Sorry if I waffle - its hard to summarise when you are relieving your Bali experience, but I will try and keep the waffle to a minimum, it might be hard, but I will give it my best shot!
Bang, bang, beep beep, it's our early morning wake-up call - Good Morning Bali!! It's 5am! It's also Australia Day! I am still a mess! My arm is still aching, my ear is still a wee bit sore and my legs are possibly worse than they were yesterday if that is possible. I do the shuffle to the kettle whilst hubby pretends to sleep - I know he isn't asleep - how can you sleep with that racquet??? I also know that this is his way of avoiding engaging into conversation, which would then definitely tell me he is awake! I shuffle back to bed and flick the tv on - it blares out in what appears to be many decibels louder than is normal at that time of the morning - so I quickly press the lower volume sound button and glance at hubby. He has one eye open looking at me and mumbles 'For Chr*st sake babe, I'm trying to sleep'. Sorreeee....
We do the usual - walk at 6.30, head for breakfast (no conference delegates as they have all gone home now!) and head for towels and loungers on the grass. There is no doubt that there are pool lounger hogs that have gotten up at the crack of dawn to claim their prized turf, but as the pool is so large and loungers are a plenty, there is no need to take part in this ritual. We note it is the Europeans that are doing it - not the Australians - we know this because of ze accent!
We engage in conversation with the beach sellers, Lili is trying to flog us t-shirts as is Anna - must be Lili's friend as she is the only one allowed near us with Lili. Hubby really doesn't want any t-shirts but is weak and caves. He ends up with 2 fake billabong t-shirts and 2 bintang singlets. She is prepared and brings the L & XL sizes. Now hubby is not big at all but we all know how small they make the clothing, t-shirts and alike. She is such a professional that she pulls out the right sizes just by a gander over his physique. A price is negotiated (with me whispering in his ear) and it must have been on the mark because Lili is not as happy as she was yesterday! She valiantly tries to flog me more sarongs - but her attempts are in vain. She smiles and admits defeat and settles down for a chat. You can learn so much from these guys. They are more than happy just to chat away, practice their English and let us practice our Indonesian on them. The bow and arrow man joins us for a while, as does the two beach massage ladies, 006½, the watch & sunglasses man and the beaded jewellery ladies. We are obviously p*sing off the Russians because there are many foul looks generated in our direction. God forbid we disturb their tanning time. I mean seriously all these guys do is sunbathe. I have yet to see them do something spontaneous like go out on the street, barter with a beachfront seller or maybe even take a day trip! Get a life, I yell at them - its ok - they don't understand English. Anyway we don't worry about it too much - this was our holiday destination long before it was theirs and it's almost like you feel you have a right to be here. Plus we enjoy talking to the beach-sellers - we don't want to just sit on our backsides all day with our face pointed to the sun - we could do that at home if we wanted.
The day passes at a nice leisurely pace, we eat at Stadium café for lunch (soup for me and ribs for hubby) and sign the big poster board they have for Australia Day. We note the patriotism of our fellow Australians is rife and up and down the streets all Australians are donned in some piece of Australian paraphernalia - be it singlet, cap, hat, sarong, bikini, tattoo etc etc - you get the picture. It makes us proud. It makes the Balinese happier, because they can spot the Australian now rather than go through 6 different language intro's when trying to sell you something.
We head back to our hotel and our loungers and clock the 2 inebriated older Australian ladies that are staying at a hotel across the road (as we found out) being chatted up by two French men (also staying at another hotel). We know all this as we did chat to the 2 inebriated Australian ladies in the pool and we were duly informed of this. Makes you wonder how good a job the pool guys are doing!! We know its not that great a job as there is a sign on the bridge (that takes you from one area of the pool to another) advising that you are not to jump of the bridge, yet on the days we have been around, we were subjected to these Australian kids doing exactly that. It was dangerous for anyone swimming under the bridge. Where are the parents???? Where are the pool boys??? Neither parents or pool boys are to be seen. I have had enough and I decide the kids needed to be told - especially this cheeky little sh*t in particular (he was the ring leader). Hubby advised that it was not my problem and to leave it alone, but I couldn't resist. I berated them in a loud voice, asked them to read the signs and told them that they should be careful as they could hurt someone by doing what they were doing before ending on the 'I will get Management if you don't behave' note. Hubby is long gone away from me and his body language is screaming ‘I'm not with her.' Anyway we find our loungers but they appear to be occupied by the ozzies from the pool bar we saw the previous day. Not to worry, a quick confirmation and apologies and they move over to their loungers.
