Now lets be clear here - the NN are a bunch of overgrown teenagers - MTG and MS are over 50, FTG and FS very, very close to 50 and MN and FN are only close to 50! And, this is a gourmet food and drink tour - we've been dieting for months!
Most restaurants split the bill 3 ways (per couple) so most costings are for MTG and FTG.
Day 4 - MS and FS decide to take it easy from shopping and check out the surf - its fantastic and the water is really clean (bit of a change for this time of year off Legian).
MTG, FTG, MN and FN decide to go Baik Bike. MTG and FTG have done it before and decide it would be great to show the newbies something more besides the shopping (which just quietly they are very good at - already wondering about that 30kg allowance on the way home and its only Day 4), 450K each, booked directly through Baik Bike as we have their card from last time. Brekky first as it's a long time up to Kintamani, early pickup and make our way to the coffee plantation. I (FTG) still enjoy the plantation and tasting all the brews - buy some chocolate and lemon tea 60K each (no probs through customs). Such a lovely day through villages, stopping for some education along the way. The route has changed, less hills, so a nice easy downhill ride (at pace for some) with a lovely lunch at Made's family home at the end. The newbies absolutely loved seeing some of the real Bali - a great day all round!
Back to hotel around 430, muscles not too bad - Ours for dinner. Very relaxed here, nice staff, food pretty good - Mie Goreng (huge serving), Beef Rendang (again for MTG, he does love it), 4 bintangs, 1 lime crush cocktail (this is gooooooood), 1 Harvey Wallbanger 304K. As you can see we like our cocktails! We linger longer there and set our challenge for the next day. Whilst the girls go horse riding the boys have a 'most crass watch under $5' competition.
Day 5 - Box ticking day - FTG is into ticking boxes and wants to ride a horse on the beach. After much research on the forum, we decide to go with Bali Island Horses 591K each. Early pickup and off to Saba beach on the East coast, all girls have some experience riding, we have all galloped, surely it will be great??????
Arrive at the beach and find a number of horses very well looked after; this place is immaculately looked after. After asking if we can ride we of course say we can ride a bit, and we are given our horses, we can choose to ride alone with a chaperone or be led on a lead; of course we all ride alone. All looks wonderful and we set off along a nice black sandy surfer beach.
It all starts off calm, plodding along with an occasional canter - wow this is great! A small kick and we pick up pace, hold on a second Deme (my horse) wants to gallop, but she's hard to stop. All OK so far! After a few gallops I work out Deme is a bit frisky! We pass a construction site and something scares Deme - she takes off - s***, I'm going to die in Bali, I hold on for dear life, hoping the saddle is on properly. She eventually stops, but I'm in that place between petrification (as in petrified) and excitement - not sure which! We are now at the halfway point and stop for a rest.
After a rest we get back on and my chaperone decides I need a lead (what gave him that idea?). Plodding along I watch the other girls enjoy their gallops but that's OK I only want to walk now. We go in the surf a little; guess what, a wave comes right over me, my chaperone and both horses. Deme takes off again - OK its petrification!!! When I get her under control I decide I wish it was over, I keep her on a tight lead and we finally get back to the corral.
Shaking ( I need a very strong drink) we are taken by car to some beautiful villas and are given a lovely lunch, all included - nice! We have a quick dip in the infinity pool, the view is amazing,
More on day 5 later, this is getting too long!