JBR 6th - 26th June Part Three Ubud
Packed up we said our farewells to everyone at Puri Damai and of to Ubud.
Arrived at Greenfields a little bit early for check in so went and had lunch just up the road then back to unpack. Had a beautiful room overlooking rice fields with the rice being harvested while we were there, amazing watching the way the ladies work together to get the job done. Went for a walk to get our bearings about 3 km in the end and back for a much needed swim.
Went to Ibu Ray's for dinner and had a beautiful meal, have never been disappointed here and the place was full so must be doing something right. Back for an early night as planned to do the bike ride the next day.
Had booked with Bali bike baik for the two of us and was hoping most of ride was going to be downhill as Alison had not ridden a bike for thirty plus years and was a little nervous. Picked up about 8:30 and of to Kintamani for breaky with a stop along the way at a coffee plantation which was very informative and got to try all the different teas and coffee including the poo coffee which didn't taste much different to the ordinary coffee.
Breakfast at Kintamani was ok, nothing special but nice views ,then off to starting point of ride. We had 4 other people in our group who were eager to get going but I had to adjust the bike for Alison get her to do a few practice loops to try and teach her how to use the gears. Last time she rode a bike they only had three gears and now there was 18. Discoverd near the end that her gears were the reverse of mine, no wonder we kept getting it wrong when I was trying to tell which gear to change to at the start of a hill. All the kids would run out to hi five you as we went past which was great fun as they seemed to think that the harder you hit the more fun it was and sometimes this was while going downhill, Alison wasn't game to take her hands of handle bars to do this.
The others kept stopping at points of interest and waiting for us to catch up, unfortunately we then only got a short break where as they had a long break and were eager to go again. We had a support vehicle behind us most of the time with plenty of cold water when you wanted, unfortunately when we got to the last few hills and Alison was starting to look like she was going to pass out from the heat the support van had disappeared due to road works and a funeral in preparation, so we just walked slowly up the hills and we eventually caught up with the others and finished the ride, a monumental effort by Alison and she was so proud of herself for completing the 25 kms. Finished the day Back at Wayans' family compound for a lovely meal and then back to hotel to rest a few sore muscles.
Next day just relaxed and went across the road and had a massage this was the best massage of the whole trip and I was on a mission to have a massage every second day if possible unfortunately I can't remember the name of the spa but was opposite Greenfields.
On our last night went to Jazz cafe for dinner had a wonderful meal and a few hours of some of the best music I've ever listened to in Bali.
About 3am next morning Al woke up with the dreaded Bali belly and there wasn't much I could do for her I went back to sleep. By 7am I said I would go and get the Dr for her and he and nurse arrived 15 minutes later, a few shots and a bunch of pills later she was resting ok and back on her feet in a few hours which was just as well as we were checking out at 12 to go to Sanur.
By 12 o'clock she was still a little bit green around the gills but I was sure a stay at Bloodyrons would fix her up.
To be continued
Gary and Alison