bad and I would go again, especially if I had a newby with me.
After this it was back to the beach and off to the airport.
Garuda was delayed 2 hrs. We left at 2am, M and I missed connecting flight to Wellington and had to stay in Sydney airport for 8 hrs!
Bloody glad I am a Qantas member - really saved our bacon, especially with having a young one around - she would have been so bored hanging around down stairs and I would have spent soooo much money on nothing probably.
We finally got to Wellington around midnight on Saturday NZ time.
It was a bit of an ordeal but s happens I suppose and thats traveling!
Well folks - I thinks thats all!
If I remember anything worth mentioning I will post it up.
I would like to say a BIG THANKYOU to all out there that helped with my trip - bloody good work!
Chow for now - or next trip!!!