I woke up at the crack of dawn this morning & couldn't get back to sleep. Actually it was before the crack of dawn... pitch black & 4.30am. I am not usually known to be a morning person but when I'm on holidays I just don't seem to be able to sleep in. It's good in a way, at least the days last longer!! I waited until I heard the dozens of birds twittering outside my window before actually getting out of bed, making myself a coffee & heading outside to the patio to watch the staff across the pool setting up for breakfast. Ahhh Bali - beautiful one day, perfect the next :-)
Hubby & Miss 5 slept in - they didn't get up until 7.00am so I had an hour of peace & quiet to think about how I wanted to spend the day...
it took me about 5 minutes of that hour to decide that some shopping was well overdue. I'm surprised I lasted this long. I've been here a full day & only bought groceries so far! Unheard of.
Miss 5 had made a friend on day 1 so I left the 2 girls in the pool with both Dads on the sidelines & headed off about 10.30 with the aim of changing some money, buying a SIM & finding somewhere to have a leather bag copied. 2 and a half hours later I returned...
with 2 silver rings & a pair of earrings, an embroidred & appliqued canvas handbag with leather straps, 2 dresses from Andy Risza and another one on order from Karry's Collection.
Oh and the SIM card. Not bad for only 2.5 hours work LOL. Didn't order my leather bag but there's always tomorrow :-)
One of the rings & the earrings I bought at Kapal-Laut (opposite Hardies, they also have a shop in Seminyak). I love their jewellery and have bought several pieces on previous trips. The sales assistant has remembered me the last 2 times - she recognised the small oval hoops that I bought there 2 years ago. What unbelievable memories the Balinese have!
The other ring came from Ibisa which is on Jl Danau Tamblingan, north of Hardies on the same side of the road. They have gorgeous clothes - lots of linen, fine cotton etc & leather sandals and jewellery.
Worth a special mention is Karry's Collection. I bought a dress there last year, a jersey tank dress which I have worn to death & I wanted a new one. They have jersey, linen, cotton voile & silk clothes in plains & some really lovely prints. Realistic sizes too (they go up to prob 16-18 in most styles & had a few tops which looked like they were a couple of sizes bigger). I tried on a silk maxi dress in a paisley fabric but didn't like the top of it. Then I tried on a sleeveless tunic top in the same fabric. I liked it but I am more a dress girl so I decided to have a maxi made instead (basically the tunic top with length added to make a maxi). The dress will be ready in 3 days. Gotta love shopping for customised clothes!
We went to a little Japanese place called Sumo for lunch (about 2 mins walk from the Villa Puri Ayu, on the same laneway). Food was great - we had chicken gyoza (dumplings), 2 serves of Inari sushi, a Yaki Udon (noodle stirfry) & a Katsu chicken plus 3 soft drinks for RP 300,000. Will definitely go back again, the food was tasty & it's very convenient to the hotel.
Back to the hotel for a swim & then I headed out with Miss 5 to change more money (damn that 2.5 hour shopping spree made a real dent!) and to buy her an icecream.
Decided to walk down 2 doors & see if the leather handbag place was open to ask for a quote on the bag I want made but it was closed so we kept on strolling around the corner.
There is a new hotel called Sudamala Suites & Villas opening next month and it has the most stunning Christmas tree out the front - all golden metal leaves & red baubles. It's very eyecatching & of course Miss 5 wanted a closer look. I decided to ask at reception for some info on the hotel & they offered to show us around. All I can say is wow!! We looked around the pool area, the spa & 2 of the Studio Suites (ground & 1st floor). This place is right up my alley - a beautiful blend of Balinese & modern style architecture & furnishings. It really is stunning & luxurious. Just the kind of place I'd like to stay... if I didn't have a 5 year old running amok LOL.
We decided to walk along the beachfront to find somewhere to eat dinner tonight. We turned left when we reached the beach path, walked past the Puri Santrian (which has a lovely Christmas display - a Christmas tree lit up with white lights & floating out on a pontoon, a huge beautifully decorated gingerbread house) & kept walking for about 10 mins. Ended up at a place called Cafe Bamboo which has a live reggae band playing on Fri nights (the little one loves live music & the singer had a fantastic voice). Hubby had chill crab, Miss 5 a half portion of fish & chips and I had Ikan Pepes (Mahi Mahi fillets with spices wrapped in banana leaf & grilled & served with veges & rice), 2 iced teas, 2 Mojitos all for RP 335,000. This was the best value for money meal so far. YUM YUM YUM. I'm going back for the crab!!
Think we might head out to TCEC at Serangan Island tomorrow as I got a bit distracted today!