The driver from Karma Royal Sanur was waiting patiently for us in amongst about one hundred and fifty others in the airport cattle crush.
I was surprised at just how many were still lined up at a little after one in the morning. This young fella looked a bit weary though. Turns out he'd already done about sixteen hours for the day and was due to start again in about six more.
So I only made him stop once for beer.
We finally arrived at the hotel on the Sanur Bypass just before two am. Buggered, but elated to finally be back here.
The Karma Royal is a small but very well appointed place, with very, very attentive staff. There are four two bedroom suites downstairs and only another twelve rooms on the next two floors. This is all serviced by about thirty five staff and nothing seems too much for them.......except getting my wife a beer.....but that's for another day 😉 .
We breezed through check in as they obviously have a protocol to get guests relaxed and settled then worry about paperwork later.
We were falling in love with the place very quickly........then they gave us a room on the top floor. Yep....the 135kg bloke with the new knee on the right and the should be new on the left had to climb to the third floor. Bugger.....oh well....may be a change can be made tomorrow.
I carried Rae and all of our luggage up the three flights of steps in one hit and........not really.....but I coulda....once 😉
Our room was great. Really good size. There is a well equipped kitchenette with coffee/tea making facilities, microwave, sink....all the gear you need....fridge is small but adequate. It also has a nice little lounge and small dining table. Bathroom is great, tiled floor to ceiling so no mould issues or flaking plaster walls to worry about. All in all....it has everything you need to relax in your room.
Bed was calling....the first knockback of a well planned series of knockbacks was thrown my way.
She trains hard for it does my wife 😉
The dawn crept through our open curtains bringing a renewed excitement to us both. Rae was excited to go walking around Sanur....I was excited that she shut the curtains again. Damn woman never sleeps.....although...tap her on the shoulder and she's out like a light.
Eventually she coaxed me out of bed. Coffee and bacon are her little teases for me........ 'as much as I want....really?'
They serve some pretty good tucker at the Karma Resorts. If you've seen the Karma Kendara set up down on the southern tip of the island you'll get some idea of the staff training. I like it. But it ain't the cheapest brekky on the island. The $99 week can head north pretty quick if you eat in house all the time. Some do though. They love the experience and are more than happy to pay for it. Me....I like a bit of street tucker.
That being said....the bacon, eggs, sausages, hash browns, mushies etc....was bloody fantastic for a first up mung.
After brekky was done we quickly completed our check-in and attempted to get moved down to the ground floor. No bloody chance. The place was full of Karma/Odyssey members on similar deals to us. Some of them do it six to ten weeks a year. They just cherry pick flights to match offer weeks.
That'll be us soon 😉
Pool time.
Great little pool at this place. Not huge....just big enough for chatting groups of people to be a little away from each other or at the pool bar. There's also a toddler pool that sits next to the bar area...ya know...to assist in responsible parenting.
They've really thought of everything.
In a very short time we'd met the neighbours. Great bunch from all over the place. A few sneaky early beers and the tone of the day was well set.
In a pool, in a tropical garden setting, talking with great people....and our new mates Agus and agung patiently waiting to serve us our next cold Bintang or San Mig light......except they didn't have san Mig light. It was on the menu....just not in the fridge.
But....tomorrow yes......yes Miss Rae...tomorrow.
We'll see.
After a brace of Binnies had been sent to their Valhalla it was time for some deliveries.
We took our esky and headed off to find Don and Ron. The first stop was Mangrove Beach Villas where the famous/infamous BloodyRon sometimes drops in to visit his beautiful wife Irma. Ron was out inspecting the grounds of his estate (Sanur) at the time leaving him with a problem on his return. Irma had taken control of his new food supply and his personal selection was soon greatly diminished. Rae and I are getting a great room rate from Irma next time we stay there 😉
Ron helped me out with some new direction on a few things that I'll share later. I'm very grateful...and always will be.
We then headed off to find Don at Stiff Chilli Restaurant. Most of you will have heard of Don's Bali Guide over the years....it even made the song. Don has been an endless supply of encouragement for my bush poetry and even built me a website off his own back....these are the mates you need in life... He is now at Stiff Chilli with the wonderful Jo and Rob in what is a great place that they are making better all the time. Italian on the beach....beewwdiful.
Unfortunately Don wasn't there. A quick phone call found him at home quite unwell.
Yes...even living the dream you still get crook.
We handed the esky to the staff and promised to catch up when he felt better. I'd just gotten past the flu and didn't need a kiss from him to set me off again.
Rae and I hit the streets determined to learn more of Sanur. I'd stayed at Ron's before and Rae had stayed at Grand Bali beach, but never together or for long.
Walking is really the only way.
We were heading to catch up with Ron at Siti's Garden Bar on Jln Betnandang. Arriving at the roundabout at the end of the beach road (told ya it was a roundabout story) we re-thought the walking bit and looked for a driver. Didn't have to wait long until the first approach.
We followed him to his car after explaining our instructions to lots of head nodding and yes,yessing.
Once in the car he turned to me and asked 'where going?'
There's a small dent in his dash from my couple of quick head bangs.
Soon after we were sitting with young Ronald at Siti's Garden Bar and being regaled with tales from he, Mal, Bob and the many and various expats that wander in for a beer through the arvo. Our bloody mad mate Laur's and her hubby Mickey soon made their way over from Legian to make for a bloody great arvo of chinwaggin' and chuckles with a frothy or two tossed in.
Now Siti's currently doesn't have a menu as they are moving up the road shortly. A quick phone call soon had some great Warung tucker sitting in front of us though. Two Nasi Goreng delivered to the table for thirty thousand rp for the pair. Then Irma wandered in with a few dishes that she'd made after finishing her Bamboo Shoots cooking school classes for the day.
Shocking day so far.
Now...as I said Siti's is moving to a far better set up shortly. The first of three large Bale's is under construction at the moment. When it opens Ron has offered to put on show some old memorabilia that I have.
When Crackers Bar and Grill closed down up in Bedugul we had a trophy and beer mug wall. People from all over the place had brought their own trophy from their junior/senior sport days and proudly put them on the wall with club shirts and other mementos. Unfortunately they were left to gather dust until my wife packed them and stored them about five years ago.
If you had a trophy or mug on the wall.....it'll be back on display soon.
Whether the wall get's opened up for new memories is up to the Siti's team. I'll let you know though.
Right then......I'm going out for dinner
I'd hate to waste a weeks training.
More tonight or in the morning.
CBE
Cracker ;-)