So, we spent quite a bit of time the next morning (approximately 5 minutes), taking care of the rampaging beasts in the Baleka grounds for when the girls arrive. What does a pair of likely lads do for a fortnight in Bali with their ladies happily working away in the colds of NZ? Nothing I can put in a family travel forum. Wait actually I can. We read books, we had nana naps, we ate, we drank, and we soaked up just being in Bali.
The first night we went to Sammy and Susie's and they were all ago with the impending wedding of their daughter. It was excellent to catch up with other forumites and Binny in hand, watch the sun set over Kuta beach. Whilst at S&S I couldn't but help notice the roaring trade they were doing compared to say Abdul next door and being a Libran (star sign, not book hound) I felt an imbalance. A lady came down to Sammy, and said that their friends were arriving the next day and that she would be bringing 17 of them down. With regulars thrown in, that was a good sized crowd.
Several nights of observing the popularity of the place (in part thanks to the forum) I felt a bit stink that Abdul sits right next door whilst comparably Sammy does very well. Please don't get me wrong about this, as I like Sammy and really love the fact that one can catch up with other forumites. I made a decision that I would have a beer at Abduls.
Now I didn't know Abdul from a bar of soap, he could be a rotter for all I know, but the next afternoon, S&S were not there, (only their son in law) and so I wandered over to Abduls bar and feeling traitorous somehow, brought a beer there. He was attentive and friendly. I was just lonely, watching all you buggers that were at S&S chatting and enjoying yourselves. But wait there's more.
Unbeknown to me, Susie arrived. Crikey if Bali used to be in harmony I am sorry folk but I kind of ballsed it up a little bit by being next door. I was watching some surfers falling off their boards like I do, when the sun blotted out, thinking it was an eclipse, or that I had drunk some bad arak, I rubbed my eyes and opened them to find Susie standing over me, glaring would be a good way to describe it. Not a word spoken, well to me actually, but Abdul was getting an earful I can tell you. I have been married a long time, and kind of recognise when a woman is not happy (generally way too late) however she was not a happy camper folks. Susie would have stayed standing there for at least 10 minutes venting.
Making the excuse of wanting a swim (actually needed to go number ones in the sea, come on don't be shocked, how do you think the water got salty in the first place) I scuttled out of there. After standing in the sea for several hours I wandered back up, skulled my (by now, hot beer), paid and ran back to our room where I spent the next two days hiding under the bed until the cleaners found me and announced that Robbie and I were being shifted again. Oh the joys of budget holidays. Maybe I had found the real Bali?
Regards Ianz