Days 4,5 &6
Sat 19/9
The best time to sleep at the Barong seemed to be between 5am and 8am due to the loud ,pissed groups that couldn't come back from the clubs yelling and screaming at each other. Yahooing from 1am till 4 or 5 am. I don't mind people coming and going ,talking a little loud after a pissy night as most of us do but I draw the line at screaming blue murder at the top of their voices ( usually the girls fighting and crying!) inconsiderate so and so's!
Around 7am ,In my peaceful slumber I stir as hubby gets up to go to the loo. I hear a very distant rumbling, almost like a roll of thunder. Then a slow shuffle left to right that got my attention and as I sat up my bed was moving and the walls looked like they were swaying! It took a second to sink in! SH*T, I jumped up and yelled to my hubby as came out of the loo toilet roll in hand , it's an earthquake!! Get out! I ran out to the next room banging on the door for my kids to get out and they were so terrified they wouldn't open up and wanted to stay put in the safety of their beds! Until they heard my voice escalate! We all huddled together around the pool like stunned mullets.
The tiles were falling off the roof (just a few) and things settled as quick as it started. I turned to my husband with relief until he adds 'what about a Tsunami'....That I didn't want to hear. I looked over to the staff and they seemed very concerned ,that made me feel uneasy too. I asked if she thought that was it, if no more was coming and she said she had to turn on the news to find out. I got on the phone and woke my friend in Perth up asking her to get on the net and keep us informed as we don't understand Indo and can't get any info that makes sense. Everyone was concerned for a couple of hours but amazingly we all slipped back into Bali mode pretty easily. Not a good way to start our holiday but these things happen. If it was a big one we wouldn't have had much chance of escape being in the heart of poppies lane surrounded by buildings. But we are of the opinion that you never know what is going to happen when, and since I don't have a crystal ball I will continue to travel and live life .
Today we moved to the front of the hotel area, hopefully quieter. To rooms 203,204. Our bed was much more comfy but I need to go purchase a pillow theirs were so flat and hard.
The Rugby was on so we went with our friends (kiwis) to watch NZ and Oz battle it out at the Bagus Pub. I'm not particularly fond of this place, George annoys me. After many Bintangs and NZ taking the glory we headed back for a swim and off to dinner at McDonalds to keep the kids happy.
Sun 20/9
We shopped lots today as it was cloudy and not too hot. Off to Mataharis for new pillows that cost us around $8 and I bought blue slips($1) so as not to confuse them with hotel pillows. Popped into the supermarket for cans of cool drink and a carton of Bintang, nibblies for the kids. We didn't take into consideration trying get a taxi back would be impossible due to the Idul Fitri holiday. The traffic was so bad the taxis refused to go on the meter asking ridiculous fares (160,000rp). So we started to walk,hubby with bintang carton on his shoulder,the kids with a shopping bag each including the five yr old. And me carrying a plastic bag with two six packs of cool drink and a giant bag with two pillows in it!! Try squeezing sideways through the crowds in poppies and not side swiping the motorbikes!!
We had dinner at Bubba Gumps which is always a treat, we ordered dinner and left the kids to colour their place mats or have a game of ping pong whilst hubby and I snuck over to the bar for a much needed tequila shot! Dinner was fabulous and kids indulged in desert while we went out the front for a quick ciggie. The I spotted the Hula Hoops, what a laugh we all had trying to swing our hips the way we could when we were kids. My hubby was doing a very energetic pelvic thrust and was the only one of the adults able to keep the hoop circulating. There was much applauding and giggling coming from the wait staff, they're always up for a good time there! We got the bill and it was 800,000 for the six of us including drinks. Gotta be happy with that.
On our way out my girlfriend wanted to do the sling shot!! Yes, I think she has a screw loose! But off she went and did it, I tried to get a photo when it takes off and all you can see is a speck in the sky. It cost $50 per person, she got off feeling exhilarated and then conned my son to have a go with her and off she went again. He was shaky when he got off but enjoyed it.Amazing how much of a crowd gathers when it is ready to go off.
Mon 21/9
I had tried to make an appointment at the Arc clinic before I left home but they didn't answer my emails. I had been there alst year and had some Botox and Restlyn done .So I hopped in a cab and headed down there hoping to get in soon. They were closed, apparently it was a public holiday and there was no notice on the window to when they'd be open again. I fella showed up and told me he had rung and made an appt on the Friday and was told to be there today at 10 am,so I don't know how that happened.
So I left disappointed and met up with my family at Centro to go to the Amusement parlour. $20 will give the kids about an hour of fun and some toys. We then decided since the weather wasn't the best we would do indoor stuff and headed for the bowling alley. That cost us $50 for the six of us playing two games, it was fun and the kids get the alley with the balloons to help them knock some pins down.
Again we couldn't get a taxi so we had to walk back to the Barong.
We tried Warung 96 in jalan Benesari for dinner and the food was good, service was fast and the price was good. We had a pizza,a burger,2 club sandwiches,1 sirloin steak,1 bintang,1water,1choc shake and 2 juices for a total of 212,000 for six people that works out to around $4.50 each! Only in Bali.
Unfortunately whilst at the Barong we had stuff stolen. Dont leave your thongs out the front of your room, I made sure the boys brought two pairs cos we had the same thing happen last year at another hotel. Unfortunately my sons ipod went missing so I asked to speak to the manager. I was led into his office and I explained the situation, without anger or being rude. I felt like I was in the principals office at school ,he sat there with a look of distaste which I took offence to. So I played hard ball and told him that I understand that valuables are to be kept in the safe,but it isn't convenient for your staff or me to be running back and forth to get our camera every time we want a photo or to get our ipod cos we can to listen to music! Therefore it is his responsibility to have staff that can be trusted. I stated that I will be making a police report so I can make a claim on my travel insurance. I was asked to hold off and wait till security does a check of our room and speaks to the cleaners. We waited an hour and security went through my kids room very thoroughly! My girls were embarrassed to see them go through their bags and pulling out their underwear. When he was satisfied it wasn't there he said to wait an hour so he could talk to staff.
He came back later and opened his hand asking if this is what an ipod was,my son verified it was his and he gave to me asking if there was now 'no problem' & no need to talk to police. I re assured him and asked were he found it. 'It had been bundled up in the linen by accident' I don't think so!!
We had been changing money at the hotel and getting 8100 or 8200 .I couldn't be bothered dealing with the money changers on the street. I was happy as long as it didn't go below 8.
Next chapter : organising tattoos and those jolly green frogs certainly make you feel jolly!