Hi all next installment hope you enjoy
Ok now my 3 bali virgins kind of get the idea of shopping now. Yes you will get asked by every stall holder, you buy from me, you look, you buy you buy more. I kind of like to buy a little bit at each stall and spread it around instead buying 10 things at 1 stall. Anyway this whole experience of harrasement and haggling which we loved would now be known as "shopping Bali style".
So we set of for kuta art market. My son wanted some more flat top hats and soccer shirts, my daughter wanted everything she saw and hubby wanted some tops. Me some home stuff as we are building a new house. First stop was the lovely fixed price gift store at the entrance to Kuta art markets. I was picking out some lovely items hubby was already bailed up at the door by who else but john farnham, fancy that in Bali, or sorry that was John farnham bali style. Giving my hubby his card you come to my shop. I got hubby inside the gift shop and warned him a little don't promise them anything we will just look at all the shops. I had vivid memories of my shopping trip there the year before where this group of guys followed me and my girlfriend and waited outside every shop trying to see what we wanted to buy and them promising we come there shop they have it. We got some lovely small sandstone statues and the kids found lovely pencils and bag tags of elephants for the friends. Still reminiscing about playing with the baby elephant the day before. So out we come and of course John Farnham is there. I give my instructions nicely we will come and look at his shop, no promises but do not follow us around all day please. Ok he kind of gets it. We head of to shop and get hubby and son some billabong t's 40,000 for son 50,000 for hubby we are happy with this. He tries to sell us some ed hardy and more but off we go.
My son learnt fast that if they ask you how much you paid for your flat top, you say cheaper than you paid. OK first day we paid 50,000 for a flat top so this day they ask my son how much you pay for your hat? so I say 40,000 shop keeper says I do you same price. So next shop man says how much did you pay for your hat my son and hubby pipe up 30,000, shop keeper ok I do you same price. Son was smiling, I think he bought about 10 flat tops cause a boy can never have too many. They are catching on to shopping Bali style. While I shopped at some stalls hubby and son sat in another stall after they had bought a hat, you just sit and wait for you wife, no pushy push so he chatted to the shop keepers. Was great to see them relaxing into Bali.
I bought some place mats, cushion covers and table runners, all reasonable prices. About 25,000 for cushoin cover, 60,000 for the big table runner. Napkins about 60,000 for set of 6 embroidered fabric. Good morning price for us and everyone is happy. Daughter got some board shorts and roxy shorts and singlet. I got my freind some guess watches and a prada bag, LV and Channel sunnies etc. Good day shopping all round. We wondered down the street and stoppped for a snack at Bubba Grumps. Kids love the run run sign system at the tables and hooked into their kids meals, the puzzle sheets was a great idea. Light lunch wih a few bintangs was about $50AUD.Staff really friendly and geat with the kids. It was nice to sit in the air conditioning and enjoy a cold beer. Ok so we stop at the bench for a our forest gump photo and decide to go buy forest gump DVD to watch that night.
We organised our driver to take us to denpasar my husband was after a certain discontinued dvd drive so we tried the big computer store, I think it was claled remo. WOW that was an eye opener. really old building little stalls everywhere, everyone smoking in doors. It was 3 or 4 levels of this. No luck getting our DVD drive and probably wouldn;t go there again but it was an experience. On the way back the traffic was insane. The kids saw scooters loaded with food and even the fairy floss scooter, bali style.
Decided to have dinner at Envy in our hotel right on the beach. Great meal, their pizza's are great. Even ex chef hubby who makes our pizza's and bases at home from scratch was impressed. The ham, mushroon,olive, basil and chilli choose your own pizza was memorable can really recommend. Pizza btween 60,000 to 120,000 depending on toppping for 12 inch round. Kids ate and played with their flying lights on the beach. Finished the night with yummy creme brulee. Then watched forst gumpo in bed. Kids where crashed out.
Next day was mothers day so lazy start, nice breakfast. The kids got my food from the buffet and looked after me well.
We decided to have a look at centro and sogo. Sarah got a balenise doll she wanted. I picked up some great kids clothes lots of stuff 50% off. Great quality t-shirt for son at about $9 and a few bits and piices. Picked up 8 revlon lipsticks in my favourite colour. That should last my 2 years. I also got a lovely hermes wallet at a bag shop near bread talk, fake of course but leather at 500,000. I really liked it and had beeen looking for one so glad for the find, nice mothers day present for me. What cracked me up was how far they go with the faking it. They lady said would you like a box, or yes please. they put it in an orange hermes printed fabric sleeve and then inside an orange hermes printed box. You could soo how some people could think it was real.
Ok a successful but quick mornings shopping must be swim o'clock so we head back to the hotel for more of those club sandwiches and french fires our afternoon swim and a few cold beers. Taxi back was less than 10,000 and quick with the kids. After an enjoyable afternoon we head to La sal for mothers day dinner. I had heard it was fabulous so had to try. No taxi took about 1 hour cost about 60,000. We arrived nice and early as dinning with kids and we where the first people in. IT was really weird, they had about 20 staff on but every time we wanted something we had to signal someone. No one ever just came over to see if we wanted to order or wanted anyting else. Anyway the food was lovely. My daughter has her usual fare of french fries she doens't really eat much variety. Son and I tucked into some lovely chicken croquettes and bread and hubby has some squid and olives etc. We ordered twice cooked lamb and pork belly for mains wich we shared. Food was lovely just the whole vibe and service thing was a bit weird. It cost us $100AUD for entree, mains for 2 adults, some fries x 2, extra entree for son, one cocktail, 3 beers and some soft drinks. Taxi home and all worn out ready to crash and revive for another day.
Still to come water bomb and safari park..... hop eyou enjoy my waffle