JHR 7 - Wharfie Chronicles - Gladiator - Thursday 12th August
I've had a pretty restless night, tossing and turning, hot and cold, but thankful that I must have had the requisite eight hours beauty rest that my delicate skin and attraction needs. Throwing back the sheets in Toreadoreanesque fashion, I hop out of bed , draw back enough curtain to unlatch the sliding doors and go outside to the rest area by the kitchen.It's raining heavily, the sky is thick with dark angry looking clouds and the water is falling heavily from the roof above our bedroom, the sound is quite loud, easily masking the sound of the 'fish fountain' water feature that cascades into the pool. I grab one of the umbrellas by the entrance doors, and take back to our room in case Mrs W needs to use to get to our brekkie table. I'm such a gentleman, no wonder so many women compete for my aura and regalia.
Breakfast was ordered the previous day by means of a ticklist which was a bit confusing, We have asked for our brekky to be delivered to our villa, and at 8am..(early rising again girls).. this is performed with military precision . I haven't ordered too much as I still feel a bit dicky.So fruit , cup of tea and croissant for me, whilst Mrs W tucks into a mighty feast of omelette, bacon, sausage, tomatoes and toast.The toast is actually cooked in our toaster by the waiter so it is nice and hot (just like me) when it hits the plate. She enjoys , and we take the opportunity to grab an hour by the pool now that the weather has cleared up. I plug in my 'ears' to my Ipod, and chill whilst listening to the timeless Led Zeppelin 4 , and even have time for a bit of 'Dark Side of the Moon'
I decided I would like a nice long shower, so Mrs W said she was going to walk down to 'Mien' which is a chic little homewares store not far from La Lucciola. I said I would come down and meet her when I had towelled off, moisturised and sanitised. This done, and Mrs W having had at least half hour head start, I thought I better go and rendezvous at our agrred destination. I walk along JL Pettitenget dodging the roadworks that line the entire street, (it looks as though they re doing some sort of conduit laying), I ignore the incessant bipping of horns and one local even asks if I want to jump on the back of his scooter.Knowing I haven't far to go, I decline all offers, and pop ino the money changer , here I get 8020 for my $100, but it's worth it for the smile and charm of the assistant.She was quick to hook into my gaze, and I think we shared a 'moment'. Money in my Country Road wallet , off I go to meet Mrs W... and by the time I swing open the heavy glass doors of 'Mien', she has already orderd four cushions, a couple of quite large feature plant pots, and some leaf shaped decor platters for tthe table..all for the bargain price of 1.7million... not only do I now have to go back to the money changer (yahoo!) but I'm also wondering how the hell we get all this back on the plane! The owner accepts a deposit so we don't have to go back to the money changer immediately (boo!) and give us the suggestion of Cafe Biku for lunch
So, a short stroll finds us at said Biku and it is a wonderful tea house design boutiquey quaint place, and seems populated with eccentrics and loud Yanks. I ask for table for two and I am offered one in the middle of a busy section of eaters. However, I refuse as they want to sit me by Mrs Sixty a Day , and I can't hack all that smoke while I'm eating.It's one thing I really wish that Bali would get to grips with and there is nothing worse than sitting by a glum Russian or loud Yank who thinks it's cool to sit with a cigarette dangling from their lips. Disgusting, that's what it is ! Anyway we relocate to an outdoor table and Mrs W orders and nice fruity cooler and I have a beautiful mint iced tea. We enjoy a Nasi Campur and great little bangers and mash, plus desserts and coffees was awesome for just over 200,000. Here Mrs W bought the little salt and pepper dish that was on our table,(well, not the actiual one, but you know what I mean) and tried to buy some napkins , unfortunately out of stock.Great little place, can recommend.
Having left here, we head back toward the Sanyas Suites and stop off at Sarong to see what time they open for dinner, I am told 6.30pm, and we will back here tomorrow night , ( this will be a bit of a downer).... then, having nothing else better to do Mrs W comes up with the bright idea of going to Geneva... I would love to know what people see in this place !! So, Mr Bluebird picks us up and takes there in a flash.As always...full of tat... 3 floors of it, and so many shop assistants sitting on the floor doing absolutley nothing ! I stride over them one by one, as I search through the tat in the hope of finding something nice for prezzies. Alas, I only find old stock of things I have seen several times before, two skeletons, a picture of the last England team to win the World Cup, and Baldie's first posting about using the express clearance service. What a disappointment..again
Using the lift to get back to street level Mrs W comes up with another real brainy idea of walking back to our Villa, now either she has got me mixed up with some superfit adonis ( yes, I know, easy to do), or she has gone completely berko. It's so hot and humid, I just want to stand under the shower and soap myself util I'm real cool (no change there)... plod, plod plod... bip, bip, bip... plod, plod, plod... back to Jl Raya Ayu and Mrs W is determined to vet every shop we go past.I just want a drink..please stop, I am dying of thirst before your eyes. I get my wish, and , having had a great experience there a few days ago, we stop at Chandi. I have a wonderful spritzer, and Mrs W and Mojito laced with copious amounts of lime and mint leaves. Sitting , relaxing, a beautiful blonde lady comes up to us , ( well, me really), and asks if we are enjoying our drinks.She is the Manager of Chandi, and is from California, we catch each others stare, I just know there is some sort of attraction... we spend a while chatting about how she got the job there, her new home, the land she has 'purchased' and then spoilt it all by telling me about her boyfriend ( this was just to tease me) being a Chef at one of the other local eateries. I dismssed this as I knew from experience this was just part of the game to keep me interested. Suddenly, she is called to another table, and I never saw her again ..oh well... Mrs W reckons I was dreaming in any case.I'll let her carry on thinking that. I still think that she was worried as to how gladitioral I looked, and that she was determined to ignore my Russell Crowesque ruggedness.
Rejuvenated, we carry on our walk towards Seminyak Square, ane the quest is to find some mint to do our own drinks at the Villa. We get to the Deli in Seminyak square, alas, mint-less we depart amd we walk down the litte gang at the side of the Deli that brings you out dead opposite The Legian Hotel. Turn right and head back to the Villa.... relief..we decide that we need a cab, and we are driven the rest of the way by Mr Bluebird. The lovely smile greet us at reception at the Sanyas, and we hurriedly get our clothes off.... shower, and go straight to sleep ! We were so tired, so much walking, but so enjoyable, we spent more time today chatting about buying somewhere here, and I'm becoming more interested by the hour !
Time is running low to spring my 'surprise' on Mrs W, I have much planning to do....
Thamks for reading ..more soon....love Wharfie .xxxx