On Aug' 23rd I ventured to the beach, at my usual spot at the end of Jl. Padma and found a concrete bridge across the murky drain had been installed; yippee for my trundle trolley after some years.
Looking for my old place 'Warung Tikus kecil' was a disappointment but the lady was still in business as 'Mia' at roughly the same spot.
However, it was great to find many improvements, among others was a sea of umbrellas as far as the eye could see, stretching to Kuta and beyond, all advertising Coca Cola and the name of the Banjar with 'keep our beach clean' advertised prominently. Each Banjar had separately coloured umbrellas, making a good splash.
Only 11AM so I just had a Coca Cola to start, as I enquired about old friends from the crew, who were mostly home in "Count The Money" AKA Kintamani, for pre-Galungan festivities. As well as Made Tikus, there was a new lady named 'Wilson' whose English was good, turns out she is Balinese, married to a Wilson in Sydney for 13 years before coming back with hubby to Bali a few years back, now 'Made Wilson'.
Chatting to Made Tikus revealed that she had already called "Ketut Watttcheeesss" for me, also known as Bali Boy from S & S, an old time friend and allowed to trade out of his area with an old friend such as me. As it happened, the watch (guaranteed water-proof to 2 centimetres) I wanted re-batteried had been left, with my usual, ruthless efficiency at the hotel. It now being 11.50, it was bound to be 'sun over the yardarm' somewhere, so Ketut and I indulged in a Bintang or two, just for the taste, you'll understand.
Around then I was accosted by a smartly dressed young lady bearing the menu for Scarpino's Pizza from up Padma St, for delivery on the beach. The menu showed a Greek Pizza, 10" for 97K delivered and I said what the hell, I'm on holiday, to the uppish price. Eventually the Piza arrived and had increased in price to 114K and smelt so delicious that I said OK, conned again by a sweet face. It wasn't gigantic or over-flowing but I managed to finsih it with the help of Ketut and 'Mick Tattoo', a long-time acquaintance who is a large size suitable for my shirts.
After my second Binnie with Ketut, I made the mistake of mentioning Massage and before you knew it I was in the healing hands of Wilson for a sitting back massage, only three times the price of two years ago. Was there some drug in the Binnie or was I getting more stupid with years? No, I was reasured, everything goes up, everyday in Bali except ladies' undies, to keep the population in balance!
Next mistake was to mention Jewelery, Sarongs etc and very quickly my wallet was 200K lighter. After that I was reminded that I'd bought nothing from Made Tikus and over came her large bag, to lighten my pocket further.
On the way staggering to my Taxi, I noted that a lot of clientele had arrived at the clean-looking Padang Kantin at the entrance to he beach ; must try it next time as 20 metres wouldn't be long enough for the price to rise so quickly.
It was wonderful to be back on the beach, basking in the gentle sunshine, breezes, passing eye-candy (my memory's OK thanks)smiles from locals and the general hubub as I practiced my bit of Balinese with all and sundry, if they happened to be Swedish, tough luck on them.
Long live Legian Beach with its tolerant people, ever smiling tolerantly for fat, bald old geezers.