I didn't want to let go of the welcoming cuddle but my favourite driver Mr Wita was champing at the bit to get moving to the Novotel Tanjung Benoa. Matur suksma young lady for the flowers and the welcome ! Nice of you to be so considerate to the senior citizens and bring that old man with you.
After much welcoming there, my room was ready, I had a shower then watched the Eagles knock off the Shinboners. I was determined to eat at Tropical in the Bali Collection as they do spare ribs to kill for.
My luck was in as there was a six piece playing I knew two of them and
gigged for an hour or so.
Sunday should have been an early start for the orphanage at Amlapura, the rain was torrential, the ladies that go with me come to the hotel on scooters , you can't blame them for being late in waiting for the weather to clear. These ladies all work at the hotel and swap shifts so that we can all go together. Needless to say they are all beauties,
how they do it I don't know but there is always something for the children from them.
When we arrived at the orphanage there were two cars there and I thought maybe they were overseas visitors. One thing I have always been concerned about is what happens to the children when the age is reached where they leave the security of the orphanage for the outside world. As it happened these visitors were from the Government Department responsible for finding employment for the orphans and were there to talk about careers in the Armed Forces or the Police Force, they are also assisted to find other employment. I was pleased to learn this, read on, the news gets better.
I went with Kadek; the carer; and two of the ladies from Novotel to Hardy's supermarket. First thing we do is to grab a Hardy's calculator and add up as we go so that we don't go over budget. A big shop, Well done and big thankyou to Big Pete from Kadek and the children for your contribution. Here's the real good news. On the way out of the supermarket I saw this gorgeous check out chick with a smile on her face as big as the Harbour Bridge. Recognised the face OK but no good at names with so many children. Turns out it's Komang, she became of age, left the orphanage, arranged her own interview with Hardy's, got the job, got a room and is using her wages to " Get better English and a better job." Talk about the goosepimples and the hair on your neck standing up, don't let on about this whatever you do but how about my eyes watering. Good on you Komang.
Spent a couple of hours with the children and left.One thing I cannot do is to turn around on the way out and wave. Forget where the ladies took me but north of Sanur we took a left off the highway and went to a small village to the house of one of the staff from Novotel where I had my first taste of Duran. Very nice. There was a ceremony on in the village and I watched the ladies go by the house with thier offerings. Have you ever in your life seen so many beautiful ladies anywhere?
Back to the highway. couple of miles south and we stop at a Balinese Restaurant, all Balinese in there retuning home I would imagine from ceremonies, food excellent, ambience wonderful. From there back to Novotel.
Monday. Massage, did nothing else, really chilled out until the evening when I went to one of Wharfies favourite eateries. The Tree.
Tuesday.Massage, did nothing else, really chilled out, ate at Casablanca, caught the shuttle to the Bali Collection, gigged with the best eight piece on the Island Buana Tiera. Fantastic.
Wednesday. Massage, did nothing else, really chilled out, eight o clock, party at private house in the village after the ceremony to dedicate a new temple, great night, lucky me. Wish I had more of the language.
Thankyou for your encouragement and comments to JBR 1. I am so lucky to experience so much.
I'll do a JBR 3 because Thursday needs a day to itself, gotta tell you about the wheelchairs and the wonderful meeting with Charlie balibear