The surf is HUGE! On our morning walk the next day I saw guys towing jet skis down to the beach and it took ages just to launch them into that raging ocean. I've never seen such massive waves and can only imagine whoever was going to get a tow out must be gung ho surfers. Thank heavens I talked Jb into not taking the knee board this year, for an old toy boy he'd have been annihilated!
On our way back up the beach we called into the Jayakarta which was to be our 3rd port of call on our final 5 days and confirmed our room would be in the 300 block upstairs and would be an Odd numbered room. No problems but when we scouted around the outside of the 300 block we decided that we would prefer an Even numbered room overlooking the rear garden which we felt had much more privacy if relaxing on the verandah. Back to reception, no problems again and room 238 was booked aside.
Big day today, off to Bali Stones we go! We met up with the delightful Felicia who spent quite a bit of time with us while we made our choices and gave good advice on the staining. Felicia explained that a container had just left recently so it may take some time for our stuff to arrive into Brisbane. No worries, not in a hurry and it gives us heaps of time to figure out how we get it from Bris back to the Sunny Coast! That Tall standing lady, seated Buddha, Ganesha & the big Bali pot are going to find very happy homes amongst the foliage in the garden.
I mentioned to Felicia my desire for this spice box and she had some good ideas on where to find it so with her map in hand I got Jb to drop me off at the start off ‘Broken Down Old Boat Road' (what a great name) while he headed back for the hotel pool. What an amazing twisting winding very long road! Talk about antique heaven! There was Antique shop after antique shop and I noticed what looked like European buyers with a Bali guide and driver chatting to shop owners in quite a few of them. I found some interesting varieties of spice boxes from all parts of Indonesia all very old & with powdery residue inside so decided not to buy but to ponder & keep searching as I still had time up my sleeve before I had to make that final decision.
This was obviously not a tourist road as not one blue taxi passed and I had no idea how much longer it would take before I reached the end up near the Kerobokan jail. The heat was full on & I was seriously considering putting this mumma backside on the back of a motorbike when I came across a blue taxi with its driver sound asleep in the back seat. Thank god, as the return trip to Seminyak covered a heck of a lot more k's of long narrow winding roads!
Massages - Our first massage was at Suko massage just up from Geneva. We hadn't tried this place before but forum advice was spot on, wonderfully firm though relaxing 60 mins in a couple's room upstairs for 70.000 each.
Next up was Prana Spa. I had been to Prana the previous year and really wanted Jb to experience a Shirodara, and at this particular place. I'd read about it in a travel magazine and it had been described as an over the top kitsch Arabian nights experience, so true! It's opposite the Bali Deli and on the outside looks like a 2 story pink coloured Moroccan mansion. It isn't cheap, in American dollars but what a once off experience. Jb was not too taken with the idea of this oil dripping on the 3rd eye but the bride insisted!
I'd planned on being naughty and taking my mobile in the room to sneak a few of those prohibited photos of the place but no luck, we were not left alone for one single teeny weeny second. Unfortunately the outcome was that Jb was not overly impressed with this particular type of treatment after his lady missed and ran the oil into his eye which looked pretty damn sore & inflamed afterwards. Don't think I'll get him to try that again!
Other than that I'd highly recommend a Prana experience choosing one of the many other offers available
Because we were having 6 days at Sofitel we received a complimentary 1 hour massage voucher in the spa. Both of us later thought that maybe these young ladies may have been the apprentices in training and in hindsight even though a freebie would have much preferred a return visit to Suko.
Other than a couple wonderful of reflexology sessions up the road in Dyana Pura that completed our massages for the first part of the hols.
Shopping - Went to Garlic Lane looking for ‘that' bag, still no luck. Bought a black Guess & a brown leather plaited bag which when I put in all my bits & pieces is so heavy, but it looks good! Did some shopping at Ketuts then found the right Ray Ban sunnies the daughters boyfriend wanted. Unfortunately a couple of the shops were reluctant to come up with all the change. I love giving that bit extra for good luck but it does irk me when you need to persist in getting change back.
