Hell I love Bali!!
Back only 5 days & miss the place already.
I am planning to go for 6 months or so next year & hope to retire there soon.
Back to the JBR
Gusti picked us up at 9am on Tuesday 17th July for our 4th trip to the orphanage that we help sponsor at Gianyar. (Near Ubud).
This orphanage is for handicapped kids aged from about 5 years to 17 years. Most are hearing & voice impaired with a few having behavioural problems. As previously mentioned there is a set of 5 year old twin girls one of which has a facial deformity & Rotary has brought her to Adelaide for a series of operations & she still has another 4 or so ops to go. Her twin sister is perfectly normal but the parents abandoned them both.
On the way we went to some local markets to buy some rice, noodles, oil, sugar & tea for the orphanage. The government contributes only 2500rp (around 30cents) per day per child for their food, clothing etc. We also brought clothing, toys, pencils etc for the kids. They were pleased to see us again. When we first went there they were only getting about 3 visitors per year but now quite a few more since mentioned in JBR's & Filo's pages.
Went on to Ubud from there & tried the Babi Guling at Ibu Oka. Tasted good going down but we were both a bit 'loose in the plumbing' next day. Interesting place packed with about 40 people. They cook 4 pigs each day & stay open till they are all gone. You sit cross legged on the floor while you eat.
Went to Sammy & Suzy's most night & had some great interaction with many other forumites. It is wonderful to sit, relax & down a few Bintangs & watch the magnificent sunsets. Also saw 4 people pulled from the water by the lifeguards on various nights. One was in a pretty bad way & was taken off to hospital. He was a big guy & they had to bend him up to fit him in the back of the van. (ambulance). He returned next day & accused the lifeguards of stealing his watch. He did give them a tip for saving his life. 10000rp ($1.30) UNBELIEVABLE!!!
Met some great people at S&S including.
Balibec her sister Rissa & parents Greg & Gay. Wonderful family & we spent a lot of time together at restaurants etc.
Audinary & family
Bela Beth & Lawrie, lovely South Aussies
Elmore (for a few minutes)
Jubanne. She really gets into the real Bali.
Shybeejay. Bev & Ross
Ktnjmbali. Tony & daughters
Peter mack
Putu3au Denise. (thanks for your advice on visas)
The Tilts Denise & Alan
Smudge & Made of Yayasan Peduli (a martyr of Bali)
Chris & Ken of Southern Cross Bali Assn (a wealth of knowledge & very passionate about the people of Bali)
& others.
Also met up with David & Julie who brought a new 'state of the art' esky for Sammy.
We always like to end the day at S&S & then head off to the many restaurants of Legian Beach.
I am sure that Sammy must be involved in every ceremony that occurs in Bali. The only one he ever missed out on though was the 'tooth filing' ceremony. Lol. I reckon that Sammy could eat an apple through a tennis racquet.
As mentioned by Balibec we bought an Indo/English electronic translator ($23) from Carrefour & that is invaluable in Bali & helped be brush up on my Bahasa. I showed it to our friend & driver Gusti & he has text me since we have been back asking the Indo eqwuivalent of some English words he has since come across. I think he is hinting for me to buy one for him.
Coming up
Our trip to Munti village (near Mt Agung) with Smudge.