Bali Yarravillas was our next accommodation. It is situated down a gang behind the Bintang supermarket in Seminyak. There are only six apartments and so we had the whole place to ourselves which was perfect. This place is owned by an Aussie couple and is fairly new. It is only a 3 minute walk up the gang to Jl Legian. It comes out beside the Seminyak Café right next door to Bintang.
The villas had everything we required. The staff were extremely attentive and could arrange anything we needed. We loved the full sized fridges stocked with supermarket priced drinks...saved us lugging it all back from Bintang. The rooms were serviced everyday and even had a turn-down service.
The main attraction for some in this area is of course the shopping. Did I mention - I hate shopping?? Everyone was busy on this particular day and rather than get left behind I tagged along with my husband and brother-in-law. They intended to catch a taxi to Ketuts to buy yet more t shirts and cab it back again. Lovely. I could then spend the rest of the day by the pool, reading my book. Mmmmmm.....They started walking, cajoling me along in the heat, popping in and out of shops along the way. We headed south along Jl Legian, turned down Double Six, ended up in Padma Utara where I begged for an iced coffee from the Coffee Shop and said hello to Gilbert (we stayed at Beach Melati last time) I suggested a taxi but no, "we are so close now we might as well walk to Ketuts!!" Several t-shirts and shorts later and a welcome bottle of water from Ketut we head off to Jl Melasti where I am promised a taxi back to the villa. But hang on! They realise they are close to IndoNational and decide on their favourite, Tami Cap Chay, for lunch....round the block we go. Refuelled we, sorry, they, decide we might as well start heading back up Jl Legian and get a taxi. Long story short.....we walked all the way home. I staggered into the villas and stepped into the pool fully clothed!! We had left at 10am and arrived home at 4:30pm and what did I have to show for it? Nothing!! Did I mention I hate shopping?
The group went their separate ways one day; the boys/men and teenage girl went on an ATV trip. The girls did a cooking class. The boys had a great time and by the looks of their clothes it involved a lot of mud. Hubby was in the bathroom for ages washing out his clothes when he got home and everyone was amazed at how clean he had gotten them. Apparently that high pressure hose in the toilet was good for something!! LOL
Talking about the hose in the toilet; at Bali Yarravillas they have a sign asking us to try to reduce the amount of toilet paper we used by using the hygienic hose. A great deal of discussion revolved around the various techniques used and most decided they actually used more paper to dry themselves and everything else they accidentally squirted!! I'm quite happy to use the hose but have never been brave enough to ask a local how to do it properly. Anyone with some inside knowledge, I'd love to know the proper ‘technique'. Enough toilet talk!!
Our cooking course was with Anika. We did the early morning market....why didn't I know that was there? He taught us all about the various fish, meat, vegetables and spices etc and then we went back to their kitchen. Although there were about 12 in the class Komang made sure we all had a go at everything. Lots of tasting as we went along and a delicious lunch. I gained a new appreciation for Balinese cuisine. Sweet, sour, salty, spicey!
The younger members of our group went to Waterbom where they spent the whole day. A couple of brave (or stupid) individuals went on the new Climax ride....note - they only went on it once! Their excuse was that the lines were too long!
The birthday celebrations - my nephew had a dinner at Zanzibar with all the family. A tirimusu cake from Bali Bakery was dessert...yummo.
My sister celebrated her 50th at La Lucciolas for breakfast. They don't have the set menu anymore but all the food was sensational. Love those granitas. Another Bali Bakery cake back at the villas topped off her celebrations.
I'm sure I've left out stuff as I didn't keep my usual diary...too busy catching up with my sisters who live in other states. It is so lovely just to have the time to sit and chat with nothing else to do....no housework, no cooking, no work!
Bali, like everywhere I suppose, is changing. Even in good old Garlic Lane there are modern hotels being erected. It may be just a little harder to find those quiet out of the way gems but it is still a very special place and I think we can count on a few more Baliophiles in our family. I'm not a religious person but the spirituality I witness in everyday life in Bali keeps bringing me back. It may be rose coloured glasses but if somehow we could bring back that calmness to our hectic lives here we'd all be better off. Then again I wouldn't have an excuse to go back would I?
To my wonderful sisters (and their families), some of whom are still over there, thank you and enjoy....you lucky things!