We are thinking of our list of things to do, which include find hotel accommodation for the 3 nights we have extended (as the Discovery Kartika is fully booked)??? Booked?? How can every single room of this very large hotel be fully booked on the 3 days we want to extend...me thinks they don't like us!! Anyway we still need to visit Sukawati markets, visit Ubud and of course do some shopping. No probs we still have a week - YAY - the thought fills us with joy!
We listen to one of the Australian woman trying to bargain with the beaded jewellery ladies over price. She is clearly being ripped off and is being told so by her ever loving loud mouthed husband sitting a couple of loungers down from us. He turns to us to share his disgust over the scenario that is unfolding and loudly and publicly berates his wife in front of all and sundry, telling her she doesn't need to buy anymore crap, that she has a drawer full of the same sh*t back home. You get my drift? I am gritting my teeth. I am of English/Italian descent and I do have a temper and I don't always think before I speak. Hubby is sensing that I am getting annoyed by the scene that is unfolding (obvious by the looks that I am directing towards the poor girls husband) and hauls me off my lounger quick smart to take me for a swim. He forgets that I have undone the halter part of my tankini, in my quest to avoid strap marks, and so it is without further ado I present my DD melons to everyone within keen eye distance. I try to tie my top up, but my hair is getting caught. The whole scenario couldn't have played out for more than 30 seconds but it felt like 5 minutes! My dignity is restored and my hubby is embarrassed - and tells me so. I feel like I am Muriel in one particular scene out of Muriel's Wedding. We head to the pool for a swim as it's another hotter than hot day.
It is time to eventually head to our rooms for showers as we were to meet with Wayan and family at 6pm for an early dinner. We just get in the room, just pour a vodka and bitter lemon each (my first one since hangover incident from first night) and my mobile beeps, it is Wayan and he and his family are early, sorry, and waiting in the lobby...its 5.15!!! I tell hubby to go get them and bring them back to the room while I shower and then he can shower when I am done. They are full of apologies but its ok - they sit out on the balcony and wait for us. Wayan has bought us the photos he took of our 2 day trip away including safari and so we happily relive the moments whilst waiting for hubby to have his shower. We are off.
We are not going straight to dinner though, we are first going to Garuda Cultural Park. I haven't been here as yet and so I am keen to see the statues that I have heard. Wow! It's amazing. They are not complete but the sheer size of them is absolutely breathtaking. The end result is going to be something spectacular that is for sure. Wayan gives us the history and advises the design is by a Balinese and the stone carving is done in Java (I think he said). We get some great photos to indicate the sheer size of them, and a couple more photos with the mountain in the distance with the sun setting. I enquired as to the restaurant which I believe is fantastic de Midi Midi or something? But apparently it is a new name now...not sure as to the accuracy of this information but that is what I was told. The toot toot of a whistle is played out and like little ducklings following mummy duck the masses of Koreans/Japanese about face and head in a line back to their buses. This was a better sight than the statue! They do everything the guide says. If the guide says buy something - they do, if the guide tells them not to - they won't. It's amazing. All I can say is these guides must be making a sh*t load of commission from the places that they are allowed to buy from!! Has anyone else noticed this? It must be absolutely terrible to not be able to think on your holiday!! Quack Quack!
Anyway enough biatching from me. We head off and on our way to Jimbaran Bay village for a feed of seafood. Note I say village here. We arrive at our destination - Uluwatu café...old café in a new location. We meet with the owner and he explains his story. He used to be one of the ones on the beachfront but not for him anymore. There were too many of them and the quality and pricing of the food was being compromised. He didn't want to be one of them anymore and has duly set up restaurant in the village of Jimbaran Bay. What can I say - it was the best feed we had in Bali. No doubt about it. Absolutely without a doubt the best - sooo tasty. There were 4 of us adults and 2 little children. We ordered big! We decided on a whole crayfish, huge crab, generous sized piece of snapper, 2 squid and a bunch of prawns. Yes they do the weight thing - and no it's not rigged (well not here it isn't, as it is one of the reasons the owner left the seafront). Hubby is pretty good with his weight guesses and was keeping up with the weigher at a rather impressive rate.
