Hi guys after reading this forum for the last couple of years this is my first JBR. I have always been to afraid to write a JBR as I am not very good at expressing myself on paper......so here goes!
A group of 7, mostly family all meeting up in Bali. My family have been many times, our friends were both Virgins.
Myself and my Virgin friend, Coral, my brother Gary, all in our late 40's from Cairns, meeting, my Mum Joyce and her Virgin friend, Margaret in their 70S from Perth, my youngest brother Chris, 40 and his Husband Gary (yes you read correctly they are gay and have been together for about 5 years) from Melbourne.
Left Cairns Thursday 22nd June at 6.30pm. Coral works for a car hire company at the Cairns airport. When we checked in the lady recognized Coral and told us that the plane was full as there was some car racing event in Darwin BUT if she had of told them the day before, that we were going to Bali she could have organized an upgrade for us. #!!* Ohh CORAL!!#!!**... I have always wanted to go business class!. Instead they gave us exit door seats and priority luggage. The exit seats were great plenty of room.
Arrived in Bali around midnight no problems with VOA, used a porter as I had a couple of extra bags with donations for my sponsor child's village. Customs no problems, the guys in front of us were not so lucky and had the big cross marks in chalk, on their cases. They were led away for further inspection.
Checked into Ida Hotel in Kuta (thanks to Nessie's recommendation) in deluxe cottages. Huge rooms with 2 queen size, 4 poster beds and a semi outdoor bathroom,we loved them! Would highly recommend. Brother Gary had a standard room which I never got to look in until the last couple of days; I found it small in comparison to our beautiful rooms. Gary being newly single dropped his bags and was off in search of skirt.
Mum and Margaret were up,having a drink on the verandah, waiting for us. We sat up until 1.30am (3.30am QLD time) catching up.
Just a bit of insight.......... I come from a family of 4 brothers, I was the only girl and my brothers have always been a bit on the rough side. So when Chris came out of the closet and told us he was gay, it was a huge shock.. To look at Chris and his boyfriend Gary, you would never guess they are gay, they have no femininity about them at all. They both go to the gym and have great pumped up bodies. The sole purpose of Chris and Gary's trip was relaxation. They have a business in Melbourne and work 7 days a week
Before we left my Mother had warned us NOT to tell her friend Margaret that Chris and Gary were gay. Which was like waving a red flag to a bull in our family as we get great enjoyment at taking the Mickey out of each other... and we did have a lot of fun with that, but more on that later.
Next morning we had complementary breaky at the Hotel. It was nice but very basic, toast; fruit eggs any style, bacon, sausages and coffee. After breakfast it was off to hit the streets. (No sign of brother Gary and not game to go to his room in fear of what we might find)
I was chanting at the bit to show my friend Coral around my second home. The girls all gathered at reception to sign up for a safety deposit box and change some money.
I knew I had to have a bit of patience as Mum and Marge were getting on, but I did not anticipate just how much I was going to need!!!........it took us about an hour to get out of the Hotel, Mum and Marge had to go back to the room a couple of times, because they had forgotten something, they would argue over who had to go back...... Then when they changed their money , they had $50 each so they thought they would get a better exchange rate if they put their money together. So after getting there money changed they stood there Margaret dealing the money out ....one for you, one for me, until there was 10,000rp left. Margaret decided she would get that...but Mum thought that was unfair and we had to hear Mum wine all day about how Margaret ripped her off 5,000rp....this was to become a daily ritual. I only see Mum once a year so I had to keep my cool and have patience. ....I will be old one day!
Finally we were off ..........well almost... Coral had to pee!! I had to remind myself...RELAX we are now on Bail time... no one rushes! Mind you it was bloody 11am!
We left the 'happy boys' behind to relax and headed out onto the street. My first stop was at 'Queen Leather' (which gave us, in the knowing, a giggle....which in turn got us a nasty glare from Mummy bear!) I had a favorite leather hand bag that was near death, I could never part with it and my husband had pop riveted the handles back on so many times, so I decided to have a replica made. Absolutely delighted with the result 250,000rp $30 Aust I did not barter too hard as I thought it was a fair price. I also had a denim bag made to hold samples for our business. It was also a copy of an existing bag, cost 150,000rp $22 Aust. Had a top from Aust altered 20,000. Highly recommend them!
We went for a walk around Matahari's, crossed the road to Fiji shop to get a sim card for my phone. Then home for drinkies and catch up on all the family gossip. Then it was off to the Dynasty for the Bali Forum dinner, we were a bit late getting there, and I think we missed all the introductions etc. I am sure a couple of tables would remember us ...... when the band started singing Irish songs Mum and Marge were off singing at the top of their voices. I did notice a couple of strange looks hee hee. We didn't stay too long as my plug was pulled and I just wanted to go and catch up on some sleep.
As we were leaving Coral wanted to pee so while she went off to find the toilets I herded Mum and Marge into the little lounge room with the makeshift fire. I managed with minimal fighting to position them onto one of the large arm chairs to take a photo. Coral came back and we decided to get mum to take a photo of us stoking the fake fire.....we got ourselves into position, looked up just in time to see the flash go off and realized mum had the camera back to front and had just taken a photo of her nose and had also just blinded herself....... Coral and I fell on the floor laughing. I should have gone to the toilet with her, as I was close to peeing myself.
We walked home in single file giggling all the way, shouting out to the two M's watch out for the hole watch out for the step watch out for the dog.
We got to Kuta square and I lined the girls up to try and get them across the road with out getting hit by a motor bike. When I thought it was clear I yelled 'GO' then had to shout 'STOP' as there was a stray bike coming around the corner....Mum & Coral stopped but Margaret seem to have a delayed reaction....from the back of the pack came Margaret arms flying in the air, she was in a sprint.... but came to a quick halt as she ran into the back of Mum....That was it...Coral and I were on the ground again in fits of laughter and once again I wish I had of gone to the toilet at the Dynasty.
Well that was the end of day 1 we had survived and were in bed by 9.30pm Coral and I still giggling like little girls at the memory of the day.