HNR..................13
Rp 8600 changed money at the BMC. Best rate and excellent service.
Left laundry Rp 30,000 out as we had to be at the dive shop for 0845; laundry collected and delivered just as requested. Asked hotel to re-confirm our flights back to Bali - and yes the saga of ETD changes begins again. But far less stressful this time as we know what to expect!
No pancakes for a second day running; this is not good! We head north and drive round the coast for about 30 minutes and then we grab the Blue Marlin Boat to Gilli T.
I was very happy with the service Blue Marlin offered except two points.
My son was issued with a temporary PADI card; just a print out of his online registration but it was unsigned. Lucky when he went diving back in Bali this wasn't an issue but it could have been. Should have been signed by his instructor before it was given to us.
My other whinge. I have spent most of my 40 years alongside the ocean and out messing around on boats. I hold my WA Skippers Ticket (Boat Drivers Licence)and was horrified that Blue Marlin (and 99% of all the diving organization we saw) failed to fly the international Divers Below flag when they had Divers submerged. When I asked the boat crew they said we all know Diver below. When I asked the Instructor he was really vague and when I bought it up finally with the guy running the show in Senggigi he shrugged and said welcome to Indonesian. I can only say this; hopefully since they were teaching my son to dive I hope they were no other corners that they cut while we were there.
I was under the impression that the Diver below flag was not negotiable anywhere! Anyway!!!
Tanks are loaded and we are off to the first dive site. Andy's reef where my son did his first open water dive and loved it. Back to Gilli T and off the boat for lunch in the dive restaurant which I thought would be expensive but it was reasonable considering we were a captive audience. Rp 177,000 (3 soft drinks)
I love the hustle and bustle of Gilli T and looking forward to spending some time here tomorrow. Had a quick look round then back off to the boat for the second dive, off Gilli Meno, Hubby and I floated round on the boat while the others dived. Had taken my book and happily laid in the shade and read and snoozed. A very pleasant way to spend an hour. The colour of the water was spectacular.
A VERY wet boat trip back to Lombok!!! We just got back to the room and the heavens opened!
Taxi down to Senggigi Rp 30,000 and got him to wait while I changed money. Mr 14 was worn out so he ate in the room from room service. We actually drove toward Mataram looking for a restaurant my Hubby had seen called the Beach Shack but we gave up and headed back to where we knew! Ate at the Papaya expensive for what we received. Rp157,550 (1 sm beer and 1 soft drink) Hubby very unimpressed and so was I after I saw a rat happily sitting by the coloured lights cleaning itself. (I am aware that there are rats everywhere - I just don't want to see them while I eat) Across the road, to Bar u, for Hubby to have a portion of Onion rings; still hungry! We also had a drink large Beer and soft drink for me Rp 61,000.
Walked up to an old favourite The Office Rp 50,000 then taxi home Rp 20,000 via the supermarket for supplies Rp 89,500. An early night for us all.
More later for those that are interested. Thanks for reading!