A most enjoyable shopping experience was with Donni at Jaya Pillows. He is such a nice chap with a really amusing personality & it was great fun ordering the bed runners & cushion covers. When I went back a week or so later to collect them one in a lime colour had some pink chalk marks where they had marked the mossie coil embroidery spots. No problem, Donni happily had it cleaned & delivered it to the hotel the following day. Definitely will shop with him again.
Needed to buy some Ralph Lauren polo tops some replacements for Jb's faded ones, others as gifts. Golly the price varies from shop to shop down in Kuta. After we had bought what we needed we saw them heaps cheaper in other stores.
Divine Diva, Jl Laksmana 1A - returned again this year for more of their lovely lightweight cotton shirts & Jb found some great XL cotton shorts which will be ideal for our steamy summers.
St Isidor - now they must be doing well. That was my first port of call for the bed runners as they had done a wonderful job last year but were too busy and couldn't take anymore work on until next month, hence my shop a few days later with Jaya Pillows.
Geneva - usual bit & pieces. Such a good spot for those little gifts you need to take home but nothing really new, same as last year.
Dolce & Gabbana in Kuta - Wanted some more of the s/s business shirts that we found last year. Unfortunately not to be found and the service from the young ladies was total disinterest. So different to last time when they hunted up what we were looking for at another store, made us comfortable with a seat & cool water while someone shot around on a motorbike to collect the shirts.
‘My Bali' men's shop Jl Legian, Kuta - Back again for those beautiful fine Egyptian cotton s/s shirts Jb loves.
Sita Fashions - Took a bit to spot this place but we were rapt with our tin geckos purchase. Should have taken someone's advice & had them bubble wrapped at the airport as there is a crease or two in the large one but I'm sure no one else would notice.
Yani shop Jl Legian 409 - Got some more cream cotton knee length shorts with the pocket on one leg which is so handy to pop the ‘cheat sheet' in. I'd nearly worn last years out and had found them to be really cool & comfy with the elastic in the waistband at the back for the expanding waistline! They have exactly the same stock in Ganesha Jl Legian No 54, but at a higher price.
Food - For our first meal we strolled up Dyana Pura & found Gateway to India which was on the 'to do' list. We had some really delicious curries but can't figure out how I've walked past this place so many times before & haven't spotted it.
Another new treat was Warung Sorbat. On the card it says Jl Batubelig 11A which I'm not sure if that's Eat St or not but it's only 150metres from Bali Sani Hotel. Thank heavens due to forum advice we booked a table. Busy, buzzy & chockers, with people queuing for a table. We had a superb meal though the only downside was the table attendant standing over us to order but we decided to not be rushed and to enjoy the experience. Noticed there were no Aussie voices around though lots of French, German, Belgium & English accents. Highly rec'md the chicken w coconut milk rice & veg, yum and only 20.000
Another wonderful meal was on the rooftop at Paul's Place but sadly we were the only diners for them that night. The night we went to Lotus Grill in Eat St we booked the second table back from the entrance. Was a good choice as it was a great people watching place with a Moroccan restaurant across the road with Trattoria Pizza next door. The food was excellent and the Tom Yum Goong the best I've ever had. We knew when we caught the blue taxi we'd run out of money and when we got to the hotel I dashed inside for some more cash with johnnie telling the driver that ‘if I no come back, he go to live with the driver but eat plenty rice'. The driver just burst out laughing & we gave him an extra good tip for being such a good sport.
At the end of that first week we kept wondering - where are the Aussies, they weren't in our hotel, they weren't in the restaurants, we didn't hear Oz accents out shopping though we were surrounded with accents from many nations. So very sad for Bali but not once during our fabulous stay did we ever feel uncomfortable in any situation. We also found time & time again that when asked where do we come from and that this was not our first trip that each person seemed to take it personally on expressing their gratitude for our love of Bali, it's people and the fact we kept wanting to return.
Next stop, Tegal Sari in Ubud.