After the great cooking morning at Bamboo Shoots I was off to Lotte Mart for some rice and so on for some families who live at the rubbish dump (near Sanur).I sponsor two children and while I visit them with some food and also clothing from home I also bring things for the other 5 families who live nearby. It can cause a lot of problems if one family is singled out among many who are in need so early on I asked the mum to share with her neighbours and it seems to be working out ok.
The rains made the dump an interesting place to drive through but the families weren't flooded so that was nice.
From there it was on to Eternity Children's Home at Sanur. I hadn't been here before but learnt about it through Bali Care Charity and some kids at my school had raised funds (as they regularly do) and this was where I took them - about 9 children live here and I believe it is overseen by an Australian couple. The kids were lovely and it is always nice to be giving something back when I get so much out of my trips to Bali.
Delicious fish kebabs for tea at Lilla's Warrung and later to Jepun with a friend for a cocktail, she had seafood risotto which looked good. Jepun do a free pickup and drop off so that was particularly nice in the rain.
Peaceful late night swim.
Next day I had a tailor (new to me) come to the hotel as I was having a lot of things made and thought I'd spread the work out. It didn't work out terribly well as the new one was quite expensive (my fault at not reading the invoice quickly and carefully enough) and she wasn't too prompt with times.
This was the day the sun actually stayed out long enough to enjoy it.
Had lunch at Kami Sami on the beachfront - nice mie goreng.
I went to Echo Beach for dinner and thoroughly enjoyed it. First time and will go again. If you haven't been it is a surf beach with massive rock outcrops and while it differs to Jimbaran Bay in that you are above the beach it is similar in that you can have a variety of seafood from the bbq. (Not cooked over coconut husks though) I chose a piece of swordfish and it came with self serve salads, bread and sauces - RP45,000. Others in my group had fish and chips and a chicken curry. Huge menu and several restaurants to choose from - including indoors. I am not usually impressed by Bali sunsets as I get good ones at the end of my street quite often but this was stunning and even got great pics on a basic camera.
Next day I checked out some different rooms at my hotel. One is a studio which has a bedroom, lounge, outdoor on the balcony shower, a bathroom with a bath n shower and a kitchen. Forgotten the price now but it was a good setup.
Another sensational massage at Ayu Spa and lunch at Mona Lisa. Shopping at Hardy's - clear when I went in but huge rains as I came out, the bemo took me to the hotel door after helping me drop bags of rice to some friends who live close to the hotel which was great.
I checked out Little Pond accom for a friend (basic but nice) and did a little shopping along the way.
Dinner was meant to tease my son (Back home) but his favourite has been delisted by Bonsai. (The salmon tartare)
I remembered the unusual fried ravioli at Flapjacks and enjoyed them just as much second time around. My recreation has not been entirely as successful.
Great having the pool to myself late at night but the lightening eventually scared me out.
Started Thursday with another massage and rushed breadfast to be back at the hotel for the tailor at 11am to find a note she was coming at 3pm instead. Not happy Jan, I wanted to go to Denpasar in the arvo. When the tailor's assistant arrived sometime after 5 I'd had a couple of G&Ts so wasn't as friendly as usual. I explained that it wasn't good business to mess people around (another of her clients was having a similar day and trying to amuse small children as she waited.)Anyway a couple of things not right so she returned next day with the completed items and with a note from the tailor that she would try to give better service and she had made me two tops for free from my leftover dress fabrics (they are nice and it was a nice geture)
Dinner at Little India at the southern end of Sanur - first time and it was great.
Started the packing - maybe it will be easier to leave if I do things over two days! No it wasn't.
My last day involved more massage, food at Mona Lisa and picking up some shoes I'd had copied and a small bag made - great job at Full Collection. Final fitting for clothes at my usual tailor (Goning on Jalan Bumi Ayu)- she did a great job.
In the afternoon I had two of my local friends and their 3 daughters come for swimming and snacks at the pool which is always fun.
I did the goodbye rounds - so many people are now as close as family and and later I picked up my tailoring (a number of dresses, blouse, tops, jacket and a two piece lace outfit)
Finished packing about 1.30am - weight perfect but some awkward items to manouver.
As I checked out next morning (new service to Adelaide that doesn't involve the over night flight) the holiday began as it started with torrential rain and ankle deep flooding, many roads on the way to the airport flooded also.
I know it was a particularly wet couple of weeks and it was in the wet season but it does change the holiday entirely and I'm opting for later in the year from now on.
I forgot to mention my favourite sign this trip - a kitchen business called GASTRO, only in Bali, hopefully many more things to discover and enjoy in July when I'm travelling with my sons, their partners and some friends with a baby. Till then I will scour the forum, pen in hand for the tips and a smile on my face for the memories.
Cheers and thanks
Jan