Off track just a bit. Just to clarify the 'holes' in the wall in our room. They looked like they might have been meant for ventilation. They were about the size of the long slender bricks that most buildings are made from and they were about 6 foot up the wall side by side.
Dad was up and dressed when we got to his room. We had a lovely chat with the couple next door. It was so nice to know that he had nice caring people either side of him. Off to
Breeze for another lovely breakfast this time we left our beans behind as they came with the breakfasts there. After breakfast we had a bit of a look at the shops then went to the laundry next door and just across from the hotel. We had taken Dad's washing there the day before and Doug wanted his shirt ironed. They are just so cheap, because Dad had his washing done the girl was going to just iron Doug's shirt for free. We gave her some money though and she was pleased. Then it was to the tailor where we had left Dad's and Doug's pants to be hemmed a few days earlier. When we had dropped them off a few days earlier the wife had said it was only Rp20,000 for each pair but the husband said no that was not right and they should be more. Doug agreed on Rp25,000 which for Aussie prices if really good. By then Dad said he was tired. So, back to the hotel with him. I wrote a note saying we would be back in an hour, and then wrote in big letters Do Not Leave Room on the bottom again! LOL. I wanted to get my toe nails painted as they still had flowers on them from our January trip!! I had gone to see Rebecca (who had originally painted them) in JL Padma Utara a few days earlier while Doug was changing money but was told she had to go to Jakarta because her family was sick and they did not know when she would be back. I really liked Rebecca doing them as her polish seemed to just last for ages. As we were leaving the hotel I said to Doug that I may as well just go to the girls at our hotel in the Bonito Salon. They had been siting on the wall saying hello to us each time we went in and out this time we called them and said that we would finally go into their salon. Needless to say they were very happy. I thought hat I would have a massage and pedicure and paint job but then realized that there would not be enough time for both. I suggested to Doug that while he was waiting he should have a massage. I was a bit surprised though as we were the only people in the salon and I had hoped to take some pics of Doug having his massage but the girl pulled across the curtain totally blocking my view!! LOL It was not like I was going to see something that I had never seen before LOL and he was still wearing his shorts. I was watching the clock slowly tick by hoping that my Dad would sleep until we went to him. As today was the day of the wedding I had visions of him finally letting loose and wandering off somewhere! I kept looking out the door just in case he walked past. My pedicure was lovely and it was so nice to finally have the whole of my toes covered in polish and not just half way. The girl must have thought I was bit mad as I took before and after shots!! LOL. Inside Bonito is really lovely and well set out. All equipment is stored in a steriliser which really impressed me. The only problem I had was the chair it was not the most comfortable I have sat on and I ended up with a numb bum! We had dropped off Dad at 11.15 and we were both finished by 12.15, spot on. We went to get Dad and we ended up talking again to his neighbours for a while. They were such lovely people. Dad had been back to them to see if they could help him get his electric razor to plug in. He had forgotten that it needed an adapter. We had told him that we had a spare one for him but he had forgotten this also. Anyway the man next door lent him his again. We had planned to go and look at few more shops with Dad but due to the time we couldn't as we needed to get ready for the big event. . We asked Dad if he wanted us to help him get ready then come to our room and wait for us or have a sleep and we would come after we were ready. Naturally he said he would have more sleep. We said that we would be back as soon as we were ready. I had bought my outfit to wear back on our January trip from a little shop on Garlic Lane and Doug had bought a lovely very light pair of black microfibre pants in Australia and he had a fantastic 'Aussie Icon' Mambo shirt. My outfit was a long skirt and top in black cotton with fine gold and yellow diagonal stripes/flashes. I did my hair up and put in a lovely frangipani comb. The eye shadow that I had bought was just lovely and it stayed on until the next day! I was really impressed with it. I wore a pair of my sequined thong/sandals that I had bought and took one of my new black and gold bags and off we went arm in arm to pick up Dad. It felt really strange walking down all dolled up as this was the first time that we had ever been 'dressed up' in Bali as normally we just wear relaxing clothes.. We got Dad ready in his new clothes and he looked beautiful. Because Dad grew up in the depression he is very frugal with his money when it comes to himself and so he normally buys his clothes at the op shops, so most of his pants don't really fit. Plus with his dementia he doesn't seem to care as much about his appearance anymore. It was lovely to see him in a smart outfit that fitted. It was nearly 2pm and the bus was going to be leaving the Jayakarta at 2pm to come to us so we headed down to reception all in our splendour! A few people commented on how nice we all looked and then we told them it was because we were going to a wedding.
