Friday Cont.
We skipped the villa breakfast today, for two reasons, one we're a bit bored with it, two you have to arrange your choice and time the evening before, so there is no room for just getting up when you want to. I'll give them some feedback on this as it's the only major issue at Cicada, well that and the most uncomfortable sun loungers. They are fixed in a knees up head back position only suitable I'd say for childbirth. You can't lie on them or read a book on them and they are wicker with no cushions. Wicker is never comfortable. They aren't putting off the two European (I'm assuming here) hotties who are lying around all day with their 'baps' out. I don't think these two are a permanent fixture at the hotel, but then again it's very highly rated on Tripadvisor..........
So we thought we'd try La Luchiola for breakfast. Yes I know it's not the weekend and that's when everyone goes for breakfast and that's why we are going today. We've never eaten here, I don't know why. Eggs Benedict and Avo/Tomato/Feta Bruchetta, hash browns and mushies as sides, with loose leaf tea x 2 (300k). The eggs were beautifully cooked, ham was tasty, bread was homemade sourdough and the bernaise was divine. I could sit here for hours looking out over the ocean watching people come and go, everyone of course looks a little bit interesting in that uniquely 'only in Bali' way.
We shoot up to pick up our day bed covers and cushions (hopefully) and stop in at Animale for a few things forgotten about yesterday. As we ride down Jl Padma we spot a bar advertising as a 'husband creche'. I bet it's packed out as I recall the major faux pas I made yesterday in Animale. While the Duchy was trying stuff on I was lamely trying to stay out of the way of hordes of women flocking together in large packs who have to look at whatever is behind my back or the assistants who have to deal with a shelf emergency every two minutes also behind my back. Come on, don't these places understand that if they set up a lounge with a big tv and a couple of playstation 3's (maybe for husbands to compete on, winner gets a 100k deduction off wife's shopping bill) that everyone would be happy.
So Duchy comes out of the changing room and asks that dreaded question "what do you think?" Come on love can't you see I'm trying to land an F-18 on an aircraft carrier here! (This is what iphones were invented for eh?) I say "shorts look great love you should get them." I get the forehead down, eyes up glower in response and start to drastically search for what I've said wrong. Do I mention her beaut rear? No, stay away, danger, danger. Erm, Aahhh...... Yep you guessed it, she'd been wearing the shorts all day and was trying on the jacket. Wish I was at the creche.
Day bed covers and cushions are done, they weigh a ton but look great. The embroidery on the cushions is good, very happy. We stop off for our laundry on the way back and look very Balinese with stuff piled up between my legs from the floor of the bike to my chin near enough.
Time for two hours at Bodyworks, massages and facials. All was good except when I got settled in for my facial, looked up and my lady was wearing a mask. I thought I was about to go into surgery. When she started on the blackheads I really started to worry. We came out looking like two glowing cherubs, kind of.
It's our last night in Seminyak tonight, we should have been going home tomorrow but a couple of weeks ago as we were beginning to cave under the pressure of everyday life we changed our flights and booked four nights in Ubud to tack onto the end. Best thing I've done all year. We are staying at the Alila and hoping it's nice. I know it's an older hotel and out of town, but we don't mind either. We'd heard that the chef there is a well renowned chef from Holland and have been able to book a personal cooking class with him on Sunday which he confirmed by email today so that will be interesting. Anyway where do we eat at tonight to finish off our stay in Seminyak? It's always good to finish on somewhere familiar, but thought we'd try a sunset drink at the Oberoi first, which we hand't done before. It's definitely not Ku De Ta or Pot Head here, but the gardens are beautiful and it's got a very authentic Bali feel which you are seeing less and less nowadays. I'd also assume all the masses of hotels etc being built at the moment will be in a modern style too. It was a quiet but pleasant hour spoilt only by the live Glang Glang performance. Is that what the local "clang, clang, whistle, whistle, clang, clang, clang, clang" music is called. It's great and all, but only for about two minutes.
OK time to try the upstairs bar at Mama San and have some more beef and bamboo dumplings. We also tried their Rendang, which was beautifully coconut sweet, a couple more chilli and honey margie's and nice creme brulee to finish. (We aren't sure if the Vietnamese affogato really went well with it, but was a nice coffee hit) At least we didn't over order today, 600k the lot. The owner was flouting around this evening but didn't feel the need to talk to any of his guests. Maybe this is a European thing and he certainly doesn't need to do anything more to get the punters in. They are onto a real winner with Mama San and Sarong.
While we were there the lady sitting next door to us on the sofa introduced herself, she was in Bali doing some reviews for hotels and eateries for her Singapore based website. (link below) They were independent reviewers so were being sly about it. What a great job I reckon, being paid to eat !! Of course in Bali nobody really cares if you start taking photos of the menus and videoing the place, etc ... hey we do it all the time. She commented that some places in Bali are packed but a lot stay empty and she was especially interested in places that had become popular and claimed to do authentic asian food. She said many places claim to do authentic "local" asian food but tame it down for the western tourists. Apparently Bali is considered very expensive to eat in Asia likely on the back of the Australian tourists who are happy to spend on food here as it's so expensive back home. We were interested as we'd quite like to try more local Indonesian food but tend to steer away from Warung's to avoid getting sick. She seemed very positive about the authenticity of Mama San's fare when we left.
We crashed out at Hu'u's again on their gigantic pillows, I feel like a kid when I flop down on these.
Tomorrow I think will be a walk, coffee, pack up and have leisurely lunch somewhere before transfer to Ubud. If you see a pregnant pause at this juncture it'll be because Alila don't do free wi-fi. If so I'll update with a JBR next week.