Day 4
Arranged for transport last night 50,000 to get us to Bumi Sehat birthing clinic (and wait for a while) and then onto Monkey Forest. Called into birthing clinic with donations of clothes etc. They were very happy to receive them especially the bunny rugs. They love to wrap the babies in the bunny rugs from ozzie as they are nice and soft especially the old flannelette ones. The ones they get over here are not very soft even after washing. We went and visited some of the new borne babies, the girls were very excited to see their tiny faces. Sis-in-law brought over lots of little teddy bears and we were told they would be used as smile medicine (which I thought was so cute).
Monkey forest time, daughter not happy. She is very scared of monkeys. As we approached monkey forest we saw a 20 something year old girl crying out the front of forest. You ok I enquired, she was scared of monkeys and could not go in. I told her she could come with us, daughter scared of monkeys too. She said her mum was already in there but she would not go in. My daughter got a few meters into forest and decided she wanted out. So told other to go onto big tree and I'd be back. Took daughter to close by restaurant and ordered watermelon juice and French fries, and left her with netbook to play on (she will be 17 before we leave Bali).
Caught back up with others and we went for short walk around forest. Very large roof has been built with building work going on all around it, maybe they are putting in a restaurant? Niece trying to get good shot of baby monkey leaned right down, and monkey jumped on her back. Then another monkey jumped on. We helpfully removed glasses from her and took her camera. Then took photos of her, as we had learnt by watching other tourists this seems to be what you do when someone is scared stiff with a monkey on their back.
Monkeys happily tugged at her ribbon in her hair and tried to pull bobby pins out of her hair. When this did not work they grabbed her silver earring and ripped it out. They then lost interest and jumped down
We tried to bribe monkey with a banana skin but he was not fooled and continued to look at us and swirl earring around in his mouth. Finally he got sick of us and ran into the trees and away, earring never to be seen again. Luckily it wasn't a family heirloom and well worth the loss of, for story value in years to come.
Left others in monkey park and went to see how daughter was doing. Ordered a drink while we wait for others, black Russian no cola. Drink arrived clear as anything. I told man its suppose to be brown colour wheres the Kahlua? He says, we ranout of Kalhua so just make it with ...(something that even after I got him to repeat it a couple of times it have no idea what it is). Sorry cant drink I say and just pay for daughters chips and drink.
Others there by now so we went to few silver shops, I got silver colour toe ring with 3 crosses on it 35,000 give this price as it is money festival today shopkeeper says. I pay this much without silver stamp as I like and pay no more as not sure if silver.
Daughter bought dragon harmony ball for 200,000, not seen one like it before. Bead shop has another special on so buy a few bracelets at 10,000 & 15,000 and some pottery, pretty sure I will be ok with my suitcase weight later.
With daughter keeping a close eye on the monkeys we go to dress shop near monkey forest and I get a great tie dyed tie, string straps, elastic back, flare a little at waist and great for the not so slim of us for 75,000. Another couple of colours in it I like but a tad dear, so will keep looking for others for sale, if not will be back in a few weeks with sister who is very good at bargaining, sure she will help get a good price.
We walk up along monkey forest and look at shops, stopping at Champlung Saris restaurant. On examining menu are most distressed to find no alcohol on it. Get transport to Wayans and have spectacular lunch there. What a great chef they have. I usually try to get a different dish than what ive tried before at the restaurants but could not leave Ubud without having their mixed satay again, yum yum.
Kids got stuff at billabong. Im not interested in surfie stuff so say I'll meet them at first wifi café we had just pasted. These wifi spots are great for the cost of a drink which I force myself to have alcoholic - got to keep the economy flowing and support alcohol coming into the country or it might become a totally dry place and whod want that in Bali?
Got caprioska looked a bit sus, but I was thirsty and drank - ok. Others join me later and all have drinks. They all ok later. Me now have traveller trots and have decided to blame it on that drink.
Gor transport to other side of soccer field trying to find fixed price shop we liked on first visit here (couldn't remember its name). Daughter said its right I said left. Street one way so stopped. Walked and walked and finally found it. Arent young minds great, she was right of course. Hey at least I remembered what the shop looked like. Turned out not as great as we thought and ended up buying just a few postcards as others had been looking for postcards with Ubud name on them and finally found here, so worth it anyway.
Getting late - where does the time go, looked in few shops - shouldn't shop after a few drinks - I have bought my maltese cross dog a large bee outfit, complete with stinger tail and antennas. Now isn't that appropriate to wear on the farm? Though it might stop the wedge tailed eagles from trying to have a go at him.