When we got to reception one of the staff said that someone had just phoned for us. We asked who it was he said a Mr Christian. I explained that we did not know a Mr Christian. Since there were no phones in the rooms every time a call came to the hotel for you one of the staff had to tell the caller to call back in 10 minutes while he ran down to your room to tell you to go up to the reception to wait for the call. This had happened about 5 times and no one had ever called back. Doug was so annoyed having to go there. In the end one of the staff had suggested to us that it was probably time share so we said do not bother us again. Our friends in Bali knew our Bali mobile phone number so if they needed to call us they used the mobile. I said to Doug that as we were ready we could have caught a taxi to the Jayakarta but he said no the bus would have already left. A few minutes later the phone rang and we could hear the staff going trough names. Then they said the call was for us. It was my cousin asking if we could get a taxi as the bus was running late. We decide to walk to the end of Garlic Lane so as to save time rather than the taxi having to go all around the block. Dad said why didn't we just walk there but we said how far it was and we didn't want to be all hot and sweaty. Once in the taxi Dad asked where we were going. We told him to the Jayakarta to meet Anne and the rest of the guests. He then said what for so we explained to him that we were all going to a wedding. He had forgotten since getting dressed. How sad.
When we arrived it was the usual security check under the car and a look in the boot. Strange how they never check what the passengers are carrying in their bags! Most of the guests were waiting in the foyer. Doug said he needed the loo, I asked Dad if he needed to go as it would be a long drive to the wedding but he said no he was ok. Just as Doug came out I noticed Dad wandering off I went to him and asked where he was going and he said I have to find a toilet quickly!!! So it was off to the loo with him. Fortunately no one was ready to leave just yet. My cousin Anne said that they had put the wedding back a bit so we would see the sunset so there was no rush. We needed 3 vans to take us all. The wedding service was being held at the Uluwatu Surf Villa. The Bride and Groom and some of their friends were already at the villa. The drive was lovely and scenic and Dad kept saying the he had no memory of anything he saw. I said that it was probably because he ha never been to Uluwatu before. LOL The driver did not know where the villa was so had to make a few calls on the way. Finally we arrived at the road the villa should have been on but the driver could not find it. So it was out of the van for him so he could ask directions from some workers. He had a quick talk with the other van drivers and they all seemed lost. Anne had the number for her son the Groom and she suggested the driver call him for directions. Luckily we were right next to this very narrow lane that lead down to the villa parking area. I think then someone saw a very small sign pointing to the villas. The car park was at the top and not very big so it was squeezy squeezy for the vans. Once parked we had to then negotiate some very steep steps. Lots of people offered to help my Dad which was really lovely. He is very independent and although he realizes he needs some help at times, he still likes to try himself. But this time thankfully he accepted the offer which we were very grateful for. The steps were very steep and uneven and there was no hand rail as such just the wall. I have a bit of a phobia about some steps after having fallen down a flight as a child and cracking my skull and so I had a little bit of trouble myself as I was not too steady particularly with no rail. Doug was fine even though he was carrying 3 bottles of Champagne and holding my hand!
Because we were early the staff from Romantic Weddings were still setting up outside. Staff were there straight away serving some lovely cocktails and of course the obligatory cold beer The villa was just beautiful and was set close to the edge of the precipice with panoramic views out across the ocean. The villa slept 6 and was very well appointed. It had doors right across the back wall of the lounge that opened out onto a beautiful paved alfresco area with a large table and chairs. Just out from under the alfresco was the pool which was really quite deep. If it had been bigger you could have dived in it! To the right was a lovely bale with lots of huge cushions to laze on, beyond the bale was a flat grassed area. On the left was another grassed area that gently sloped down overlooking the craggy coastline. Although there are about 6 villas in a row they are all strategically built so each one has privacy up to the bale area. The service was going to take place on the flat grassed area. The chairs were set out in 2 rows each side with the official signing table at the end. Each chair had a white cover on it with a big silver bow that tied at the back and in the bows were lovely small bouquets of flowers. All down the 'aisle' were literally hundreds of mixed coloured frangipanis. It looked stunning.
More to come The Wedding Service .and Reception.