First full day in Candidasa and after the ritual of morning coffees and smokes with the added bonus of watching the surf crashing over the rocks from our room we sauntered over for breakfast.
When we stayed at Baleka we ate at the Gula Gula restaurant every morning, I was getting used to the huge range of offerings in the morning because the breakfasts there were fantastic, so I was expecting the same, but it was not. However what there was nice, just not a lot of choice. If your aren't staying at Bali Palms don't come here just for breakfast. Anyway after breakfast we went for a swim in the massive pool until everybody was awake a fed and watered.
Decided today was going to be a quiet one so wifey eyed up the spa for some much earned "her time". I looked through the list as it was my shout to her and 15yo for pampering but was clipped across the ear when I told her to have the volcanic mud wrap and don't wash it off, but she went off for a traditional massage advocado body scrub and a bath of flower petals, she was gone for a couple of hours. When she came back she was glowing and refreshed, well that's what she told me.
I went for a little walk up to find some shops and it was so refreshing not to be saying "no thank you, don't want to buy" to everybody in the street, I have seen a few shops that I may go to today but nowhere near the pressure. Still plenty of drivers offering transport so will sort that out for trip to airport on Sunday.
Lunchtime we went to Ari's, many of you will have seen post's on this place on TA etc, well it is a "must do" if you are passing through or in CD. Garry is a ozzy cross between Rod Stewart and Bob Hawke and has the personality to match the venue. When you first see the place it looks a little run down and basic and has a board out the front "no Nasi Goreng here", there are only about 4 or 5 choices and only hamburgers and only 4 tables, which when we arrived was full, but Garry started ushering people around moving tables and presto we had a table for 4 older (daughter and SIL) having spa treatment. I had a double cheeseburger, wifey a fishburger burger daughter a chicken wrap and granddaughter a american hotdog. The food was soooooo nice, my burger had 2 thick home made beef patties and lettuce and cheese and I couldn't get my mouth around it at first. Wifey and 15yo both said there lunch was yummy and after too many Bintangs thought it was a good time to go. Left $43 at Aris which was great value and gets my tick for a great lunch place.
While we were there 3 young girls walked in and asked Garry how to get to the beach, Garry said it was best on a motorbike and did they want to go, the girls decided yes, with that Garry clapped his hands twice and a man from across the road was there with 3 motorbikes and drivers, girls on the back and cost was $3.50 each way, the riders would wait for them to finish to bring them back as well for another $3.50, not a bad service for 7 bucks.
Lazy afternoon even gave me time to turn on the idiot box to watch the verdict on Oscar, still can't figure out how he's not guilty of murder, but that's another story.
Didn't care at 5pm as it was "Happy Hour" and wifey had to get through 4 more cocktails from the list, so over to the bar for some more drinks. As each different one comes out little sips are shared and rated against others, I don't partake in milkshake drinks with fancy cherries etc, so I just watch the antics from across the table.
After happy hour (3 hours btw) we walk down to dinner at La Rouge, again an option from TA.
This place is among many restaurants so spoilt for choice, we were seated at a table near the front and the waiter put the serviettes on my bintang shorts, I must say it seemed funny being at a first class service place in jandals bitang shorts and singlet anyway we looked through the extensive menu and decided on our meal, it was all served together, which can be a bit hit and miss in Bali and was lovely, I had sate prawns which were cooked to perfection. Meal of 2 starters 3 mains 2 bintangs, 2 bloody mary's (wifey getting used to drinking more on this holiday) and 2 cokes $55. Not bad as we were all full and even got a towel at the end, which was a first and wifey was keen to keep it as we don't have a facecloth in our room.
Wandered back to Bali Palms and SIL and I had a couple of nightcaps at the bar as he is flying back to Perth Friday to go back to the mines.
Back at room on the deck at 11pm at night, hot drink, no shirt as it's still about 25 degrees and a lovely sea breeze to help.
Unfortunately the days left are few but so far the memories are many.
Off to bed and sleep is instant can't wait to see what happens on Friday.
Cheers all!