Shopped a little more, dark now, daughter needs to find a toilet. Past one restaurant that looked too sus. Next little one ok looking, she desperate by now and no other places in sight.
We order soft drinks in cans no ice (first time this trip felt we shouldn't). Daughter follows waitress to toilet. Not a good day for daughter and toilets. This one she reckons was ages away down dark lane, next she was led into a house and shown a traditional squat toilet. Only second time she has used one, she has managed to avoid them after trying them out (me too). Earlier today at Wayans she had walked into toilet only to lookup and see a man using the toilet with the door open. Next place we stopped at for drink, same thing only different man with door open using toilet. Both men white Europeans using unisex toilets. Shouldn't they know better? She is getting a little disturbing lesson this holiday, not the least of which is to lookup before you enter a toilet!
Was going to try to eat at cafe de artisoles before we leave Ubud but it looks packed again. Ask others if we should try to book for later but consensus is too tired to eat so skip again and may try next time. Think it must be so busy there as they advertise their menu on the internet and are also on the tourist maps.
Just seen the biggest gecko ever, would have been over 30cm didn't think they grew that long. Was slowly crawling down my wall outside. Stalking something near the light. Me was a little scared as not sure if is gecko, too big, what if he decides to suddenly run down wall onto verandah and up my leg? Then he ran down wall. My heart skipped but before I could react something scared it and it ran back up the wall and out of sight. Now my question is what would scare a lizard that big? I think something I to should be scared of! Held my feet off the ground and frantically looked around for, for, I don't know what for, maybe snake or crocodile? I was scared. Cant see anything but may go inside soon I think.
Other wildlife
- daughter had cute smooth tiny green caterpillar on her glass at breakfast she took photos of it and when she decided to drink she moved it onto flower in vase. Then let out a little squeal as she had put it in a cobweb by mistake & I had to rescue it.
- Saw a beautiful dragonfly with a bright red body, if you had seen it in a painting you would think it doesn't look real.
- We got dive bombed by something in the pool, it kept flying past very low over our heads but too fast for us to make out what it was, maybe a big dragonfly or a little bat?
- Felt something biting me in bathroom tonight and caught a flea on my leg.
- Have to remember to always check for big ants around toilet seat as nearly sat on one earlier.
- Found a little poo just inside room. Not mouse poo as we had that elsewhere on the first night (none since) not bird poo but same colour. Aren't conversations about poo interesting.
- Felt I was being bitten, getting v itchy on seats with cushions on them on verandah, and thought of what id read on BTF about bugs in banana lounges at Waterbomb Park, so bought mortein and sprayed cushions and from then on sat on pool towel on them, no problem then.
Leaving Samhita Gardens Ubud tomorrow some points about it
- Room downstairs had strong smell of dampness, no mildew or anything and sis-in-law cant smell so didn't worry her, asked niece if they would like to be moved but she said she could only just smell it and soon got use to it. There was a light thingy plugged into the wall and switched on the whole time we were here which I think was to help the problem. I would not stay in this room, smell too strong for me I often had to wait outside while they got ready.
- Downstairs room had no water pressure for shower, had to unhook from wall to wash soap off body and hose as only way any spray would come out. Hotel said would try to fix, but never worked whilst we were .
- Not much garden coverage outside veranda and people could see in as they walked past.
- Don't leave out your hotel stamped matchbox on your verandah as they are pinched and hotel wont give you another packet when you leave.
- Room upstairs, as roof is made of some sort of grass/ratten noise flows in easily and outside wildlife noises can be disturbing (particularly as I had read on forum of bugs dropping on bed from above so much so that people moved out of their room, no bugs dropped on us). A couple of nights music from somewhere quite loud until late hours. Didn't worry us though and nice to sleep to (beautiful music - jazz/blues I think). Early morning could here people maybe races with happy shouts, might have been from school next door. In all not bad noises just happy Bali noises, but other guests may not like this. Could only hear these noises outside in downstairs room.
- we found beds v comfy, extra pillows each, beds beautifully turned down each evening with frangipanis' on them (though they tried to do one night at 9.15pm, me in bath and daughter trying to sleep in bed so she just ignored them). Changed towels twice a day.
- Water pressure in shower upstairs terrific.
- 2 bottles free water each day.
- No tea and coffee making facilities but didn't worry me as I don't use them.
- Gardens and pool beautiful.
Consensus from us all; we loved it and would definitely stay there again.
Tomorrow to mara river lodge....