Have decided that instead of JBRs I will post daily HNRs as we have bought the laptop with us for the first time. When we get back I am going to have a very busy couple of weeks at work before starting a new job at the end of Jan. JBRs are my favourite part of the forum so rather than skipping one altogether I'll do these "here now reports" instead :-)
Headed off to breakfast around 7.30 yesterday & was greeted by the friendly restaurant staff who remembered us from our previous 2 visits. Our 5yo daughter is a bit of a character, very outgoing & friendly and you tend to remember her if you meet her!
Breakfast at Villa Puri Ayu is great IMO, enough variety to keep everyone happy. They have the usual Indonesian dishes, bacon, sausages, eggs any way, croissants, pancakes (with the YUMMIEST orange syrup), fried bananas, crispy fried potatoes, cereal and a good array of fruit. I have heard other guests complain on previous trips about the lack of variety but unless you eat every single dish every single day then I don't see how you could find it lacking. They also make great coffee (cappucino, latte etc) but you pay for these as they're not included. Worth paying the extra RP 12,000 though as the percolated stuff is revolting!
After breakfast and a quick swim we headed off to walk up to Hardies for supplies. Now although my daughter is 5 and we don't use the stroller for her at home, we did bring it to Bali with us as I like to walk and she walks about 100m in the heat and starts whingeing that she wants to get in a taxi. We turned out of the laneway from the hotel and one of the stall owners takes one look at us & says "very big baby". LOL had to laugh.
I managed to make it to Hardies without going inside any of the shops along the way. This was a small miracle but I'd decided to be extra kind to hubby & Miss 5 after our enforced separation. I'm also feeling a bit guilty about the extra $$ that it has cost me to get here. I'm sure the feeling is not going to last & I'll soon be putting a dent in our spending money :-)
Had lunch by the pool at the hotel, I wasn't feeling too hungry so ordered a Caesar salad. Hmm, interesting is the best I can describe it! I ate the chicken, bacon & hardboiled egg & left the rest.
A massage by the pool for me and then Miss 5 decides she wants one too so I ask if she can have a "mini" massage for 15 mins. I didn't think she'd even last that long as she has ants in her pants but next thing I know the 15 mins is up and she is fast asleep! I pay for her massage but the masseuse keeps going with the massage as she doesn't want to wake her :-) I tell her that I will see her again tonight - at Miss 5's bed time LOL. When she does stir I said "you had a nice little nap" and she said "I was just resting my eyes". That girl is exactly like her father!! :-)
The rest of the afternoon was spent by the pool until we headed off the to Beach Cafe for dinner. After my measly lunch I was starving & wanted to eat somewhere where I'd be guaranteed a delicious meal. My favourite Beach Cafe didn't disappoint...
we had a kids fish & chips, lychee ice tea, cocktails - a pineapple & mint Roska, a lychee Roska and a Cosmic Colada, a seafood starter tasting plate (crab & lime salad, salt & pepper calamari, tuna carpaccio and marinated sardines), a meat main course tasting plate (chicken breast with a creamy sauce & mash, steak with pepper sauce & roast potato, beef rendang & rice), and devil's seafood spaghetti. Total bill came to RP 473,000. All meals were excellent. My only regret was that I couldn't fit in their delicious dessert tasting plate. I'm sure I will manage it over one of the next 4 nights before we head to Nusa Dua!
Debating whether to go over to Serangan Island to the TCEC today or leave it until tomorrow. Wanted to do the Dolphin Lodge experience but when I tried to book a few weeks ago they are booked out until 3pm on 10 Jan which is the day we leave :-( Miss 5 made a new friend yesterday afternoon so I may just have to leave her & Dad by the pool while I hit the shops :-)