6.30 am....WHY am I waking up at the crack of dawn when I am on holidays?? I decide to spend a luxurious hour showering,shaving and moisturising while I wait for hubby to stir.To spend this sort of time in a bathroom without hearing someone call out MUM!!is truly bliss.
What a beautiful start to the day,enjoying the ocean breeze,watching the waves rolling into shore,sipping coffee accompanied by french toast and scrambled eggs at the Melasti breakfast restaurant!!mmm,yep I'm feeling relaxed and in Bali holiday mode now.It always takes me a couple of days to unwind and leave the craziness of our aussie life behind.
I went back to reception and asked if our room with a double bed was ready for us to move into.We were offered a room in the same area near the doughnut pool.But, I preferred to move to the rooms near the other pool opposite reception and was promptly accommodated.
This room was lovely and spacious,with a bed big enough for three and the bathroom had a shower hose in the bath as well as a shower recess beside the bath and a bidet(I don't know any aussies that use one!!)
Although it could do with a bit of renovations,the toilet seat was loose and paint peeling off it,and everything had that brown tinge of never having seen some bleach.This may bother some with big expectations,but I don't stay in 5 star and am reasonable with what to expect with a 3 star.
We happily unpacked again, settled in and then decided to spend the day at the Hard Rock Hotel,swimming drinking and lapping up some luxury.We arrived at the HRH and I was gobbsmacked at how big this place was!!Lots of music memorabillia,signed guitars all over the place and the pool...OMG...it was so big and unusua!!
We went over to pay for being a guest for the day,it cost us 300,000 for use of the pool, our towels and a cabbana.Now, if you haven't been there I will try and describe in detail what it's like.If you have just skip this bit.
As you walk down the steps toward the pool,on both the left and right of you are two small slides for kids that finish into a kiddies wadding pool.(away from the main big pool). Straight ahead of you is the beginning of this oasis of a pool setup. Consisting of a thatched swim up bar, water fountains and,beach...Yes, there is a beach in the middle of all this water and as you swim around in the pool and you approach the beach side,the pool floor is also sand.So,you feel like your at the beach! with great music playing, how awesome is that?
There are also these lovely ,modern wood cabbanas, with daybeds and a vanity unit with lockup drawers and a table and chairs to sit at.Complete with curtains for privacy and an intercom to order your lunch! some of these were raised above the pool with direct access into the pool with your own ladder.Now this is my idea of a resort.
After settling into our cabbana, we headed straight to the swim up bar (as you would expect).Hubby ordered the usual bintang and I ordered the cocktail yardee,buy one and get a refill free. Again, I was impressed when my cocktail arrived in a red plastic ,guitar shaped sippy bottle complete with a neck strap so you don't lose it in the water!!! And I get to keep it.
Soon after we were being beckoned by the activities guys for a game of water polo on the beach side.Unfortunately for those trying to have a quiet one, I am a bit of a grunter. Everytime I hit the ball an involuntary loud grunt follows!! A bit like a pro tennis player,and lots of giggling too.We had a blast.I also lost my diamond toe ring in the sand.Hopefully it will be found and make someones day.
Back for more drinks and chatting with other guests,one being an American guy who shared his travelling experiences with us,including his hard trek of Mt Agung.I love hearing about other peoples travels.
I won't share my attempt at a game of beach volley ball(on the sand is nothing like in the water)and jumping around in a string bikini trying to hold everything in was my excuse for missing the ball every time :(
Lunch was really ,really nice.I had calamari and hubby had pasta and prawns.The prices were reasonable,especially for the quality.
We decided to leave in the late afternoon and walk back to the Melasti,and shop on the way for a few things.I bought lots of sunnies at between 20-25,000 each and was looking at finding some for my 12 year old that weren't kiddies style or adult bling!
Well I did spot a pair of pink steel framed smallish sunnies that were perfect,but they had a screw missing and the young guy promptly said he would fix it.Whilst waiting to see what he was gonna come up with I was bombarded by two older guys with the $2 coin bracelet story. I was asked by a relative to get a half a dozen for her ,so as I had fun joking and bartering the price down of these brass bangles,the young fella returns with the repaired glasses (an obvious replacement screw holding the lense on).I told him I'd been paying 20 to 25 for adults so how about 10.000.( I was ready for him to increase that price,which didn't bother me)
I certainly was not ready for what happened next. He jumped up from his seat and punched the counter so hard I couldn't beleive my hubby didn't hear it from the srteet.Yelling at me that it was a stupid price!! Now he was standing right in my face!!!
Now let me tell you,if any body back home would've got in my face like that I would 've boxed him one!!In a split second I had to consider that I was in this shop with three men,my husband unaware of what was going on and the 'fight or flight' adrenalin rush that surged through my body.What do I do?? I just got back in his face and said: who the hell do you think you are yelling at me like that,if your too young to deal with tourists just let the other guys handle it for you.Now I won't be buying the bangles either and you will have to deal with his lost sale too,and I hope he gives you a mouthful too.
With my heart racing,steam bellowing from my nostrils I continued my fast paced walk with hubby in tow trying to find out what happened.Then I get a tap on my shoulder...it was the guy with the bangles!!
Now I didn't want to take it out on him,but I refused his 6 bangles for 80,000 stating that he needs to keep that boy on a short leash and teach him some manners.
My spanish temper took a while to simmmer down. A quick shower and change and we were off to dinner at the Blue Ocean.They had a salsa type dance night on,which was nice to watch.Some very talented dancers doing the Latino moves to a great live band. But, unfortunately we ended up leaving as both hubby and I didn't feel comfortable seeing the young call girls with the old fellas.Each to their own I know,but I felt like I was in a brothel with all that arse shaking and titty swinging in the blokes faces,and that wasn't going on on the dance floor!!
Walking back along the beach strip I spent the trek ducking the bats flying over my head, having heart palpitations when something jumped on my leg and scampering around a tiny crab trying to make a mad dash back to the sand.What an adrenalin pumped excitable day!! I was more than ready to jump into my crisp sheeted giant bed and nod off into a deep sleep.
Next day,checked out the Baleka,shopping at Carrefour, Supernova and centro for our glasses.