Returned at the end of July from my fourth trip to Bali- (that one with my 24yo son and his fiancee) and within a week had rebooked another for myself.First overseas trip alone but felt ok going to a place and accomodation I knew. I would have gone back years ago if I'd realized how easy and fun it could be alone.
Flew Adelaide/Perth/Denpasar and approx 12 hours after leaving home I was at the Bumi Ayu Bungalows in Sanur - arrived about 1am and felt immediately at home and received a warm welcome back.
Hard to sleep as my first task in Bali was to find a young teenage girl my kids had given some small gifts to just prior to flying out - the shampoo,snacks etc left over,and then been so overwhelmed by her reaction that they walked round to find her home and leave some rupiah, this time leaving to the sounds of the family crying for joy.(the rupiah equalled about $23).
Up at 6am I followed the rough map the kids had drawn and found the home easily but decided it was a bit early for visitors.Back to the Bumi for delicious breakfast and swim and drop off of clothes to a nearby warrung woman doing it tough.
Quick chat to the tailor, Mina at Goning tailor about clothes to be made and she worked out amount of fabric required.
Back to meet the teenager and discovered she was already at school, passed on my kids wishes to help with her schooling if needed and received an overwhelming response. I discovered later that she was going to leave school in a couple of months as money was not available to continue and also that rice was low.Made a time to return and rushed to the internet cafe to let my kids know she was found - great excitement from them.
Morning tea at one of my favourite restaurants in Sanur - Mona Lisa - Prawn/Avocado and a mango juice.Gave the lovely staff copies of pics I'd taken in July and would highly recommend photos as a welcome and inexpensive gift.
Off to the street of fabrics in Denpasar -Sulawesi, so much choice and I probably should of left it for another day but managed to make some decisions.
Then to a bookshop called Grameadia (not sure of spelling) where I purchased a number of resources for a little school at the Kuta dump. I forgot to mention that in July I found this school and sponsored a child. On my return to Adelaide the school I teach at (Port Noarlunga) did a large number of fundraising acitities and raised $1,550 for resources for the dump school.
Then to Carrefour for more resources and lunch and then to Macro for foods for the families living in the area of the teenager.
Quick swim.
Back to Dewi's home with the foods and clothes from my kids.
My Indonesian is fairly basic but one of the neighbours speaks great English and so we began our friendship.
Dewi had a note that she would like to continue high school but her parents couldn't afford it, also on the list were rice, schoolbag and pens, pencils and an eraser.I am still humbled to think of a teenagers wish list with those things on it. Made a quick phone call so my kids could speak to Dewi which was quite emotional for us all.
And the day continued with a fabulous dinner of Mahi Mahi in Tamarind sauce at Griya Santrian and a bottle of Bintang that as a low consumer of alchohol nearly knocked me out
More photo dropping off to the great jewellery guys next to Mercy photos in Sanur and then a quick meeting with a guy regarding some printing for the dump school.
Back to the hotel.As I floated quietly, alone in the pool with small bats gliding around and the smell of the frangipannis I wondered what the second day would bring.
cheers,Jan