I slept in today... didn't wake up until 6.10am. Of course I was the first one awake but was closely followed by Miss 6 so there was no quiet time on the balcony for me this morning. I have made a vow though that today will be dedicated to relaxation, I really need to unwind & get rid of some tension.
We are a bit later down to breakfast today, around 8.30am & it is a lot busier than yesterday. The service was a bit off, not sure if there was a shortage of staff or just because there was more people but something was lacking. I am usually happy to work on Bali time, but after 2 nights of 5 & 6 hours sleep, I need my flat white coffee NOW GODAMMIT lol.
After breakfast Dad 2 and I hit the pool with the kids while my hubby & Mum 2 go to drop off our laundry. It's a funny thing, but my husband really enjoys going to drop off & pick up our laundry when we're in Bali. He always puts his hand up to do this task - probably because he gets to escape for some alone time!
After a few hours at the pool the kids are starving so we decide to head down to Mano which is on the beach on the Northern side of the carpark from La Lucciola. The food was great, it's cheap and very relaxed & casual. It has a nice grassy area which would be great for kids to play on in the late afternoon/evening. Mum 2 and I had to head back to the hotel as we had a massage booked at the spa so we left the 2 Dads and the kids chilling out in one of the bales & finishing off their drinks. We had 7 meals, 3 milkshakes, 4 juices, a beer & an iced tea & the total bill was RP 400,000. Will have to head back here for an early dinner & some drinks to watch the sun go down.
In our package at the Semara, we got a free 1 hour massage at the Spa for each of the adults. The Spa is as lovely as the rest of the hotel, I'd go as far as saying it's one of the nicest spas I've been to in Bali. Yes, it's more expensive than your "cheapy" on the street but at RP 300,000 for a 1 hour massage it's not that expensive either. The room I was in had a beautiful outdoor water feature & shower area, some of the rooms I walked past had huge freestanding baths in the outdoor bathroom. There is a relaxation area at the rear of the spa where you sit & drink a ginger, lemon & honey tea at the end of your massage. I was really impressed & booked myself in for an Ayurvedic Shirodhara massage at 8pm tomorrow night. If that doesn't help me sleep then I don't know what will!!
When we'd finished our massage we headed out for some retail therapy. I had forgotten to pack thongs (of all things) so we walked up to Seminyak Square to the Quiksilver Shop. Hubby had only packed 3 T shirts & was wearing his last clean one so I picked up some thongs & a new hat for me & a couple of T shirts for him. Couldn't resist going into 2 of my favourite shops while we were there - Silverdragon Jewellery & Lilla Lane. It is my birthday in a few weeks so hubby has said I can pick out a gift for myself while we're in Bali. I found a really unusual pendant in Silverdragon - made out of black Jade & silver - and it's the last one so I ask them to put it away for me until Saturday when I will lure hubby in to buy it for me!
We then head over to Lilla Lane where I try on every pair of size 42 shoes they have LOL. Nothing really grabs me though (a small miracle) and I think I've done quite well not to buy a pair just for the sake of it.... but as I was heading out the door I spot a handbag and it is love at first sight!! I pick it up, try it out for size and then look at the price tag. EEEK! - RP 1.65 million. Try as I might I just can't justify buying it. But Mum 2 twists my rubber arm and says "you can get it for your birthday present". "But I want the jade necklace" I replied and then thought aah stuff it, Christmas is not that far away I can get both LOL.
I had had a headache all day and even an hour in the spa & multiple Neurofen couldn't get rid of it. As we walked back to the hotel with me swinging my Lilla Lane bag happily, I suddenly realised my headache was gone. That's retail therapy :o)
Dinner tonight was at Mykonos in Jl Laksmana - we have been here once before and it didn't disappoint on our 2nd visit. I had food envy the last time we were there so I ordered an appetiser as my main - Saganaki Garides (melted fetta cheese with prawns, tomato & oregano) and had a side of fresh pita bread & greek salad. YUM YUM YUM. It was so worth the garlic breath & heartburn I'm now suffering LOL. Back to the hotel & we put the kids to bed and then hubby, myself & Mum 2 knocked off one of our bottles of duty-free white wine. Another day in paradise :o)