So what did we get up to, well this time nothing much, firstly because we were there for Kuningan Day, Saturday May 22nd, when it is believed to be the ascendant day of ancestral holy spirits and deities of haven after sojourning with their descendents in this material world, as such for the Balinese the day started at about 4am with visits to their local Temples and breakfast with their families.
Then during the day many visit other Temples and go to celebrate with families, and this was the day we had organized to visit Uluwatu and Benoa, so the traffic was very heavy, with lots of Balinese families, dad, mum and a couple of kids, all dressed up in their Temple best traditional dress on their Scooters heading out and about.
Then as we passed through the local villages there were many more gathered outside of the Temples with their offerings, and all, especially the children, looking resplendent in their traditional clothes.
While in Benoa looking at the Harbourside Villas where the Family had stayed in April, we watched the hundreds of boats loaded with people visiting the Temple of Sakenan on 'Turtle Island', which apparently is a tradition on this day.
The next day, Sunday, all the Stalls in Sanur were closed as was the massage and nail ladies, as it was a traditional holiday, and as we walked along the beachfront there were hundreds of families picnicking and swimming down the southern end of the beach by the public car park at the end of the street where the German Consulate is.
One astute lady had set up a small BBQ on the beachfront and was doing a roaring trade in satay sticks.
Then on Monday it was a public holiday for government workers, not that this seemed to make much difference as most appeared to be back at work, and having not been earning for two days the stall ladies were most aggressive in their attempt to sell you something.
I had previously mentioned we had paid a visit to the Pura Luhur Uluwatu Temple, being about the last of the major Temples that we had not visited in the past, I must say that this was a morning visit, rather than the sunset visits that are most recommended, however be that as it may I must admit to being a little disappointed.
We have visited a lot of Temples in the past, and other than for the outlook from the cliff side to which the Temple clings, the rest would be the most uninteresting of all those we have visited.
As for the cheeky monkeys the fact that we had to spend most of the time there hanging on to our glasses, without which there is not a lot I can see that isn't fuzzy, which was a bit of a pain especially when trying to take photos!
We witnessed just what these monkeys can get up to when one attacked a Japanese lady who was handing out small bananas from a bag one at a time, when this big male decided she was too slow and pounced on her ripping at the bag of bananas and trying to also take her handbag away from her, more by good luck than good management she managed to save the handbag by giving up the bag of bananas, she had a pale complexion to start with but after the attack she was as white as a sheet.
Unfortunately a day trip to Ubud for lunch and a bit of shopping and on to Pejeng to see Pura Penataran Sasih (Moon of Pejeng Bell) and the Sukawati Markets on the way home had to be cancelled as our driver Yasa had to take his family to the mainland for a couple of days to visit some relatives, as such we spent more time in the pool and catching up on some reading, most relaxing and most enjoyably swapping yarns with the other guests around you over a cold Bintang and a Club Sandwich!
Plus the occasional walk along the beach looking for shells for the Granddaughters, and watching the wildlife in the trees, oh and on the beach lounges, all that meat and no potatoes!
Then it was time to come home, Yasa's Denpasar cousin Yasa took us to the airport for the midday flight, which would have left early but for some silly old bloke who looked and acted as if he had been smoking whoopee weed, who was last to board about 10 minutes after everyone else, for which he received a somewhat sarcastic ovation from the rest of us, which went right over his head, given that he was already at 30,000ft!
No problems in Perth being just 5 minutes ahead of the Garuda flight, and being in Row 1 we were off and running, but again we were panelized for checking in on time as again our bags were first on and the last off, and despite vowing never to bring wood home from Bali last time guess what, it was just a couple of items, but yes let us look at everything you have!
The one big wood item just happened to be what I thought was the best buy of this trip, a 'genuine' Yamaha Ukulele for me to share with the Granddaughter, picked it up at Hardy's in Sanur in their small Music Section for the princely cost, with discount, of 80,000Rp, what a bargain.
So that was it, a quiet week in Sanur, which will need to keep us going for a while as holidays to other lands are planned for this and most of next year, however should an irresistible offer become available, like the AA's $50 seats each way, well who knows.
Catch you at the Aussie Sports Bar in Patong Beach during our next holiday in Phuket, or on the high seas somewhere, until we return to beautiful Bali and those Sanur sunrises.
Regards, BJ and Mrs C.