Day 8:
A & I were up early for a swim and then decided to go to Tootsies again for breakfast. Received a text from R saying arrived in Darwin ok and was very happy to be back with her family.
After breakfast we packed our bags - towels, sunscreen, cameras and alcohol in water bottles - just the essentials ready for a day at the beach.
The plan for the day was to go to Nusa Lembongan (with Scoot - Rp500,000 return each) and then work out what to do once we got there. We opted not to do Scoots day tour and instead wanted to try and go with the flow and see where the day took us.
Walked from Grand Bali Beach to the black sand beach just north of the hotel and met the boat. The boat was very easy to spot, and there were lots of tourists standing on the beach waiting. After most peoples names were ticked off we waded in knee-deep water to the boat and walked on board using the small ladder. Waited about 20 minutes for the last people to arrive (some people were annoyed, but whatever we were on holidays) and then we departed at 9:50.
Was fun to look back at Sanur from the water and before we knew it we were entering the clear blue water of Nusa Lembongan (took about 30 minutes). When we arrived in Nusa Lembongan there was a small problem.. the tide was too low for the boat to reach the beach (maybe because of the delay, or just the tide for the day was too low, not sure). So we had to wait about 30 minutes for a smaller boat to pick us up and ferry us into the shore, took a bit of time due to peoples luggage etc but again wasn't a huge problem.
After we reached the shore we were taken to the Scoot office as we were only there for a day and didn't have hotel transfers we needed to know where to meet the boat in the afternoon. Quite conveniently the Scoot tour guides were there and they tried to sell us the day tour package. Found them to be a little bit pushy, but as our response to 'what are you going to do today' was 'not sure' maybe they thought that we were still deciding on what package to do?
Anyway after convincing them that we would be ok and would be back in time for the return boat at 3:30 we went for a walk down a side street just to see what was there. Came across a few guys who had scooters for rent so we asked them where we could go and what we could do on NL. After having the last 7 days mapped out it was nice to relax, have no preconceptions about what we would do for the day and experience somewhere that was totally new for the both of us.
They showed us a map of NL and we said our aim for the day was to go snorkelling, have something to eat and then sit on a beach for a few hours. We hired two guys to take us to the Mangroves (apparently it is the best spot for snorkelling), pick us up 1 ½ hours later, take us to Dream Beach and then pick us up again in time for the return boat to Sanur. Cost Rp100,000 each.
So off we went to the Mangroves. Cant remember how long it took but it isn't a big island so after going inland for a bit before we knew it we were back on the beach. The scooters dropped us off at a Warung that also did snorkelling tours. We did not see one other person on the road from where the boat dropped us off to the Mangroves, very quiet and relaxing. We negotiated a price with the snorkelling guide. Rp150,000 for the two of us for just over an hour - have no idea if it is a good price or not - but the main thing is that we were happy to pay it.
We departed from the mangroves/river area in a small tin boat and made our way out through the mangroves and seaweed farms to the open water. The idea was that A and I would snorkel and the boat would follow behind us. It was so easy, there is a steady drift so we didn't really need to swim, we could just look at the fish and coral and the current pushed us along while the boat followed us. Snorkelling for the lazy! We are both good swimmers and would have been happy to swim but after a busy week it was really good to just float and be pushed along by the current.
There was lots of fish and coral to look at. We didn't know what to expect, maybe sand and the occasional fish, but instead the majority of the ocean floor was covered in coral and there were lots of different fish to look at. I had borrowed an underwater camera from a friend and we had a great time taking photos.
After an hour it was time to go back to the shore. We dried off, bought a couple of bintangs from the Warung and waited for our scooters to come back. Like clockwork they were back at the agreed time, we couldn't have been happier. From the Mangroves we travelled inland through to the opposite side of the Island and got dropped off at Dream Beach. To get to Dream Beach we had to go up a hill and from there we had a great scenic view of the coast line.
At Dream Beach we had lunch at the hotel that overlooks the beach. Yummy squid spring rolls, nasi goreng and more bintangs. After lunch we purchased a few cans of drink from the restaurant and made our way down to the beach where we spent a few hours mixing our pre-packed alcohol with the soft drink and doing not much at all - well except for texting R telling her how sorry we were that we were finally relaxing without her!
Had a quick swim in the water, beautiful clear water with good surf breaks out the back, but a lot of rocks/coral near the shoreline so there is only a pocket of the beach that you can swim in, and it wasn't really swimming, we just stood waist deep in the water. There were a few other tourists around, mainly people coming down from the hotel for a quick dip, but otherwise we had the beach to ourselves.
When it was time to go we met our scooter guides for the return trip back to the Scoot office. Everyone that we met kept asked us how long we were on NL for and why we weren't staying longer. Promised everyone that we would be back and next time would spend a few days and that this time we were just checking out the Island to see what was there.
Arrived back in Sanur at 4pm. Relaxed at the hotel for a bit before getting ready for an early dinner. Went to Mangos on the beach for entrée - more spring rolls - before going to Annie's Warung for noodles. After dinner we went to Carla Spa for a massage. After the massage we decided that we didn't want the day to finish just yet so we got back into our bathers and went to the pool bar in the Segara Village hotel for another drink.
