I've decided that the air-con at Pondok Ayu just isn't up to scratch. It's only cool at best and so noisy that I toss and turn all night.
It seems the couple in the next room to us had similar problems when the conversation comes up over breakfast. I ask Made to have a look, which she does, but it struggles for the remainder of our time there.
It was the only negative about our stay.
We decide today that we're going to go into Kuta and maybe hang around for sunset. I ring the kids, they're up for it and Matt reckons he'll come too. He seems to have periods when he's not too bad so we grab them while we can.
The plan was to go to Jalan Legian and the Bali Memorial to pay our respects. I actually was quite close to one of the victims of that dreadful day in October 2002, a young bloke called Josh Deegan who was the owner of the gym I was going to here in Adelaide and whom I would see nearly every morning.
The last time I was here in 2004 coincided with the 2nd anniversary of the bombing and they held a very moving service/tribute at the site in memory of that day.
The whole of Jalan Legian was completely closed off to traffic that evening and it was lined with candles on both sides for as far as the eye could see. Not a sight you would normally see on such a busy street in Kuta.
Today though is as hot as hell. We quickly pay our respects and take some photos and set off towards Matahari in Kuta Square. Not far up we peer into Paddy's Bar, the site of the first bomb. Bianca's not happy as they have every AFL team flag in the place except for her beloved Port Power. Outside they have photos displayed on a signboard advertising the fun to be had inside...drinking competitions, wet T-shirt comps etc.etc.
Can't say it's a part of Bali that I like.......and I wonder what this street on this island might have been like 50 years ago.
It's quite a hike to Kuta Square and when we get there we're just looking for somewhere, anywhere where we can eat in airconditioned comfort. Regrettably we settle for the KFC on the corner.
After, we walk into the magical cold that is Matahari and quickly decide we're going to hang out here for a while. Matt's starting to struggle. I find a little foot massage place on the 1st floor down the back of the store. They want Rp50,000 for an hour...tempting, but we haven't got that much time. I negotiate Rp30,000 for 30 minutes and us boys go in and take a seat while the girls shop.
And who do I bump into?...Chrissy from this forum and the one I sat next to on the plane over. "This is spooky" I say, and she agrees. We arrange to meet at Sami and Suzi's tomorrow night.
Matt was starting to deteriorate. We head back to Sanur and get ready for dinner. He's not going to join us tonight but insists that Bianca comes out.
We head out of the Respati, turn left and walk south for a few hundred metres until we stumble onto a jolly little place on the right called Triana, Restaurante Espanol.
This place looks nice and has pretty little waitresses dressed Spanish style, a 3-piece band and a nice bar area. I've read reviews that this was authentic Spanish cuisine, so we go in.
After placing our orders for drinks and then food we sit back and enjoy the singer.
My entree of Gazpacho (cold soup) was a little odd tasting and quite sour I thought, I had never had one before so I couldn't compare, but I finished it anyway.
My main was a seafood paella, their signature dish. I've had plenty of these before in my time and new exactly what to expect and at Rp 190,000 for two (and a wait of 30 minutes) I had high expectations.
Finally it came out and it looked great! I took my first mouthful......and it was awful, just awful. Maybe I just got a bad bit...I took another. This isn't right, I have to complain.
It didn't taste the slightest of seafood,there was no chorizo and it was if the chef had accidentally knocked a whole bag of salt in it. It was, in short, inedible.
I explained this to the waitress, and then the restaurant manager and then finally the owner himself came over, big fellow dressed all in black. I told him that I'd had many paellas before but couldn't eat this one. He smugly asked "but have you ever had one in Spain?".
He offered to replace it with anything else but by this time everyone else had finished their mains. We re-ordered our mains but the gloss had definitely rubbed off the evening. He came back shortly and said that he had tasted it but couldn't see a problem with it.
To be fair, he fixed the problem so I have no real complaint but doubt that I would go back.
TRIANA
lg bintang, 2 aqua,gazpacho, garlic prawn main (Mary says very nice), pork ribs (not the best) creme catalana and cheesecake...Rp 291,000 inc tax and service. Definitely not the besr Sanur has to offer.