Day 11
I awoke this morning very congested and coughing up, feeling exhausted and unwell.But being so near the end of our holiday I wasn't going to let it get to me.
We got the phone call we always seem to get from Garuda ,letting us know that the flight times have changed back an hour to 12.10 am.It seems whenever we get the 'redeye'flight they change it to an hour earlier,not sure why?
We decided to have breaky at the Italian restaurant/Kumala Pantai,as my hubby really only eats eggs at the hotel breaky's. He was a bit over it and feeling hungover needed something substantial.He had an 'aussie burger' that was really nice.I had the croissants and coffee.
we headed off for a spot of shopping as I wanted to get some sandals that are a little out of the norm. I found a little shop tucked away somewhere and the old lady in the store didn't speak any English.I spotted a pair of snake skin sandals.Sort of a thong style,the snake head being at the toes and the body straps up around your leg.I loved them and with a calculator going back and forth we agreed at a price of 110,000.I was happy with that and practiced the little Balinese I know much to this old ladies amusement.
It was getting quite hot early today,so we opted to hang out at the pool.I still wasn't feeling strong and wondered if I'd be able to get my tattoo tonight!We hung out at the funny shaped pool near reception sitting at the pool bar ,taking in what other guests were doing.I'm a bit of a snoop that way!
I was missing my kids alot and got hubby to call as I was feeling teary and emotional today.It's a good thing I didn't speak to them as I started to cry at the pool bar just knowing they were on the phone!!Well,a cocktail would cheer me up and ordered my first of many that morning.Yep, they always put a smile on my face : )
whilst enjoying my emotional support in the bottom of a cocktail glass,in pranced an Aussie lady followed by 5 Balinese kiddies.They all seemed excited to go in for a swim and jumped around having a ball,until the bar tender told them to stop splashing guests and move on down to the shallow end.so they did.
Another guest asked her about these kids ,as she very boastfully and boisterously making clear to all that they call her "mum".She sponors one child and brought along 4 of his friends.I was enjoying watching their excitement,and hubby got talking to a young fella that was so full of himself,I just ignored him.
well apparently he was this other womans partner and proceeded to add that he overheard us discussing the tattoo that I was to have later.He wanted to know where to go for a tatt right now,and the bar guy said he had a friend .So he's saying "yeah right now mate,I'm a boxer and want to get arrows pointing down my arm and then "bang" on my fist!"(what a twit!!)
Then his conversation consisted of how he got heaps of alcohol into Bali for 20 bucks(as he put it)and how he bought 300 pairs of sunnies that he is gonna sell for $30 back home.Then he proceeded to say how he loves how these "black c***s" will do anything for you this place is great! WTF!!!!!I was gobsmacked,did I just hear him say that??
I do a quick check of my husbands reaction,he was the same...stunned!
I think as we are in a foreign country our reaction in a situation of conflict is suppressed,both out of respect for the Balinese and the fact that you don't want to start something that may end up in an arrest!Usually I would have let this guy have it,I don't care if he reckons he's a boxer.I've knocked a couple of blokes out in my time and this guy deserved a good King hit!!
I'm sure it was just seconds in which I processed how to deal with this idiot,anger and violence was not the way to go.So, I motioned the bar guy over,let him know that he wasn't a nice Aussie guy and I wasn't going to repeat what was said,but I'm sure your tattoo friend can give you a nice cut of the money he can make out of this idiot.With a hand shake and a nod,he knew what i mean't,and I hope Customs gave him a shafting too!
Needless to say we got out and moved to the doughnut pool and spent the rest of the day swimming and chatting with some really lovely aussies. I don't think there was another nationality staying at the MBR whilst we were there.Not that I noticed anyway.
We headed off in the afternoon to Redskin Tattoo ,as I thought I felt strong enough to go ahead with my tattoo.We went over the design,I drew up the Chi Rho symbol with Alpha and Omega and a crown of thorns around it,and Agus was working out where to best position it on my upper back between my shoulder blades.I was still apprehensive.I have several,and know you shouldn't attempt it if your hung over or unwell.Agus wanted to be sure I was well and kept asking me to leave it if I couldn't do it.(How considerate!)
I sat down, took a deep breath and we were under way.I felt nervy and that initial sound of the tattoo gun gave me that awful feeling in my tummy ,like at the dentist! My mind still racing ,do I or don't I???The gun ready to sear into my skin,I felt the pressure of his hand on my back and as I took a deep meditative breath Agus lent back.Checking my expression in the mirror he asked again,'you o.k.lenny?'Yep I said lets do it!!
I relaxed and couldn't wait to see it. After a half hour I felt a bit faint and Agus can read your body so well.He may be in deep concentration whilst doing the tattoo ,but always is in tune with the clients feelings.I didn't say a word as I just wanted to get through it.But, he stopped and said he needed a break for a cigarette,discreetly told my hubby to get me cold water and fan me a bit.He didn't fuss and just sat outside whilst I composed myself.A ten minute break and we finished up without a problem 15 minutes later.Had he not of stopped when he did,I probably would've fainted!!
I was very happy with my new art work and although I always say to him it is my last one,he knows I will continue to add.It's an addiction that's hard to comprehend unless you are into tattoos,the pain and the finished art work!
We finished our night off at the Legian Pub for good music,drinks a game of pool and always a laugh with Gonzo and Jimmy.Then home to bed with some panadol and cold & flu tablets.
Day 12
Our last day ,so we headed off with the last of the gift shopping list in hand and a quick visit to the Melasti Spa to have my nails painted before going home.Unfortunately I didin't have a massage this trip,but will definitely go back to this Spa for one.It is so nice.
