Before I finish my JBR - I would like to thank all those lovely forumites for their encouraging comments and I hope you have enjoyed them as much as I have enjoyed writing them and remembering!!
It's our morning to depart the Kartika and move to the Patra. The beach works haven't disappointed us and gave us a final farewell at 5.00am! We won't really miss them!! We did our usual walk along the beach and final Kartika breakfast buffet - hubby made sure he was fully loaded as he was not about to miss anything out on his final buffet here! I stuck with my toast and coffee. My ear was still bad - no doubt about it and my existence over the next few days would be literally waiting for the next time I could put drops in and take my painkillers!
The day was gloomy and so plans to lounge the morning away by the pool were quickly quashed when it started pouring, and pouring and pouring. We decided our final few hours would be spent in our room, packing our stuff up and bubble wrapping our treasure trove of wooden cats! This is exactly what we did. It's probably the first time that we have ever been so organised! Everything was evacuated and searched thoroughly - not once but twice....except the safe...
We headed to the lobby just short of 12 our checkout time, made good with the reception and cleared our tab with rupiah. Even when staying in the hotels and eating at the hotel etc we always pay cash where possible so we don't end up having a near fatal heart attack upon checking out. I was pleased to note that our room tab had only acquired two charges - both being laundry we had done. No probs. We asked the porter to mind our stuff and headed up the street for a browse and some lunch as check-in at the Patra wasn't until 2pm. As a side note the Indian navy were in town - lots of them too. I didn't even know the Indians had a large navy but according to my dear father, they have one of the biggest in the world short of America of course. It's a funny sight - there were a pile of them eating at the Indian restaurant we passed on JL Kartika..is it called the Royal India?? Not sure but it is a bemusing sight to us.
We eventually made it back to the Kartika, I hailed a cab at the entrance and he came up and collected us and our stuff...we had also just bought the essentials for the move to the next hotel...water, beer and mixers! Now it's not far from the Kartika to the Patra but if you get a bit of traffic it can be a bit of a slower trip. It must have been just short of entering the hotel complex and I have no idea how the subject came up, probably because we needed his credit card to seal the deal with our booking, but I was fossicking in my bag for hubbys wallet....without much luck! Now before I continue, each time we come to Bali we only take one credit card with us (either mine or his) and we take cash - more cash than we will need just to be on the safe side. This time we had taken hubbys credit card and wallet and that was where we kept our cash of course. Hubby is not stupid and he is looking at me whilst I am frantically taking everything out of my backpack and out of my shoulder bag to find the missing wallet. The travel documents are there - so therefore the wallet just has to be there doesn't it??? 'Honey' I say in a blind panic, 'I can't find your wallet'. He calmly says 'it must be there because I haven't touched it since we came to the Patra last Sunday'. 'It's not' I say hysterically. The taxi driver is eyeing us off and probably thinking we have no money to pay for our cab fare which is untrue as we still have about 800,000 rp in our little purse. It's amazing how calm hubby was actually - if it was me I would be absolutely frantic - in fact I was frantic and it wasn't my wallet - that said, it did contain all our cash and our credit card and thus our comfort for the next 3 nights!! By now we were at the Patra and they are loading our bags out of the taxi and trying to direct us to Reception! Not yet!!
I realised what I might have done, and ventured to hubby 'It must be still in the safe at the Kartika'. 'That's ok then, I will just go back there now and get it, you wait here' he says a bit more relaxed. 'I left the safe open though babe 'I ventured. Well it was a 50/50 really for us - and nothing we could do about it. I rang the Kartika from my mobile while trying to keep all our baggage in the one spot at the front of the Patra, but the nice porter at the Patra was trying to manoeuvre our luggage onto a trolley. I didn't want him to do this, because we may not even be able to stay here at all if we don't have any money!! I tried to make my situation aware to the Kartika and she said she would have someone check the room, I was on hold for about 5 minutes and she eventually reported that there was no wallet there. I rang hubby who was on the way back to the Patra and told him the news and he told me he was just pulling up and he would have a look for himself.
