8TH Trip to Bali, but 1st JBR.
Travelled alone for the first time ever and was a bit nervous until I landed and felt at home straight away.
Out of airport and in Taxi within 45 minutes. Great start. My friend Budi was on a day tour, so no smiling face outside waiting :-(
Checked in to private room owned by couple in NZ at Jayakarta. I am a creature of habit. I have stayed here every trip. Fifth floor in residence in a new room they have purchased. Welcome drinks and free water!!!!!! Nothing better than not having to carry heavy bottles from the supermarket.
Left the unpacking and straight down to see my tailor (who is now a friend) to say hi and chat about clothing. Three hours and $400 later I left to walk to Melasti St to catch up with more friends. As you can imagine all so excited to see me (or my purse!). Told them all this was a relaxation holiday, not a shopping holiday. Left them behind to meet my friend Budi for dinner. He is my driver and now friend. Big hugs, lots of talking, a few Bintangs, nasi goreng and a leisurely stroll back to my room for an early night.
Glad to have seen them all the first day.
So began two weeks of pure me time. Every day except for two were spent lying in the sun, swimming and reading books. Manicures and pedicures by the pool every few days when I felt like it. My first ever massage in Bali occured one night while I was at the tailors. Yes, 8 trips and never been touched!!!Had to wait for stuff to arrive at shop so they convinced me to try the salon next door. Ok. Down to undies and on the table. Placed jewellery on floor under folded clothing. Face down on table, but eyes open at the moment when she leant down and lifted up clothing. Great. That made me lift my head up and surprise her, but she just stood back up and continued. Needless to say i was tense the rest of the time and did not close my eyes. I didn't tell Jon what happened because I did not want her to lose her job. Put me off the massage idea though..
Day out to safari park was worth it. I spent around four hours just strolling around, having photos with elephant, tigers, lion, orangutan and the loudest cockatoo in the world. I think he is trained to squawk in tourists ears...The actual bus trip through the animals was fantastic. So close to them. I got great photos. 232,000 to get in and I found that food, drinks and souveniers were not to badly priced. I will go back in November with friends that are coming.
One other day spent out and about as I was woken at 6am by a friend from Sydney ringing me for a chat. Time difference friends!!!! Pulled back curtains to be greeted by torrential rain. Great. By 8 am it had settled so decided I would walk the streets and do some browsing. Got from Padma Utara straight up Rum Jungle to Legian St and looked like I could be in a wet T-shirt comp...(and undies, shorts, hat, shoes)so into a cab and off to Carrefour. Spent a few hours wandering the levels and made a few purchases of toys. Back to hotel to sort out the shopping and watch a dvd. Sun came out about 4pm so off to Jon for a fitting and to see the kids. Jessica is 6 and Leon is almost 3. They came to the shop to see me after school/kinder. I gave Jess her barbie doll, handbag, purse, hair clips and chips. Leon got a stuffed toy dog, matchbox cars and a shirt. I took over pencils and colouring books from Melbourne for them and Leon had decided to sleep each night with the book. I thought the dog might be more comfortable to cuddle in bed. I was right!!! He wont give it up anytime he is home. I get so much joy watching these kids open small gifts that our kids take for granted. It really was like Christmas for them.
One trip out to Tuban to visit my friend Harry and his wife at their room. Took them a huge bag of groceries / toiletries and gave there son some money. Older boys are just to hard to buy gifts for. Spent about an hour with them, with everyone else from the community coming to the door to stare at the foreigner...I don't think many tourists would frequent these dwellings. I was given my gift (same every trip) of necklace and bracelet sets. About 15 though!!! I don't wear this sort of thing, but it goes down well at home to friends and their daughters. Harry then took me back to Melasti St so I could have dinner. Harry is someone we met on our first trip. back then he sold watches from a case on the step outside my tailors. He then progressed to a stall on the side wall next to Guardian chemist in Melasti St. Now he works out of a shop in Melasti. He just appears out of nowhere. I can be walking in Kuta and he pulls up. He was waiting outside the jayakarta most days when I walked out the gate. How did he know I was going out?? I must admit, the motorbike was handy sometimes to get somewhere quickly. Only a couple of days that I didn't see him. But he rings all the time, even now I'm back in Melbourne he just calls to say hi.
Food - Well I must admit I don't have much of an appetite in the heat, so it was just dinner most days. I ate at Bali Rock, Gosha (took Harry and family here), Poco Loco, Yutz, Corner Bar, Ketumbar, Bali Aussie, Thai place in Rum Jungle (I think Sawadheesa), a bakery in Seminyak outside Bintang supermarket and breeze. I honestly thought Ebul (harry's son) would be sick after the dinner he had. Chips, banana milkshake, satay chicken, rice, squid and a fanta. I honestly don't know where he put it. 7 years old. I guess it was just the novelty of being in a restaurant. At least he enjoyed himself.
Shopping - Melasti St and Garlic Lane. As i said, this was not a priority in my relaxation plan. A couple of dresses, one handbag and a few dvd's. The tailor, another story! 3 trousers, 2 skirts, 6 tops, 4 jackets, knee length woollen coat and knee high boots. Police from Jakarta were on the rampage in Bali so DVD shops were closed. All cloke and dagger behind locked doors when I went down to see Comma. I would ring her and she would let me in.
Thirteen days in paradise went so quickly. I was never bored or lonely. People to chat to at the pool during the day and time with the good friends I have made most afternoons/nights. Flight over and home were not full. Window seat both ways and nobody next to me. Nice to stretch out. Pool beds in abundance. Down there most days by 8.30am and could have my pick of any spot. No bed hogs for the first time ever!!! Bliss. 5 months and 1 day to go. Back to my second home 31/10 for 4 weeks. 12 friends to help me turn 40 and have fun!!!! I hope I have not dribbled or bored you.
Bye for now....