Sorry for the short break in HNR's - been in Lombok for 2 days with little access, so am storing reports in my head and USB stick. Next one due...now. For those that have lost the thread of the story, see SEMINYAK PT's 1/2/3 back awhile.
Day 3 / Night 4
the morning after the night before.... Groggy, dry mouthed and hardened to booze and cigarettes again (I've been a long time away), I stumble out of my room for another day in paradise. Our house boy is on hand with banana pancakes, fresh juice and a welcoming smile. I'm not really sure what to do with myself today. Last night really, by any reasonable measures for me, was a disaster. I didn't meet women, I was a long way off getting laid, and my new best Bali friend apparently hates my guts. But I know the gay landscaper arrived back in town late last night - perhaps he'll be up for fun tonight?
The day is spent touring around with our driver, buying pottery, looking at furniture and cars for Mum's needs here, and my
step-father's hobbies. I also conspired to leave my ATM card in a machine after obtaining money - seems they prompt you here with a "would you like another transaction?" message, rather than spitting the card straight back out. I then just walked away from it with the card still in the slot. Derrhhh... not like me at all. Anyway, will have to try and collect that tomorrow. Lunch was at.. damn, forgotten the name, out in the middle of nowhere it seemed..anyway, we shared a large meal they have there (19,000rp for two) of large Mee Goreng, a small gado gado plate, a fish consume, 6 spring rolls, 2 sate chicken pieces and fresh mixed fruits to finish. Good value - but couldn't you do without the piped gamelan music in these places? Mind-numbing. Nice little vista across some rice fields though, and a garden full of HUGE bonsai. I don't know much about this intricate Japanese art, but these trees are the biggest examples I've ever seen, one is easily 7 foot tall with a vipers nest of entwined roots relaying it's stunted, ancient progress in life.
First massage today. The girl visits the villa and gives me a full hour, whole body, carefully persisting on my sunburn so that it screams murder at me on each stroke. Don't you love how they finally move away from those sensitive areas and just when you think you're adrenalin levels will return to normal, they re-find the super hot red parts and work DEEP into them again?! AUS$10 for the whole thing, in-house. Great value.
Gay landscaper is busy with other plans - won't be available until a prty we are throwing at the end of the week. So, Dinner.. we decide, finally, that the beach warungs really are the destination of choice tonight. But as usual with my whole trip this time in, fate conspires against me. After a short walk along the beach starting at Kudeta, with the warm Indian ocean lapping at our feet all the way, and stopping to gawk at the bright, pretty young things at Potato Head's foreshore, Mum changes the plan. Should we check out PT now - when will I get a chance otherwise she reasons? Her logic is sane - as sad as it is, I doubt I am gonna get in this place without my parents in tow... One barrier though - PT is full to the brim again, and only day beds are available at absolute beachfront. Mum of course, being 72 but feeling just shy of 40, leaps at the offer. "Ahh, Mum, where are you going to sit" I ask? "Oh", she realises... "the young people lie on them do they"? Yes Mum, and lots more.
We continue then on the sand again... up to the warung my step-father is confident will satisfy our needs - and damn me if they haven't had a power failure and are neither serving food nor joy!! I spot a chinese lantern or two further along the beach a short stroll, and make a beeline for it. From near Kudeata as your start, turns out you can be at La Barca in just 20 minutes.
This time of the year, on a Monday, there's little competiton for absolute beachfront tables. La Barca's seafaring-theme is evident in every decor detail, from sailor-tattoo menus to the swinging overhead red colored ship lanterns (which I'd mistaken for chinese). The food is also ship-shape - we had a warm prawn salad, a chicken la plancha and a steak, which were all perfect. I can imagine in peak season this place is going to have a huge waiting list along the sand.
Flying to Lombok tomorrow...