I rarely get a word in edgwise,so thought I'd get my JBR in first.Thought I'd give a husbands view,my wife beemay will have her say shortly.
told the wife I'm taking her to Bali.Huge grin and an undying vow to love me forever or until the next time I cross her.
Packed one suitcase with an empty in it for my shopping, oh, and hers.
arrived in Bali to find another half a dozen planes had also landed.
walked straight to the front VOA counter as beemay said the line was quicker there.it was pretty much bedlam with elbow to elbow people ,so not sure how she deduced this,but got to top of line quickly and paid for VOA, $25 each...wait there, only should be $10 we 're only staying a week, so beemay rushes and pushes in front of line and gets a refund.
beemay says we must now go to immigration, she doesn't ask anyone where we should be .I was skeptical as I couldn't see anyone else from our plane but she assured me that she read on the forum that you pay for voa and go to immigration.so with me following carrying 20kg bag and antoher 2 bags I do what she says.It's getting hotter and hotter and busier and an hour and a half later we reach the top of line,not too bad I thought after reading other pples JBR's. What? wrong line must go back to VOA,we only have a receipt for VOA not a VOA? we go back to the VOA lines behind the pay for VOA booth and there is another 2 hours wait.I look at wife,she looks at me.She looks very stressed apparently because quick as a flash an official comes over and offers to get us through quickly. $40 oz dollars each.we don't have that.somehow she negotiates the $30 us dollars we have and our passports and money disappear.What now? we're led to the front, through customs still minus our passports and money and a few minutes later we are through and our passports are returned. we find our driver.After all that we still have to wait for another couple to get through,but luckily it's only another 5 minutes.
Finally arrive at All Seasons, nice surprise,upgraded to ground floor deluxe room for beemays arthritis.
beemay wants to shop-faithful husband that I am-I follow.
People everywhere, buy this, come in,hello boss............padma st...decided to try my hand at bartering,
within 2 minutes I've lost my sunnies and my hat.......and now have new sunnies and a new hat,and down a few rupiah.
beemay walks away to shop.I start bartering.I start at 5k,beemay comes back says that's too low.Beemay, the wife, told to get lost(with a smile). wife says looks like a good watch ,it's worth 45k he's asking. Paid 45k watch stopped 1 minute later.battery replaced for free.watch goes for now.
Husband hot and sticky,wife returns with 5 bags.husband complains .wife says you still have a spare hand,don't complain.
husband wants to go for a bintang....20 bags later we go back to hotel.
wife says hungry lets eat! but doesn't know where.Decide on Goodeys.too hot to walk,so get a cab.Seems to go around the world to go up the road and round the corner.12k later we're there. Goodies, drinks fast, food toook ages but worth the wait....guy pulls up on a bike with "pizza hut " on his shirt...not not really LOL It's really nice pizza but hard too eat, if not careful , filling will fall off on your lap.Starving from waiting,ate pizza too fast,too full too quick so got doggy bag.1pizza, ceasar salad,bruchetta and a drink each cost slightly more than two large meals at maccas.
decide to walk home.wife wants to be romantic and walk a along beach.Husband wants to get back to hotel for bintang . Husband wins and we walk a long road. Bad move...more shops..wife buys more. Funny little light up flying helicopter things are a must have apparently.
Brekky is included at all seasons and its a buffet.husband likes omellete station. wife has booked driver to take us sightseeing and some markets.husband scratches head...more shopping?
