It's Wednesday morning and we are searching for a shop in Seminyak.
For reasons that are not really all that clear, the main drag through Seminyak is closed off to traffic. It looks like some sort of religious ceremony but we can't really make it out. Finally Pieboy asks some policemen sitting on the side of the road. It's some sort of competition in dancing, singing, performing for high school age children. A bit like a Balinese eisteddfod I suppose - which sort of explains all the proud looking mums on the side of the road.
So we went to visit Jacques Ruc shop. This place is posh. Pieboy likes the good airconditioning. We were in and out of a number of shops in Seminyak - Piegirl will tell all in the Big Bums in Bali report.
We have a cunning plan. We want to go to Macro to re-stock the Chuppa Chups and to Bali Galleria for a look around.
Micky, our taxi driver, offers to wait for us in both places - meter off - then take us back to the hotel. Seems like a good deal for us - after all, a Bluebird in the hand is worth two in the bush - so we agree.
As we left Macro the Pieboy felt less than great. I dropped my parcels and ran to the little patch of green over by the toilets, although I have to say that I was not moved to enter that little building. The very thought ... Things settled down but Micky thought it was immensely funny as I climbed in the car clutching a plastic bag - just in case.
Bali Galleria. Yes! Dunnies. No! Piegirl had to paddle through piddle to get to her toilet. Flash shopping centre. Sad toilets - where's Filo's dunny guide when you need it?
I decided that water is needed for the increasingly crook Pieboy ... one bottle worked wonders. Must have been a bit of dehydration because a second bottle and I was fine so back to the hotel for us.
Where's Micky? Our Bluebird had flown! We figure out that he had been given the bums rush because Bali Galleria have their own taxis (which cost us 3 times the price to get us from there to Mercure Kuta. Robbers!)
But the good news is that I saw 'a' Billabong sale on the way back to the hotel. Who knows whether it is 'the' Billabong sale, but it certainly is a sale. Of Billabong products. Even better is that I manage to find it again later on that day. I mind the bags - Piegirl goes shopping. Sunnies and other stuff later Piegirl emerges with a happy look on her face.
We head to Poppies I. Bamboo Corner restaurant - at last. It was cheap as chips and the food was good ... but ... the service was a little haphazard to say the very least! Piegirl got her meal - when it was finished we got the shared part of the meal - then eventually my main arrived. It was pretty much the same with the desserts. Mind you, the chocolate sprinkle pancakes were worth waiting for!
It had been a busy day and we had been doing a bit of walking and Piegirl suffers rather badly with her feet - the heat and fluid.
Conveniently just across from the Bamboo Corner was a massage place called Ibu Jari - The Relaxation Zone. Friendly staff and immaculately clean.
We had a look at their information sheet and Piegirl decided to try the reflexology. The treatment was over an hour at 45 000rp ... and at the end of the session she was totally impressed!!
As we walked out into Poppies I, Piegirl was beyond happy. She looked at me saying 'Oh Pie!' (she calls me that in moments of great passion!) 'My feet feel great!!!' She then threatened to dance all the way back to the hotel and indeed she almost did. I can't even come close to describing the look on her face as we walked. But I reckon she was pretty darn happy.
... coming along next ... northern exposure ... and a bit of monkey business ...