I have the details for the scooter guides and mangrove snorkelling guide someone if anyone wants them.. I'll just have to dig them up..
Day 9:
After enjoying our day on NL we decided that another day of not doing too much was the go.
Had breakfast at Bonsais for something different - but still banana pancakes and eggs - and then caught a bemo to Hardy's where we both had manicures at Angel Spa, which is a spa on the bottom level near the entrance. Was interesting to find out after speaking in Bahasa Indonesia with one of the girls there for a bit that they only get paid 5% commission - crazy seeing the manicures only cost Rp50,000. Would be the same at all spas but made us think twice about how much we were tipping..
A did a bit more shopping around Hardy's while I checked out the Periplus bookshop, I have to keep in mind my baggage allowance when I shop there! From there we shopped along the main street for a few hours looking at both the market stalls and shops. After awhile we were hungry again so we caught a bemo to Massimo's for lunch. Had pizza and a chicken and mushroom dish, as usual I couldn't fault the food.
After lunch we went back to the hotel for a swim and freshen up before heading back to the Sanur markets and later the main street for shopping in the late afternoon, in my opinion the best time to shop as it is a bit cooler. Our goal was to shop the entire length of Jl Tamblingan, well that didn't quite happen but over the course of the day we did cover most of the main street.
Before we knew it it was 8:30 and we were hungry again. On Mermaiden's suggestion we went to Mona Lisa for dinner. Both had seafood - I had a tuna steak and A had a seafood platter and once again A claimed that it was possibly the best meal yet.
After a long day of not doing much we walked back to the hotel and called it a night.
I made an error when I booked our hotel rooms and we were two nights short so during the day we also moved hotel rooms. As we weren't fussy about where the room was (got moved from the pool area to the 'blue diamond' wedding area) we were upgraded to a 'deluxe corner room' which had an extra lounge area and also a walk in robe. We were happy for the extra space and so it didn't matter that we were further away from the pool.
Day 10:
Day 10 was A's last day and so it was her choice of what we were going to do that day. Lucky for A that her choice was to relax around the pool all day and work on her tan as I woke up with Bali Belly. I honestly don't think it was the food that we ate at either Massimo's or Mona Lisa's, both really nice restaurants, maybe I opened my mouth in the shower by accident..? Not sure, but either way I wasn't feeling too flash.
Made it to breakfast but didn't eat much before going back to bed. I was just grateful that it happened at the end of A's trip and didn't affect any of our day trips.
After falling asleep I heard A scream from the bathroom. There was a mouse in there! Quick call to housekeeping and they arrived with a long stick and entered the bathroom. We were freaking out and were regretting calling housekeeping as we were convinced that they were going to whack it. A few minutes later they emerged from the bathroom with the mouse on the end of the stick - alive just perched there like it was the most natural thing ever. Amazing, not sure how they did it but they just walked out with the mouse on the end of the stick. They told us to keep the plug in the shower from now on - gross! But I guess it is to be expected in a third world country and the section of the hotel that we were in isn't used very often..
A went to the pool and I slept for a few hours. Must have been pretty ill because the mouse didn't enter my mind at all (amazing seeing I have a mouse phobia). A few hours later after sipping some lemonade I perked up a bit and met A at the pool. Sat around the pool for a bit before returning to the room to get changed so A could pack her bags before heading to the markets to do a few last minute things - say goodbye to Annie and collect the last of her laundry from Agungs etc.
Even though we didn't do much the day passed fairly quickly and before we knew it was time for A to go to the airport. Kadek picked us up and I went on the return trip to the airport. As it was A's first overseas trip I was keen to go to the airport with her. Armed with her passport, itinerary and Rp150,000 departure tax she was ready to go and brave Indonesian customs on her own. Of course she was ok, but I could see how it would be nerve wracking for someone on their first overseas trip. Her flight was on time and she has a smooth stop over in Sydney on her way back to Adelaide.
Back at the hotel I had a quick shower and then went to bed. Well, guess who forgot to put the plug back in?? I was almost asleep before I heard the sound of a mouse running around the room. Totally freaked out I turned on the light and thought I heard the mouse by the window, under the curtains. Had my thongs next to the bed so I picked one up and threw it to try and scare the mouse and see if something would run out (don't know how I became so brave all of a sudden but I was by myself and 'survival mode' must have kicked in haha).
So I threw the thong and nothing ran out, oh well maybe I was just imagining things? Went to turn off the light but thought no I'll throw the other one.. still nothing but I couldn't relax so I got up and on my tippy toes crept over to the window to check behind the curtain. Again, not sure how I was so brave all of a sudden! Lucky I didn't have any neighbours in the adjoining room because I let out the biggest scream ever - the first thong that I threw KILLED THE MOUSE! I couldn't believe it and it was so gross and there was blood everywhere.
Called housekeeping again and it took a few minutes to explain that no, I didn't need anymore towels and that there was a dead mouse in my room - must remember to look up how to say mouse in Indonesian! A few minutes later someone came and removed the mouse, cleaned up and put the plug in the shower.
I didn't sleep too well as I was convinced that every creak or noise was a mouse and soon decided that as much as I love the Grand Bali Beach and would stay there again next time (but by the pool area), the next morning I would be checking out a day early.