Okay, next session, get yourself a coffee and I hope enjoy!!!!
Saturday 21st July
Everyone is excited as today we are off to the Waterbom Park for a day of excitement, relaxation and fun all wound up in one package.
Managed to get 25% off from a voucher that was given to us the other day from one of the kids in the street, made for a nice little discount as well, pays for lunch.
I love the new concept of wrist bands for cash which you now top up with what you want to spend throughout the day and if you don't you get it refunded at the end of the day.
Anyway we decided to get a cabana for the day as Ross is feeling a little off today, (a bit of a sore throat and a headache, seems like everyone in Bali has the same ailment) and it was a great base for all our gear. The new Boomerang slide is fantastic even for a granny like me not to mention all the older rides which are just as much fun.
A great Indo lunch was had by all, food is of quite a high standard and a couple of Bintangs and cokes to wash it down and then a couple more laps of the Lazy River and our day was done.
Left the park and headed for Sammy's bar at Kuta to catch up with the rest of the gang, and say Happy Birthday to Neil, they were all heading over to the Stadium to watch the Eagles, we had just found out that the Dockers won so a win for my boys was imminent, I wanted to go home and take a shower and get freshened up but I guess you already know that didn't happen but what the heck we were in Bali!!
As Ross wasn't getter any better and the rest of the crew were in for what seemed a big nite!, We decided to have dinner at the Stadium, the new menu is fantastic and my cap cay was the best I've eaten anywhere and good servings as well.
We left after the game for an early nite, if Ross didn't want another Bintang he was really sick and we all know about our men when THEY are sick!!! I told him I would ring the undertaker if matters got too bad...poor darling.
Sunday 22nd July
Up around 7am, Ross feeling a bit better but not 100%, had breakfast and grabbed some towels as Iluh is coming over today with her 5 year old daughter to spend the day with us.
No room at the front pool as towels had been placed on all lilo's not that anyone was actually on them, boy is that a bug bear of mine, they save the lilo and head out for the day shopping and they know they have a space when they get back...
No problem we went up to the front pool not many people here a lovely elderly couple reading and enjoying each others company and we arrive and cause a ruckus, not really we had some special time together with Rikha (Iluh's daughter) and Jess and Maddy my grand daughters, Iluh and Ross. Tony and Linnett were out having fittings for some suits they were having made for work. It was really fabulous time spent around the pool that day, I thoroughly enjoyed and I hope we didn't annoy the couple that looked like they wanted some privacy.
Had arranged to meet other forumites at the S&S bar at 4pm, arrived 10 mins early in anticipation of who may turn up and to my surprise the elderly couple who were poolside earlier were in fact Beth & Lawrie (Belas) a lovely couple, also attending were Dennisc and wife, Tony, Linnett, Jessica, Maddison, (Ktnjmbali), Peter Mack and his gang, Rissa_m, Balibec, Alan & Denise (The Tilts), Jubajane, Lozs, it was great getting to meet everyone and putting names to faces.
Afterwards we decided to go back to the hotel and then off to dinner somewhere,
Whilst I thought everyone was in tow we lost half of our party somewhere, anyway we all decided to go to Billys as we heard it was good and had live music....when we arrive, there to our amazement was the rest of the gang so we all had dinner which was great and since we were all in the mood, improvised with some dancing with one of those line things (I don't know what you call it) anyway Tony led and we all followed and before too long we had almost everyone up...it's great to start the fun isn't it... stayed most of the night and finished off with a couple of nightcaps at Legends as usual..... a great day in my favorite place, Bali!!!!
Monday 23rd July
Today I have organized a day trip for us all up to Gianyar and Ubud.
9am pickup by tour company and arrive at Masari Resort in Gianyar around 10.15am. Staff pleased to see us again and had organized morning tea poolside for us as I prewarned them we were coming.
This resort is set in one of the most picturesque settings you could ever imagine, set on the side of a revine with the sound of running water from the river below and on the other side seeing the locals tend to the farming of Ylang Ylang, the freshness of the country side and in the middle of all this is the most beautiful 5 star resort that you simply fall in love with, a total of 12 villas, 8 two bedroom and 4 one bedroom, all have dining room, sitting room, kitchen, indoor and outdoor bathroom and all units have small plunge pools for those private moments...A gorgeous large pool is situated atop of the units overlooking the most beautiful countryside....this place is worth a look and maybe a stay if you want to just veg out and they have the most fabulous spa set on the side of the revine and a must if you visit, I can personally recommend hotel and spa!!!
We had a meeting with the manager as I am thinking of holding our 40th wedding anniversary, (maybe even renew our vows) there in 2009 and wanted to book the entire hotel for our family and friends and wanted to talk price, after much discussion an email will be sent with a very special nightly rate, which I shall look forward to.
I took the gang on a tour of the hotel, spa and pool area where they all had a swim and morning tea around the pool area.
A young girl by the name of Dwika whom we had met on our last visit had sent me an email with a photo of her beautiful baby, she was pregnant when we met her and had purchased some gifts for the baby, anyway it was supposed to be her day off and I had the manager call her in with her family, boy was she surprised to see us, tears flowed and it was great to catch up.
Had to leave and our next stop was the Bird Park, this is always nice to take the kids to, lots of beautiful colourful and exotic birds to see and frolic with, everyone enjoyed that and then it was off to Ubud and Café Lotus for lunch, it is a great place overlooking the beautiful lily ponds what a setting!! Café Lotus is a must when in Ubud it's a bit like going to Paris and visiting the Eiffel Tower, they just go hand in hand. A lovely lunch and a couple of Bintangs was just what the Doc ordered, after lunch 45mins of free time for everyone to stroll the markets and do some shopping.
I used my time to purchase some wooden toys and jigsaw puzzles for our next port of call.
Everyone loaded back in bus, head count all accounted for and we head for the supermarket on the way to the Gianyar Orphanage, we bought rice, noodles, oil, spices, eggs, chickens, vegetables, fruit, shampoo, soap, washing powder, sweets and we the headed off to a very warm welcome from everyone.
This is a small orphanage with only about 23 children, all with disabilities, in fact the 5 boys aged from 8 -16 were all deaf and dumb but you know they can communicate better than most kids without disabilities.
We took sweets, pens, pads, manicure sets, pencil cases and more and made the children chose like a lucky dip, however they all got a sweet on a stick and all ended up with mouths and tongues of blue or green or whatever the colour lolly they had. We took lots of photos and just seeing these kids so happy for the generosity, I must admit it bought a few tears to my eyes and I knew this was the highlight of my trip.
We had to leave and after playing a few tricks we were inundated with hugs and kisses and smiles that will be etched in my memory until my next visit.
The trip home was quiet as mostly everyone fell asleep, arrived back at the hotel around 8pm, so I just made up a platter and we all had a pick and in bed by 10pm....a huge day with wonderful memories, I slept well tonite knowing that such a small thing to us gave so much happiness to another.
I know I have rambled on a bit so will carry on tomorrow with the next episode, I am a bit choked up.....
I hope I am not boring you all!!!!