Day 4
Well Josh woke up saying he is only between 1 & 2 on Dads abdominal pain scale so we think that what ever it is has eased off and is going away. So off we trundle to the Bali Safari & Marine Park which is about 25minutes north of Sanur.
Now this is a great place. Don't be fooled by the 'Marine' tag as there are no fishy type displays apart from one little fish tank. I think it refers to the fantastic water park attached. That has waterslides and a very nice infinity pool. I would suggest it is a must for anyone to spend their last 1-2 hours.
We arranged for our friendly cabbie Nyoman to drop us off and pick us up. However apparently a free shuttle bus runs daily between the Inna Grand Bali Beach Sanur & the park.
We couldn't predict it but one of the more affluent Denpasar schools was having a field trip so we calmly distanced ourselves from their excited hordes. So did quite a few others.
The park has numerous displays and a safari ride in a four wheel aircon bus through an open plain area. This is quite up close & personal with all types of beasts such as lions, tigers, hippos, wilder beast, elephants, bison & bears etc etc. The local lass running the commentary had quite a sense of humour & suggested some of the handlers seen inside were tigers in their own right.... Grrrrrrr.
We all had our photos taken with an orangutan a tiger cub and two Bengal tiger cubs. This is certainly a unique opportunity and something you can't do at home. We did it because we were there & the chance only happens once. I'm undecided on the whole they are drugged up debate. The keeper of the tigers said they are like domestic cats at that age and they are most active at night. They are hand fed, content & separated from older aggressive cats. They appeared groggy but he reckoned it was because they just wanted to sleep. I suppose only they know for sure. There is nothing surer that in the wild you would be missing a hand or a few digits from the tigers. Perhaps you would be covered in poop from the orangutan.
Our daughter Ella (who is the more adventurous) fed the bathing elephants some carrots and we did the safari bus. Then we wandered about before having lunch and then hung out at the pool. The kids had a go on some free rides which are basically a carousel a mini gee whizzer and a baby car thingy. They are building extensions to the park which look like bigger waterslides, a water ride and a buggy track. I would certainly recommend the park as a good day trip.
That night we dined at the Cat & Fiddle Pub in Sanur. I had the Guinness Pie & my wife enjoyed a Chicken Pie (must remember don't act like tourists this must is local cuisine). A Balinese Irish band belted out tunes including a memorable, 'Once a Jolly Swagman' which was missing a few lyrics here and there.
Day 5
6.30 am and young Josh is up moaning that he has severe stomach cramps. After we (except Josh) had breakfast the cramps didn't fade so we arranged for Nyoman to run us down to Bali International Medical Clinic (B.I.M.C) on By Pass Ngurah Rai Road.
We were greeted at the clinic by an Aussie lady who I presume was a nurse with a comforting 'how you going guys'. This appears to be a very clean & first class establishment. Josh was straight into a doctor who prescribed him medication to ease the abdominal pains (no it wasn't appendicitis). They left us a stool sample kit and deducted my Visa a whole $83.50. I smuggly amused my wife that they used exactly the same pain scale that I had been using. I assume that her look in retort was also amusement???
Since we were in the area Nyoman (at my wifes request) took us to the Jenggala Pottery factory outlet at the Kuta end of Sunset Road AKA By Pass Ngurah Rai Road . I don't have the address but the shop has a simple banner which read 'Homewares'. Now I have never been into pottery but there was some really nice stuff which was reasonably priced. If we lived in Bali we definitely would have decked ourselves out in an entire pottery range. We purchased a table setting, two dishes, a plate and various dipping bowls mostly with a frog and gecko design. I have since informed my wife's family of her new found penchant and ribbed her about buying her a birthday pottery wheel and trying to re-enact a 'Ghost' moment. Why oh why does she want me to go back to work???
Next we visited the Ripcurl and Billabong factory outlets on the By Pass Ngurah Rai Road. My wife did most of the shopping whist we waited outside. She was most impressed with the Billabong joint (she had read reports with people saying there usually wasn't much there for kids. But this must have changed at there was a huge choice of kids clothing ranging in sizes from size 2 up to 12 or 14). I even got to down a cold binnie at a small drinks stand whilst waiting outside.
Back to SPPS for an arvo around the pools prompting Josh to give a stool sample. He wouldn't provide it upon demand and suggested we wait patiently until his morning motion.
Off to Jepun (Pronounced Jepoon) for a lovely dinner. I had the Nasi Goreng and the wife dined on an Indonesian Chicken curry in coconut sauce which she raved about.
Day 6
Josh woke up and dutifully provided us a stool sample which Mum collected like a seasoned wicket keeper with her plastic gloves. Ahh Mums don't you just love em!
I dropped the 'package' off to B.I.M.C for pathology analysis. Now this is strangely where Bali efficiency comes out of its box. Only 70 000RP for a pathology analysis and a result back within 4 hours. Weird hey!
We spent a lazy day hanging at the resort. The sample result came back as no parasite or bacteria so we were all left scratching our heads as to why he was in abdominal discomfort. Now those in the medical fraternity might know but I suspect we should have collected a mid sample not an initial bit like we did. (is this all a bit too much information?, ...... I think so!)
Anyways, LaTaverna for an Italian tea by the sea. Josh says his tummy is running only at a very mild 1 out of 10. My wife had a green chicken curry and I dined on creamy seafood pasta. Again I was very impressed with the pasta and it remains the same from last year at a solid No.4 on my Italian Seafood Creamy Pasta scale.