Day 2 started with a breaky at the Bumi Ayu Hotel - always nice and cheap also, then a stroll along the beach for a cappuccino at Illy coffee shop. Often two dogs were sitting on chairs at the reserved table - made a cute photo. Large range of western cakes available here for those wanting a treat.
Often chatted to people who had used the spa next door (Ayu Spa) and I wish I tried it earlier in my holiday as it was fabulous.When I did have a massage and facial it was the best massage of my life and I came out feeling ten years younger - if I had time I think I could have got that down even more. I think the one hour massage was about $9 and it was a lovely environment. On my last day I had a wonderful hair spa which includes a long massage of neck and shoulders and was a good pre flight idea.
Off to order some footwear. A friend had some ankle boots made on a recent trip and had left the pics at Full Collection on Tamblingan and as I had permission to get a copy I tried this shop and was very happy with the workmanship. I also had a pic on my mobile of sandals from a magazine and the tailor sketched them and found the exact bright blue leather and they are incredibly light and comfy. Left him a photo so if you want sandals made they may suit you also.I had an old favourite bag that I had him recreate and enlarge a little and it is also a success. Some of the girls at my hotel had copies of my copies made also.
Took a trip to the large supermarket previously called Makro and now Lotte Mart. One tip here is that if you make a purchase and later wish to return it - it needs to be done on the same day - imagine that happening here! I stocked up on rice and other stuff ready for the get together with my local friends. I purchased a small electric oven to be used for a small ceremonial cake making business but after the initial excitement we all realized that as a room and electricity were a part of the husband's wage it was a bit risky to add on the extra electricity of a side business - but no return possible. The oven is destined for a good use though - going off to the family's home village where the local kids have never tasted cheese and as my friend is planning to make some pizzas when she visits I can imagine
the interest they will create.
During the day I phoned home only to find out that my 26 year old son had spent the day in hospital - I knew he was sad at not being able to go to Bali this trip but really.... Seriously it was very stressful to be so far away and as it was a heart problem I did have some low moments but he recovered fairly quickly and well and maybe it was lucky it happened in Australia and not in Bali.
Excellent tuna steak dinner at Lillas Warrung on Jalan Bumi Ayu - turn off Tamblingan at Uluwatu lace clothes shop and just a short walk.I had some excellent breakfasts here also - orange juice, fried rice or noodles with a spring roll, a plate of watermelon, banana, honeydew and pineapple and a choice of black rice pudding or the delicious pancake filled with shredded coconut and a little palm sugar and I could never eat it all let alone the coffee or tea included for 35.000rp. They do a range of breakfasts and have a good lunch/dinner menu as well.
Next day I had a little morning tea party in my room for some of my friends and it always makes me smile that when receiving rice and gifts of clothes and so on there will be discussions of who they will further share things with - a boy they see who has very few clothes and some workers at a nearby site who have come from Java whom they would like to give some rice to. As one of them often says to me 'if something good comes to you, it is good to share it with others'. My Balinese and Javanese friends are truly lovely people.
I brought some clothes to copy and some pics of things I found by searching online and got my tailor (Mina at Goning Tailor, next door to Lillas)to estimate the metreage required. I had planned on going to Sulawesi Street as usual but when a hotel guest mentioned Alta Moda I remembered it from the forum and what a fabulous find. Three floors of all kinds of fabrics - they also do tailoring. Ten lots of fabric purchased (and a sale was on so most were 20% off). All the clothes made are excellent including a dress copied for my future daughter-in-law to wear at her wedding reception. I find bringing a sample to be copied always works and a good pic nearly always. I love having something to wear that is different.
I managed a few books while away - I usually wander through a few nearby hotels and peruse the shelves of tourist's left behind books, found some great reads this year, gee there are a lot of books in Dutch left behind.
I discovered that the infant son of one of my drivers had required a serious surgery shortly after birth (a colostomy) and now at 8 months can have a repair - two surgeries = about $3000 Australian. The debt would go on forever I imagine. A couple of other tourists and I decided to do some fundraising on our return home and selling bits and pieces from Bali with afternoon tea yesterday has proved to be a winner.
I often pop into a restaurant called 6 Point - mostly for mango juice and free internet, lovely spot and friends love the food also but it had the most mozzies I saw, so go presprayed.
cheers Jan