We did the frantic pack and weigh ,pack and weigh thing that we do.
Stressing about being over weight(the bags not me!I do that when I get home)Well the bags were 11 kilos over and I couldn't help myself and hopped on.WHY...,WHY...,WHY... did I just do that??How depressing i'm 4 kilos over ,the bags are over and I feel like crap! My bottom lip dragging on the floor and I slump onto the bed feeling defeated :(
We have never been over weight so figured if we show up early then we may have a chance of getting it through!!We aclled our friends who where dropping us off to the airport and asked to be met in the lobby at 9.30pm.We headed off to the lobby to finalise our bar tabs and check out.Everything in order and times set out in our heads so we would have time to work things out at the airport.
We hand over our keys and I get out my credit card to pay our tab ,as I always pay our tab at the end of the holiday on credit.Well,what a hullaballoo unfolded! The bank lines were down and everyone was in a fluster about what to do! How about the good old fashion way of a manual swipe? So the staff frantically ran around for a half hour tearing recepion up looking for the machine,found it and then proceeded to do the samre thing looking for the bank paper.Time was slipping by fast,I was stressing about our 11 kgs and couldn't beleive there is no back up if the bank lines are down.
I took my credit card back and didn't want to go find an ATM as we were running out of time fast.They then asked if we could catch a cab to the Melatsi in kuta,no that wasn't an option because thier lines were down too.I finally had enough of this disorganised scenario and said that I would send a cheque from home.That wasn't an option for them,so they wanted a copy of my passport nad credit card nad they offered to try again tomorrow.Well,hubby made a good point to not leave our credit card details floating around.So that wasn't an option.Between the 5 staff and me nad hubby there was alot of sighing and huffing and puffing going on!!
Our friends arrived and lots of chatter back and forth and Agus sorted it out.He would pay the one and a half million and we could stop at the atm on the way to the airport to reimburse him.How simple,why didn't I think of that?I was still a bit peeved that they didn't have a manual system.But as the staff said:"This never happen before!"I'm sure they will now take into consideration that computer systems are not always behaving!
We arrive near the airport entrance to a road block.(I'm gonna be last to check in for sure!!)All the vans were being motioned to the left ,for license checks and motor bikes to the right.The police officer poked his head in the van and asked Agus something ,a bit of a chuckle and we were told to proceed.I was a bit baffled and asked what was said. "He ask me if I taking my family to airport and I say yes this my family"...hehehe Agus and Rooney continued laughing.
We said our goodbyes and got two porters to take us through.My heart thumping.I will admit I am a bit of a control freak ,so i take charge of most situations,hubby giving me his opinon on what to do.
We put our bags on for weighing and hand over our passports.He says your over by 11kgs and that will be $10 u.s. You will need to go over to the office and motioned behind me.But I dont have U.S.money can't I pay you in Rupiah?He looked around,nodded and slipped my passport across the desk "please dont let other staff see". So I slipped 100,000 in and we proceeded with the checkin.He became very chirpy and told us to relax in the Prada lounge and could arrange to be taken there.No way,I thought to myself! I wanted to get as far away from this guy as soon as possible.I have never done that before and felt quite anxious.
We did go stay in the Prada lounge and I had a snooze and coffee(yuk!) and a last smoke.There were a few "yobbos" getting very loud and boisterous with the swearing until a fella stood up and told them to shutup or get out.This is a business lounge,not somehwere for larrikans to get pissed!! That was answered with a "whoooaaa" from the boys and hysterical laughter.Thank goodness their flight was called and they left 10 minutes later.
We boarded on time and i sat in the middle between my hubby and a large hairy armed bloke.I assessed how we could sit to gatehr in comfort,so lifted the arm rest between hubby and me nad scooted over.The gaentleman next to me was wide chested and could not physically pull his arms in close so they hung over the arm rest between us .His furry arms tickled mine for an hour before I couldn't take it any more.I felt like i had ants crawling on me and I put on a jumper,problem resolved!I didn't want to eb rude so did this discreetly,stating I was cold!
I am not very good at flying and won't take my seat belt off in anticipation of hittng an air pocket and flying out of my seat!
We had an awfully hard landing.As we were about to hit the tar mac ,we felt the plane lift slightly then it came down with the hardest thud.It sounded like the tyres had exploded and I am surprised they didn't.I squeezed my hubbies hand as tears welled up in my eyes.I'm a sook I know!!
Our bags took ages as the round about thingy stopped for a while.We put all stuff that needed declaring in one suitcase.Except for my snake skin sandals.I wasn't sure if they would be confiscated.The only thing we lost was my Saffron that i bought from the coffee plantation when we did the Bali BAik tour.Apparently they use the flower which isn't allowed by customs.No biggy!
We all spilled out to the carpark in dribs and drabs.We left our car there last year for two weeks and it cost $50.But ,to our dismay the cost had gone up and we paid $96 for 10 days!wow ,that's a huge increase!I won't do that again.
We couldn't find our car and wondered around aimlessly for 10 minutes.We spotted it and I had to chuckle as there were two other families still wandering around at 5am not knowing where the car was!!
Well that was our trip in my words and probably a bit long winded.I will apologise now for any typing errors as I don't have the time to proof read this one! and I will also like to say thanks for all of you who have left a comment on my JBR's.They encouraged me to sit at the computer and type away for over an hour each time.Computers are not my forte.
Good luck to all of you about to go and please do a jbr as it is nice to read about everyones holiday experiences! We are booked again for sept/oct with the kids for 4weeks.I'm counting down and saving like mad!!
thanks,Linny