Remember the old saying "Only Mad Dogs & Englishmen Go Out In The Noon Day Sun" well I think it should also read "And Stupid Aussies!!!" A friend of ours had given us a bag of new clothes all marked with names on them to be given to the beach sellers outside Legian Beach Hotel. So we decided to set off up the beach from BGH to find the traders and deliver the presents and to check out the locatin of S & S so that we could meet up later with some BTF people. It appeared that we picked the hottest day possible but undeterred we slipped, slopped and slapped and set off like the intrepid explorers that we are. It didn't take too long before we were vending off all the traders wanting us to buy anything from sarongs, sunglasses, wood carvings, etc and for the heat to be causing the sweat to run off us but we enjoyed paddling our feet in the water and watching the kids making sandcastles etc. Finally after much trudging through the burning sand we found "Whoopee" who took us under her care and sat us on little red plastic chairs under the umbrella and promptly gave us all a dingin Bintang. Sheer bliss!! The presents were handed out accordingly amid much oohs and ahhs. One trader Lisa, put her shirt on over the top of her clothes and was walking around with the tag hanging out for everyone to see that she had something new from Australia. I was watching her and she kept feeling the material and looking at, it was so nice to see. Well the watch seller arrived and what a joy it was to be able to sit in the shade and look at his watches without being pressured to buy. So naturally I bought 3 and Norma bought 2 with the price being 30,000rp. I gave Baliboy a new cap to wear so he gave me a pile of batteries for free. Well what a trap this turned out to be as 3 hours later we were still there drinking, talking and laughing and being thoroughly entertained by the beach crew. What a friendly and varied team they are and now I know why my friends visit them nearly every day.
We finally tore ourselves away (never did find S & S!!!) and ventured down Melasti to do some shopping. I think we must have laughed and joked or at least smiled at every shop keeper in that area. We called into Ours and renewed some friendships, went to see Ketut in Garlic Lane Gang and bought some football sarongs and other bits and pieces. Called into Jimmys in Padma St to see Jimmy Gorgeous - he wasn't there but we did meet Jimmy Ugly and Jimmy Giant!
Went to Pantai Restaurant for dinner and had the garlic prawns with fried rice which was really nice. The whole meal was very cheap and it was refreshing sitting there watching the water.
Next day was a visit to Denpasar where we shopped at Ramayana. The shoe selection was great and I managed to buy a few pairs at really cheap prices. Next was the children's wear where I found it hard to choose so my little grand daughter was thoroughly spoilt with clothes and shoes. Then it was on to Tiara Dewata where I purchased a year's supply of MT products (I found the prices here to be very cheap) and Ted bought 15 tubes of Sensodyne Gel toothpaste (approx. $1.80 compared to $9.12 back home). Then our driver took us to some local shops in Denpasar and we found a baby shop run by a delightful young couple who spoke English with an Aussie accent. They told us they both studied at Macquarie Uni for 4 years before returning home. They had some gorgeous baby wear so naturally we had to buy something from them. Then we went into a toy shop where I bought a Dora doll for $1.50 and my best purchase ever was next door in the general store where I bought an onion slicer for $1.80. No more tears for me now!!!
Dinner was at Indo National in Padma St. This was the first time we had eaten there but we had heard so much about it we felt we should make our own minds up about it. We all enjoyed our meals and we also enjoyed the banter from Sonny the dvd seller. I was particularly impressed with the way Milton and Kerry spoke to everyone that came in, in their own native language, and also farewelled them as well.
Next instalment - We Are Not Really Lost or Walking Where No Man Has Ever Been Before!!!