Left Darwin on Jetstar half an hour late and got through Immigration etc in record time to find the "boys" in an uproar. Apparently a tourist was arrested, after fighting the police, and dragged off. They were buzzing but it appears he had inappropriately touched a flight attendant and she had complained.
Got to my hotel in Sanur and I was hungry but it was late so my driver went off and got Padang food so my first meal this time was rice,beef, vege and a little fish eaten out of banana leaves.Cheapest way to eat but get a local to buy it as there are two price lists. Of course.
Next morning off to Hardys to get the usual stuff like toiletries then to Matahari where I got some great gym wear.This time I was determind to keep up the workouts...
Back in Sanur I went looking for places to maintain the physique. Found a new place with Pilates machines but it was too expensive, then looked at Ari Pro, a newish gym in Sanur. Wow, it looked good and they have classes, heaps of weight machines and personal training. The instructor would be worth the membership as he was a good advertisement for them.Muscles everywhere. I could join for a month but I was only there a week so I went away to think about it.(Membership for a month was 500,000 and I could give it away when I left.) Then I found Yoga at Manik Organic and that was 90,000 per session. Decisions, decisions.Alas, the only training I ended up doing was a bit of elbow bending, but I was only there a week. Next time.
Bought a dvd player which proved to be a good move. Nice little Samsung for 380,000 and watched movies not yet released here. I have left it behind for next time.(Do see The Boy In Striped Pyjamas.)
Met two ladies from the forum at breakfast and hope they got their dental work done okay.
MK turned up from Aus so I then had a drinking partner so Apaka Bar got some business.
Drove to Amlapura to an orphanage with a bootload of food and exercise books etc.Spent a million and got heaps. It was all very low key, no fuss, and something I will definitely do it again. Thank you to all of you who suggested it.
Stopped in Candidasa and had a drink with Gary at Ari Home Stay. Lovely cheap little place and will go and stay with him some time.
Some of the beachfront hotels there are lovely and we had lunch by the sea with a dozen hospitality students doing their English exams in the restaurant.
Next day was election day and many shops were closed but still took MK to the dentist in Denpasar.He had a tooth out while I waited in a small warung next door, drinking coffee and practising my Indonesian.Then down to Seminyak which was crazy but I bought a few things and escaped to the relative sanity of Sanur. That night the toothless one and I had dinner at Stiff Chilli which was excellent even though the wind was blowing so the plastic walls were down.There is a new lounge bar in the street which had a great band playing but I was too tired to handle it , and MK doesn't dance so , once again, next time.
Had a great meal at Trophy bar and noticed that Mago was pretty empty every time I passed.
As usual I pass the time eating, sleeping, drinking, swimming, meeting up with friends from previous trips and then it was time to go to the airport and return to Aus. Work is calling.
The prices were up a bit and the liquor shop in Sanur was nearly empty of stock, but tried a new local wine, Singaraja Hills, and it was very drinkable.Bali Cider was a good find too but not for sale in Sanur in bulk. Good alternative to Bintang for me.
I always think a week is too short but it was better than nothing and now it only 9 weeks before I go again, but I will go to Java and see Borobudur and Mt Bromo as well.
PS If any one wants to use my driver, who speaks English and is a well presented young man with a young family ( I have known them for 4 years then let me know.)
Selamat, Mama