In the meantime I sit down at the check in desk, tears in my eyes, and explain the story, how we are supposed to be checking in...name please??? Sorry? Name please...okay whatever...told them my name and continued my story and he is pushing the check in card across and asking me to fill in the blanks, sign the form and could they have our credit card and passports please. What??? Don't they get my story - I am trying to explain that we may have lost our wallet and they don't get it?? Seriously, I had to basically spell it out for them - no card, no room! They eventually got it and offered me sympathetic smiles, whilst eyeing off the complimentary welcome drink and cold towel that I had been given but probably did not deserve...yet!! News spread like wildfire and I was subjected to many sympathetic looks from all the staff. If anytime I felt like a cigarette this was it. I am a reformed smoker - I don't believe you can ever really say that you are a non-smoker if you have smoked before, because there is always that one situation that could have you falling off the wagon in the blink of an eye. It's a bit like being a reformed alcoholic or reformed addict etc - both different addictions but ultimately both are tied together as one and it is something you fight against for the rest of your life in certain situations! This was one of them. Now call me weak and pathetic but that is exactly what I felt like and that is what I did, I fell off the wagon and bummed a cigarette from this Australian couple who were hanging around in the lounge chairs in the foyer, waiting for something. I won't tell you it was great - because it wasn't...but it did give me a head spin in a big way and it did give me a buzz that I needed! However ultimately all it did was make my mouth feel disgusting! My mobile rings and its hubby - he is still waiting for security to take him to our old room to search for the wallet. I advise him I was having a cigarette - can't lie to him!! - and he basically sighed and said whatever gets you through! Okaaay. Now maybe it was the cigarette that triggered the brain cells but I had the notion that I should look through my suitcase to make sure I hadn't packed the wallet in there - definitely no reason for me to do that but one never knows in a flurry of packing what one might do! I snapped the locks off and at the front of the lobby, started rummaging into my suitcase - didn't care about whether it was aesthetically pleasing or not - I was on a mission. Guess what...I had packed his wallet - it was amongst my underwear in the pouch that all suitcases have for such items! Why? Who knows....but it was there! I was so happy. I quickly call hubby and duly advise him of our good fortune. He was too relieved to be angry with me, and heads back in the cab to the Patra, tipping largely the same taxi driver who has lived and breathed this tragic tale!
We present ourselves at the check-in desk again, duly fill out the forms, greatly appreciate our welcome drink and flannel (my second!!) and head off to our room - a light bounce in our step! Now we were booked into a studio suite as the deluxe suites were all booked. Well I wont be staying in a deluxe suite again - studio all the way for me!! It was lovely and well worth the extra it cost. It has an entry way and to the left a bit down the passage is your cloakroom and then a separate toilet/dressing room area. To the right off the passage is the bathroom - enormous bath, big enough for two, large shower with the biggest powerful showerhead we have ever had the pleasure of experiencing and again another basin and mirror etc. Then there is the bedroom - big enough for two by far - decorative mosquito net feature on the massive king size bed and a chair to the side. You have your own little courtyard here and ours happened to overlook the very small pool which was hardly used - it was never used last year and this year it looked to be the same! We were stoked. By the time we had unpacked, settled ourselves, took a walk around the grounds and had a drink it was time to go for dinner and meet up with friends and their two kids from Perth and Wayan at Pappa's. (Forgive me as I had indicated yesterday we were meeting Wayan at Nero's - this was the following night, and Kori's was to be for our last night).
We arrived at Pappa's and introductions were made between Wayan and our friends and we all claimed a table of 7 and got on with the task of ordering dinner and drinks. I love Pappa's, love the staff and love their food. The staff were fussing over the two kids - little girl and boy - taking them off to see the massive fish in the ponds that run alongside Pappa's, making animals out of their napkins and even making Balinese hats for them out of napkins. It was great because they were occupied whilst we adults were able to chat. Wayan was here because our friends were going to use him as a driver and tour guide for the week that they were here. It was a great night. I was feeling a bit more cheery and was happy that the painkillers were at least letting me enjoy such nights out. Around 9pm we call it a night the kids are dropping from tiredness and hubby and I are ready to depart. Its fond farewells to all and Wayan drops us back at our hotel with a note that he will be over tomorrow afternoon for a swim and then on to dinner.
We slept like logs - and woke up so refreshed - no noises of machinery to disturb our sleep - it was fantastic - why oh why did we not stay here instead of the Kartika!!! We head to breakfast and do a suss of all the people - it's what one does when they are the newbies at a hotel - just like the ones that have been at the hotel for a while suss out the newbies - it's a ritual - it is just the done thing! We clock the lady that is b*tching to her husband about the mixed race family that had just left the restaurant...honestly some people should just keep their big fat mouths shut! What the hell is it to do with her?? Anyway we take in our surrounds, finish our breakfast and go and claim some towels.