Wayan Ardiarsa arrives in his air con(thank goodness) van. Good so far. Wife smiles and grins.Hubby looks, not thinking,smiles back.Husbands day starts again. At markets husband loses wife...no worries...I can barter in peace I'm thinking. God NO she turns up. HOld these she says. What are you buying? what are you paying? 25k,thats not enough,they have children to feed...........Husband stares at wife...will she never go away?ok pay 45k and she THEN she dissapears.Husband sees tshirt. wife arrives,hands over another 2 bags. How much are you paying for that? 25k..not enough...husband says nick off...she does..thanks God.Husband smiles at shopkeeper and buys 4 shirst for 25k each. shop keeper smiles ,says me happy you happy,all for good luck and wipes my money on all the other t shirts.I'm carrying 5 bags,looking at facemasks now and wife arrives with another 2 bags,her hands are sore? wife says ..husband how much you paying? 75k, wife says, good price. she leaves and I offer shoppy 50k. she says you just told your wife 75k..I say shes not my wife. I buy mask for 50k.wandered around a bit. see guy follwoing me.wife sees me ,hands over 2 bags,smiles and asks me what "have you done now? why? i ask,well there's a guy following you. I move 8 bags to the other arm. and complain. wife says look at those women over there,they've got more than that on heir heads. Husband sighs........ I think I am in inch shorter from the weight.
the guy following me wants to sell sunnies. husband says no, I have some, see? wife says just buy one he'll go away. i buy one for 25k. He doesn't go away. he keeps following me offering me a better price.I buy another pair for 20 k and the guy is calling me cheap. I say he should be happy I bought some.He says he doesn't like me ,he likes my wife. we finally meet the driver. wife walks beside him.I crawl along behind carrying 25 bags and wife sings out "hurry up we hae to go".
Wayan asks if we;re hungry.we are. he takes up to Pucing restaurant,high in the mountans overlooking the rice fields and terraces. Beautiful spot. Reasonably priced buffet meal.we both enjoyed the meal. Husband looks at wife and things"only time she's quiet is when she's eating" She is always talking unless shes eating. She met a Swedish lady in the toilets whose son just came back from Australia..............she was gone half an hour.Hubby goes to the loo...only person he meets is the guy hand ing out hand towels.
On to Tanah Lot. Husband shakes head and groans.in 2 minutes the wife has disappeared again.Husband happy. Husband buys more shirts,while bartering, wife toddles on over with 5 bags and hands them over while chatting away. asks hubby,what are you buying? t shirts? wife says how many t shirts do u want? husband says nothing just looks .how much are you paying ? 10keach. wife says what? husband tells wife to go to silk sarong shop around corner to the left. when she leaves he laughs. shoppy asks whats funny? No silk shop there I say.He grins knowingly.Husband buys 4 more shirts.Make u happy,make me happy she says.shop lady giglging,I scratch my head.Lady points,I turn around, wife's arriving with 4ft bamboo pole.whats that for husband asks? make it easier to carry the bags.Hubby says i can't sratch my arse, wife says well now you have a free hand.
walking down the the temple with pole and 10 bags wife is saying hurry up. we get to the first lot of stairs.husband is buggered and cant go any further.wife takes off with the camera. stops at beach side stairs and takes pics and returns.husband ask wife why she didnt go down to beach,wife cant get shoes dirty.Driver returns to get us out of the dreadful heat.
It really is hot and sticky there,toilets are squatter and dipper but the shopping is much cheaper and easier to bargain.much less pushy here.view of temple is great.
Driver says hes taking us to more shops...husband groans .he is taking us to unagi.husband has heard of unagi from forum.not keen 3 floors of shopping. wife says lets go.we go. arrive ungai..wife has tears of joy.husband takes one look at all that shopping and says OMG. wife dissapears. returns with 20 bags.wife says your turn. my turn for what? to pay,Im broke. OH.... husband pays.looks in wallet ..now empty.Great now we have to go!Husband carries 20 bags and his sore back over to the car.Husband thinks about a massage, wife discourages husband ,bali girls are too pretty?
husband unpacks all 20 bags. husband sleeps, too tired for anything else.
hotel breakfast great, ,great,new selection of food.
Husband finally gets a word in,chatting with all seasons staff,wife comes along and says ,lets go shopping!Husband says I'm sick...belly ache ,you go. she holds out her hand ..husband looks..money she says...husband hands over 100k ,wife grabs wallet and takes 1mill.Husband grabs a bintang and bags a pool lounge,grinning from ear to ear.
to be continued..............