We claim a bale, take off our shoes, respectfully, and sit down cross legged on our cushions. Drinks are ordered and those roasted nuts with salt on them are bought out. I LOVE THESE NUTS!!! It is clear that 2 little complimentary nut bowls are not going to be enough and the waitress brings out another bowl and places it in front of me....mine.. mine...my presssccciiioouussss. The kids chips come out and in between jumping up and down from the bale, onto the next bale and colouring in their books they eat. The start of our food procession begins...and it is like a procession. Trouble is we are fast running out of table space....I knew they ordered too much!! We each receive our plate which has the rice on it, turned out from a cylinder and in the middle of the plate. The grilled crayfish arrives as does the grilled crab, the grilled and halved prawns, the crumbed calamari and the spiced calamari and last but not least the grilled and smoked snapper. We are then presented with about 3 different vegetable dishes and of course a lazy susan of sauces. 2, 4, 6, 8 - bog in don't wait. It was unreal - I wasn't able to partake in the crayfish, crab or prawn (and believe me that was possibly the hardest thing I had to sit through) but I was definitely going to have my share of squid and fish and vegies. We were all in heaven. The kids even tried some calamari. The owner enquired as to whether we were enjoying our dinner and we all groaned in delight. There was a large Japanese contingent eating at the restaurant also, and they were clearly having a good time. It wasn't long before both Ida and I had had enough. Wimps!! Hubby and Wayan were intent on polishing off as much of the feast as they could. Hubby's chin was growing in size as I watched on in fascination. Ida is off entertaining the kids by the crayfish tank and I use the time to negotiate an upright position to head to the toilet. My legs are still in a bit of a way after WWR and if I sit or lay for too long I do stiffen up and this is evident as I am free....free falling. My legs have given away and I plunge off the bale and onto the concrete with a thump. It's not bad enough that I have a sore ear, nor that I have an egg size lump on my arm, nor that my legs work intermittently, nope I have to aim for at least one more bump and ache to my body. Hubby and Wayan gather my sorry ass up and we all laugh, well not really for me, but I don't want them to think I am a party pooper. They are still laughing when I get back from the toilet. They are having so much entertainment out of me I am beginning to think I should charge them!
Eventually hubby and Wayan hand in their napkins - they are done - and there is still half a fish and a sh*t load of calamari left. Wayan speaks to the waitress and the fish and calamari are whipped off the table and returned moments later in packages for Wayan to take home with him. We loll around like beached whales and eventually call for the bill. The bill is a while coming as the Japanese leader of the dinner group is going through item for item and querying item for item of their bill. For God's sake ... oh well - whatever. We receive our bill and I am gob-smacked at the price. Gob-smacked in a good way that is. For our bountiful feast we are charged the equivalent of about $95 Australian - how cheap is that??? So for all you seafood enthusiasts give this place a try. You won't regret it. Agree you won't have the view that overlooks Jimbaran Bay, but the quality and cost of this food far outweighs the view. Anyone who wants the location let me know and I will send to you. You seriously will not regret it.
We roll into the car and head off back to our hotel. Its been a great day and we are feeling nice, relaxed and full! We farewell our dear friends and arrange our pick-up time with Wayan for the morning. We adjourn to the patio with a vodka and bitter lemon. We are both tired, but happy. My rash is still bad and I am beginning to think its not the sunscreen. My arm is feeling a wee bit better but my ear is feeling worse. Oh well - this is Bali! We head to bed and hubby decides he wants some action again and we fall asleep shortly thereafter.
As a side note I have to say (and hubby agrees) that this was one of the best holidays we have ever had. Yes we had our mishaps but it was seriously one of the best holiday's we have ever had. Even better than my honeymoon!!! Then again any other holiday was better than my honeymoon given that it took place at the same time as the Soccer World Cup!
More to come... Sorry guys - I am trying to break it down but its not happening at the minute. The next JBR will be shorter I promise and if I can round it down nicely it will be my last.