One of the pool guys from last year remembers us, and we had a chat (his wife was pregnant last year) and so we found out he had a little girl and he remembered we had given him some money as a goodwill gesture and so from there on in, he did everything in his power to keep our two day stay happy! We claimed the loungers at the small pool - no-one was around and we spent the day in and out of the shade into the pool and back again - it was perfect. Wayan joined us mid-afternoon, he had bought a change of clothes for dinner and we continued our casual day. My rash was still on my body - possibly not as bad, or maybe it was hidden by the deep tan I had acquired. It is only now I probably know that the cause of the rash was possibly not the sunscreen as I had thought but was because of the drugs I had been taking prior to this holiday over a sustained period of time - strong drugs which had a clear message, they caused sun sensitivity and you were to avoid the sun. So for those who see these messages on drug packets, take note - they are there for a reason!! I wish I had!
We eventually head to Nero's and about half way through our meal, I am feeling rotten again - like really rotten! I had a stinking rotten headache. I had ordered penne arabiatta and no it wasn't the Candi Dasa memory that was making me feel like this - I think it was a combination of ear infection, headache, painkillers etc etc. I had a stinking rotten headache - which was turning into a migraine at a rapid pace. I felt really bad. I bolted to the loo hand over mouth and relieved myself of the food I had just eaten before heading back to the table. I didn't need to tell Wayan and hubby anything - they stopped eating, bundled me in the car, paid the bill and drove me back to the hotel - me passed out in the back seat. I became conscious just as we were nearing the lobby of the Patra and they practically carried me to the room and into bed. I took a Tramal hoping it would not come back up and passed out again.
When I woke the next day, which was our last, hubby was bleary eyed - he had kept vigil over me for most of the night - Wayan had stayed with him till the early hours of the morning. Wayan had wanted me to go to BIMC apparently but hubby knew all the signs and symptoms of my migraines and knew that I just had to ride it out. I gently moved my head and although I still had the dull throb of a headache, it was far far removed from the one I had last night. We headed for breakfast and for me another painkiller. I have to say though the drops were working and it was only on this our very last day that I could feel and see that the swelling of my ear had subsided somewhat!
We needed more bubble wrap as we had decided to double wrap all the cats together to stop them moving about in the big bag. We headed of to the hardware store and duly purchased the last of the bubble wrap. On the way back I decided I wanted to stop into Diane's shop - the fixed price one opposite Green Garden - which we did. Well I ended up with a beautiful pink sparkly dress and two bintang singlets for females! Hubby was impressed also and purchased an English soccer shirt and a pair of camouflage shorts (which I hate!!). We were soaked by the end of it though - it was SOOOO hot trying dresses and the like on - it was stinking hot! As a side - Diane is a lovely lady - she only operates as a fixed price shop and it is certainly refreshing to go and purchase some clothes there when bartering becomes a little bit too much for you!
We headed back to the Patra, it was our last day and we were meeting Wayan in the lobby at 2pm and doing a late lunch at Kori's. Wayan loves Kori restaurant - we have taken him here before. We were soaked by now so we showered quickly and headed off to Kori's. I love this place. We were sitting overlooking the pond, there was basically only one other couple around and we had a nice relaxed late lunch. I had soup (of course!!!) and hubby had Balinese fish in spices and Wayan had Nasi Goreng. No probs. After lunch we sadly made our last trek down Poppies 2 towards JL Legian where the car was. We silently bid our farewells...until next time.
Back at the Patra and we changed for a much needed swim. It was raining but very lightly. I kept my head out of water (as I had been doing for the past 4-5 days) and we whiled away the time until it was dusk. We wandered over to the beach front and watched the sun ebb away into a sea of redness and headed back to our room. Wayan was getting a bit down in lip as were we. We decided that as we were on a late flight (flight was supposed to leave at 1.40am but was in fact leaving at 12.10...or so we thought) that it was too late for Wayan to take us to the airport. We had some weighing scales in our room - they have that at the Patra - probably not the best thing because you can become seriously upset if you dare step on these scales and see what the holiday has done to you!! I dared hubby to weigh himself - which he did - he was gobsmacked - he had put on 3 kgs!! Wayan and I were pi*sing ourselves laughing - that was until I got on there and - what??? I had put on 2 kgs! Can't be serious - I had been SO good this holiday - eaten lightly and the right things, not drank to excess (except for the first night!) - exercised the whole time we were there - how could that happen??? Hubby and Wayan had even said I had toned up - my arms were firmer, my bum was firmer etc etc - maybe it was muscle?? Anyway we were devo'd! We cracked open a bintang each and pondered over our fantastic holiday whilst finishing our drinks. It was goodbye time. I hate goodbyes - everyone does - it is truly horrible saying goodbye to someone you love. So with tears pouring down my cheek, tears in hubby and Wayan's eyes we said our final farewell to him...until next time! It was a subdued hubby and I that considered our final couple of hours. We showered, bubble-wrapped again, and packed our cases. We had already decided to share a pizza before we left for the airport - which is what we did. We were both heavy of heart when we left the Patra - we didn't want to go home, we wanted to stay!
