The Villa was a perfect venue for my dinner which was planned for the Tuesday night.
Tuesday, Putu picks me up - manages to get his Kijang in the Garage somehow down the gang - better than the DD van.
S is gone with the birds to check out Centro. To this day I still have not stepped a foot inside it.
I must mention the laughs of bringing my Siap from home - frozen thigh pieces. Wrapped in package, then in layers of newspaper, plastic bag and rolled up in a coles cooler bag. Only me it appears could configure such an idea.
Well not really its how we used to transport Barramundi back in the old days from Darwin to the southerners. We could take real eskies on the plane then - coles bags not invented. It was amusing to all, though I think they - Villa Staff and Putu's family were first thinking I had brought BYO live chicken !!
I will add this method kept it frozen from Sunday thru to Tuesday arvo. Then I had to get it thawed in time. It would have stayed solid for a few more days Im sure.
The only thing I brought from home was the chicken and the 'light' can of coconut milk. Armed with the words of my Master Chef teacher some years back . ' KISS KISS KISS' Keep It Simple Stupid Rolling around in my head were off to Bintang Supermarket.
On the way I got a tummy cramp and the so ever caring Putu re assures me theres a loo at Bintang - well he basically near hit the door way. I was grateful and didn't even stress over the fact Id left loo paper back at the Villa. Oh well local style was the go.
Now I have always enjoyed that nosing around Bintang but today I am on a mission of must have ingredients for the dinner Im cooking for Putu and his family.
Lesson No. 1 always write your shopping list in the corresponding language of the country your buying your products in. Daft me didn't. Now 3 nights before I left to go to Bali I bump into Master Chef and he did not mention this important fact. Just the KISS thing again - wait til I see him next. !!
Now back to Bintang Supermarket. Some two hours later after engaging practically all the staff visible I have my groceries. It took me ½ hour to find shrimp paste. Frustrated I had to go outside and ask Putu the word for shrimp. Stubborn me I didn't want him to see what I was buying as it was a surprise. Surprise all right !! The Lime turned out to be a mandarin hahahah.
We pass on the groceries to the Villa staff - meeting us outside Melasti Beach Resort on a motor bike to put in the fridge etc. Putu does the meet up -hope he didnt peek in the bags. However the wine bottles clanging may have been a dead give away. Oh dear !!
This method is the best as the lane too much hassle for Putu's car, with the paving works going on.
Now were off then to the Optometrist which we cant find. So I end up phoning for directions and were there. The first pair of frames I try on Putu remarks that I look like Margaret Thatcher. So with that comment I ask for something that is more sexy.
Shake my you know what American bootie style so things are really understood. From this the receptionist wants to know if Putu is my boyfriend. Hee Hee I say he is very handsome indeed however his wife is very beautiful too. He says Jan you not have to tell Im married !!. Some laughs are exchanged been the two which goes over my head.
Outside the shop Putu tells me he had complained to Miss Reception that he is having terrible problems with his eyes, he cant read maps for tourists and wonders even if he needs glasses for driving tourists around. Im feeling very sad at this point. Then he said I tell Miss Reception that when I go to bed at night with my beautiful wife 'I see everything - so what is my problem ?'. Little sh**t I tell him for sucking me in and hes a cheeky bugger !!.
I head back to the Villa and the staff are real excited about helping me and learning how I cook. Our menu was Thai Style chicken - spicy but not chilli hot, Sambal, Vegetable curry, Steamed rice, prawn crackers and a big fresh salad. I also had tea on hand. We had fruit however my guests also brought a stack of fruit. What a lovely gesture.
The Villa girls were great and the guys could smell the spice fry off and became very interested also.
Everything was placed on the Kitchen breakfast bar help your self and we had a jug of water on the eating table with glasses, ( the s organise this ). The kids loved a soft drink and Putu had a ½ glass of wine which he thoroughly enjoyed.
I think I should have stuck to a ½ glass of wine myself as somewhere in the service I brought out chopsticks !! ( Derr !!)
They came at 6pm however we did not eat until around 8pm. They just loved swimming in the pool and I was just happy for them to enjoy for as long as they wanted. It was just such a perfect evening all around.
After dinner I gave the children each a small pressie a back pack for their son of a small Koala bear and inside I had some Easter eggs. The same for their daughter but of a cute Kangaroo - more a zipped pencil case style. They were wrapped. I thank the fellow, from Malaysia who owns a small gift store in Darwin CBD for helping me choose.
The family road off on their motor bikes x 2 the Koala back pack with contents proudly displayed also with his sisters goodies inside that evening home, I felt that I had been truly blessed. One of the best things Ive done in my life.
I thank the Villa staff for their help and BTF for some tips (pp Thorsten I think it was ) and so many others on BTF and not forgetting my wonderful guests.
More events to come...
Also some pics on webshots if you're interested mainly of Poppies Cottages, Poppies Lane 1 area, Rama Gardens. Look up my LuvtheNT (no spaces) albums
Regards