Day 7
Josh woke up OK saying his tummy was sitting at a low No.1. We kept our booking for Bali Buggies & Rafting. Yes the tours are expensive. It worked out at just over Aus $100 each (cheapest rate was by booking direct). But we had to remember that is for all transfers, two activities, food and a full days entertainment. We weren't going to be spending big every day.
The transfer wasn't until 9.45am and we meandered into the hills for 1 ½ hours to somewhere north of Ubud to start the buggies. My wife opted for a buggy and I stuck with a quad bike. Each of us carried a child as a pillion and they swapped over half way. We had a top time and the kids loved it. It's not a fanging about affair but I managed to spin the wheels a few times. My only suggestion to the company was that they provide a simple foam pad for pillions on the quads. Both kids were propped up on towels and complained of sore bums from my rough riding. I'm quietly confident they will take this suggestion board. The buggy bit lasted for 1 - 1.5 hours and we drove along bush tracks and through little villages. On forum advice we took lollypops and bubble bottles to hand out to the local kids on the way. I must say they were happy little campers just to be given anything.
Now if I had booked only the buggy tour I would have been disappointed in a 3 hour+ return transfer. A couple on the tour expected a full day on the buggies and they were not impressed. For a few extra bucks we stayed in the area and moved on to the Ayung River for rafting after lunch. We have both rafted the Ayung before which is a timid river in the dry. Our kids are confident swimmers and both do nippers. I felt comfortable in our decision and we would welch out if it was a torrent. The rafting is contracted out to the Sobek Company.
At Sobek we were decked out in our rafting gear and walked the 509 steps down to the river. We were allocated our own raft and a guide call Koko. Everyone else set off and we waited for a new raft that wasn't leaking air. Koko was a seasoned guide and extremely good with the kids. After a short briefing we were up and running. Our 5 year old Ella was under the misconception that we would be swanning down a flat piece of water. When we came to the first mini rapid she screamed in terror. Terror soon turned to yippees as both kids clung to an improvised handle on the anchored dry bag as Mum, Dad and Koko did all the work. The scenery was out of this world and the jungle was as far removed from Tassie as you can get. Koko maintained a great commentary as we passed such things as waterfalls, cliff sculptures, resorts and locals collecting fruit and bathing naked.
At the end of the rafting it was about 4.30pm. We declined the offer of more food and I carried Ella on my shoulders the entire 213 steps back up into Ubud. If my chiropractor knew he would freak.
We arrived back at SPPS around 6.00pm and decided to use a dinner voucher at the resorts Terrace Restaurant. We weren't expecting much from the set menu of a complimentary dinner but what a surprise. Entrées, mains and deserts were yummy & huge. Josh said he was feeling OK so he tenderly had a little fish & chips & ice-cream for dessert.
Day 8
Josh slept through the night although he still feels a little knotted in his tummy. Today we are off to SD3 School in Sobangan to meet up again with 11 year old Ade who we sponsor (through Rotary) for his education. Our driver for the day is the forum famous Scooby Doo who we engaged last year. Scooby is a nice guy and the kids naturally warm to him.
Last year we visited Ades school and home. I noticed then that he had a rusty clapped out old bike. This time we stopped at a bicycle store in Denpasar on the way and bought a push bike for him. Undoubtedly at an inflated tourist price but Scooby explained to the manager that it was for a local kid and we didn't pay more than we would at Big W for a basic mountain bike. We loaded the bike into Scooby's van and headed off into the hills.
Saturday is a half school day and all Bali students were having a religious ceremony called Sari Suurati which apparently celebrates education and their upcoming break. Our kids thought it cool that you're not allowed to read or write on that day.
We arrived at the school and all the kids were in their traditional garb and amidst the ceremony. Ade has grown in the last year and wasn't as timid as last time. We exchanged pleasantries and gave him some Aussie Socceroos clothing. After getting the OK from the school we took him out to the van and gave him his new bike as his birthday present. His eyes bulged and a mass of envious mates gathered about. Ade was over the moon and actually cried a little in appreciation. We also took some Australian Geographic laminated World and Australia poster maps for the school.
We hung at the school for an hour or two kicking a soccer ball about, making the kids laugh and sharing a hot lunch with the teachers and a few students. Now this was real traditional food. I didn't know that a spicy chicken dish could be so full of flavour. No bloody tourist, no not me. Ella again was a hit with the girls being small and blonde they all wanted to play with her.
We bid our farewells to Ade who now tells us he wants to be a science teacher. Good on him what ever he does in life.
Scooby took us back to Sanur & after a little shopping we treated him to pancakes at Donalds on the Beach. Josh assured us he was OK so he tucked into an apple and cinnamon pancake delight which he insists was the best he had ever had.
Back to SPPS for an afternoon frolic in the pools and out to Massimo's for another Italian extravaganza. Surprise, surprise, I dined on a creamy seafood pasta dish. I am delighted to inform those connoisseurs of crustacean pasta delights that this one is firmly lodged at No.3 on my all time scale. A true gastronomic pleasure!!
Josh still insisted he was OK and was as hungry as a malnourished horse so he pigged out on garlic bread, spaghetti and we all had gelato for deserts. God I really hope was OK. I dreaded the thought that we didn't just feed the beast lurking inside his guts ............... ?