They wouldn't transfer us from the Patra to the airport - which is like walking distance if you could cut across the boundary fences! - no we had to pay 25,000rp for the privilege! We didn't bother arguing nor pointing out that we got a free transfer last year, didn't have the fight left in us. We arrive at the airport, and go about our check-in process. I am carrying the big tall cat wrapped in bubble wrap under my arms - we had decided that we were going to smuggle it on as hand luggage and pray it would fit in an overhead locker!! We had already been assigned our seats for our trip home when we extended our stay and we were back in seats 6A & 6B - but this time I was to have the window seat!!
There is a problem! The lovely check-in guy is telling us we are 17kgs overweight in luggage?? What?? Now I thought your baggage allowance was 30kgs each - wrong its 20kgs each - and we were 57kgs! He told us to take some out and carry on as hand in a bag...what bag?? We were packed to the gills - we didn't have a spare bag and we couldn't offload anything else for hand luggage as I was carrying our backpack laden with DVD's and the big cat in bubble wrap! He told us we have to pay...how much I am asking - I am getting p*ssed off now - he speaks to his supervisor and comes back and says $7US. That's not so bad I think...before my brain kicks in! '$7US all up' I venture - knowing too well this is too good to be true...'No, per kilo' he replies. Well that's it a quick calculation and well it's just an enormous amount of money to pay for wooden cats that basically cost us $25 Australian! Hubby is telling me to offload the cats, get rid of them - ring Wayan and give them to him - but I am NOT relinquishing my treasure! No Way!! I call the supervisor over and explain to him that I am not paying that enormous amount of money for being overweight and that I don't have the money anyway. 'How much do you have?' he asks me - you have to love these people! I declare I have 400,000rp which is the equivalent of $50 Australian - this is true that is exactly what we had! He scribbles on the tag, changes our kg overweight amount and sends hubby off to pay for it across the way! Amazing isn't it!
That done we finish our check-in process and before we leave we are told the flight may be a little late departing but boarding time is at 11.50pm. No probs! WRONG! To wrap it all up, the plane was delayed until 4am - as were a Sydney plane and a Seoul plane. The problem was the floods in Jakarta - apparently our pilots were coming from there - now I am not sure if it was the planes and the pilots that were coming from there but that was the story. The initial delay was announced at being 2 hours, but it ended up being announced that it would be a further 2 hours and so 4am was our departure time. Have you ever been around at that time of the morning? All the shops/duty free etc close at around 1.30/2am. We were given meal vouchers as soon as they announced the delay but because we had had pizza we were not hungry.
There was the token larrikin and his mates entertaining all around with their quest for bintang and their blatant disrespect of the Indonesian airport staff who were trying to make the best out of a bad situation and who were subjected to much joking and ridicule by this loud mouth and his mates. Sometimes it can be so embarrassing to be an Australian. We eventually head into the waiting area for boarding and we do board and leave at 4am. We both didn't sleep - we were overtired by then. We are unlucky enough to land at the same time as 3 other international flights and so it took us an hour and a half to get through customs and a further half hour to wait for a taxi in the queue! We did however note that the young loudmouth and his mates had been pulled aside into the customs area and were all being subjected to a 'Border Security' kind of search - basically through everything. Not sure what happened to them, but we were there for an hour and a half and they hadn't left when we left - they were reading some forms! Makes you wonder if the airport staff from the other end made a quick phone call to our lovely guys and told them to watch out for this group! You never know! So my advice there would be - always act respectful and be polite in any airport of the world!
We finally make it home at 11am - its been a LONG LONG night. We clock our home surrounds which we had left in the care of my 18 year old and 17 year old nephew (under the supervision of their mum!), both look at each other and both admit that we don't want to be back and head to bed for a few hours shut eye. We are home, we may not be happy about it, but we are home.
Until next time... happyhols over and out!