Day 8 - Determined not to let the bellies get the better of us, and after MTG eating nothing but bread all day (sorry to the breakfast buffet where he polished off a whole loaf of sour dough) but to no avail.
We decide we are here to eat and if it is processed a little faster, so be it!
We have a lazy day around the pool but take the trip up to Sang gria for lunch. What a lovely find - a lovely courtyard and yes, the forum is right, the best ribs in Bali. We order Vietnamese spring rolls from the Warung Asia menu across the road, and 2 lots of ribs from Sang gria plus 2 bintangs 194K. A very enjoyable, quiet spot up near JL 66, thank you forum!
Back to the hotel to take it easy the rest of the day, the grumbles are bad, we stock up on Endostop and lomotil and I pretty much take everything as tomorrow is the big day, nothing is going to get the better of me!
The excuse for us being here - the big 5-0 for FTG!
Day 9 - The big day - cake delivered to room as I didn't know if I would make brekky - a divine little cake from the Padma - delicious, as I sneak a spoonful.
Decide to go to brekky where the lovely NN are waiting to sing, give pressies etc, I have a small, careful brekky!
We decide to hang around the pool till we see how things are going - mid morning I take a stroll up the beach road and book The Deck for dinner - it has a seafood buffet tonight(Tuesday), or you can order from the menu.
Back at the hotel beautiful, beautiful bouquets waiting for me from hubby and the NN - thanks guys, I feel better already!
We decide all seems well, so lets go- another boxticker - parasailing and jetskiing(I've never been before).
All except MTG head off to Benoa 284K for a driver with a van and 4 hours.
The girls and MN start with parasailing, it seems scary but is fun and peaceful $US25. The boys have a go on the jetskies 15 mins $US30. The get off with enormous smiles on their dials.
OK, will I jetski alone, having never done it before, I'm an older girl now, and flashes of the horse ride flitting through my sensibilities.
The girls decide to go tandem with their blokes on another turn.
I'm doing it! One of the locals can drive!
We all set off, the others racing out to the waves, my guy gets me to sit at the front and shows me how to drive - 30 seconds later I have the throttle full pelt, the wind in my hair, ears flat to the skull, racing over waves airborne. No fear now - this is FANTASTIC fun - what a buzz!
We end our ride with a bintang at their café - what a great day!
Back to hotel for cake and a cocktail in a pineapple that hubby had arranged - that's all I wanted for my birthday!
Dinner time comes so we wander down to The Deck - the buffet was fantastic and delicious 190K each. Tempura prawns, calamari etc, meat dishes, soups, fish, prawns, crabs, mussels (OMG these were huge and delicious), salads, deserts, oysters etc, etc, etc. We gorged ourselves and drank many, many cocktails. The restaurant had decorated our table with balloons etc and all the staff came out with a cake and sang Happy Birthday.
Back to hotel for expresso vodka nightcap - a lovely, lovely day; ticked all my boxes!
Sadly, we split up now - FS and MS fly out; MN,FN go to Jimbaren, we are going to the Novotel at Tanjung Benoa.
One more JBR to go, thanks for reading.