JBR 4
The trip started out well as I picked up the car from Wayan who I always rent from as he has been a long time friend. Went back to the hotel and picked up the girls and then to Nusa Indah to get Sarah. Off we go as I know the way to Candi Dasa very good. When you get to the turn around a long way from Kuta and get on the road to CD things were going well. Then at the first set of lights you can turn left and go to Quang traditional markets and then to Sukawati markets as well, it started.
Last October the road was in good shape but from those lights for maybe 15 ks or more the road works was in progress and it was a mess.
We made better time than I had thought but the ladies needed a pit stop for relief. Now trying to get off the road and to a petrol station was something else but we did on three occasions. After the third stop I said OK ladies no more water until we get there. The trip would only take about 2 hours or less even. This trip still only took about 3 hours so not bad but having to stop so much added more time for me to relax but what the heck we were going to a good hotel in a good location.
I had booked at the Bali Santi as we have done the last two trips and if you look at it on the internet it looks just like it. It use to be a back packers stop over with only 14 bungalows, they have renovated some 9 of these into really great bungalows. The number 1 (room number) although right on the front of the hotel facing the water only some 10 meters away still needs work done in the bathroom area. We stayed in rooms 5, 6, 9 which are as good as you would get anywhere. All rooms have a local TV and a DVD player if you want as well as AC and Fan.
To book use their web site and ask for a good price you will not be dissatisfied with the accommodation or price.
We stayed there for 5 nights and a good friend we have there Made asked us to go to his village which we have done before for a traditional ceremony the next day. He said they only have this ceremony once a year with another village. I asked him what the ceremony was about and he said Fighting Sticks with bamboo. I thought what he meant was a traditional style of fighting sticks used with long bamboo sticks, no not at all. Shirley and Sarah wanted to stay by the pool so Carole and I went about noon. When Made saw us coming in the car to the parking lot which there was no where to park he was dressed up as I found out he is one of the heads of the village. There were cars parked at least 1 k from the entrance to the village so I dropped Carole and he followed me on his bike down the track to find somewhere to park.
Back we go the village and to his place which if many of you have been to a village in middle of nowhere you know what I mean. His family was really great to us as we needed to have sarongs on to see the ceremony so they leant us two.
This fighting ceremony although carried out in a controlled manner with refs to stop too much aggression if it got out of hand. You see they use the lower end of some type of bamboo with barbs like hooks on them going in reverse towards their body. There are about six to eight of them bound together without any protection to their hands. The object is to try and inflict as much damage (pain) to the back using a scraping motion downwards. You get into a grappling style and just scrape. The less blood brought to your back the better fighter you are and you also have a shield to start with but that soon goes. There were about 80 fighters on both sides and they had at least four fights each. You cannot hit or scrape to the front part of the body at all which the refs make sure of or you are out. These guys really had a lot of fun if you can call it that. All ages were involved with the oldest looking like maybe 80 also had a fight but only looked at each other and never made contact but the villages enjoyed these men having a go.
After watching this for a while and it went on for three hours went up the bank to see what was going on there and found gambling. It was like three dice rolled and if one of the symbols showed up you won. Carole got me to put 50,000 on one symbol and we won double as two symbols came up and asked for all 5000 notes. They gave them to us and Carole then gave all the money to the kids to play or do what ever they wanted with it. It really made the kids day and so many people came up to us and thanked us for doing that but it is something Carole does all the time anyway. Some of the kids bet but most put the money in their pocket and I told them good on you keep it for another day.
Went back to watch some more fighting and what we saw then nothing but hurt to the players. You see someone comes around with a bowl and in it is some kind of yellow mix of water and whatever. When the players are not watching they rub this on their back and all hell breaks loose. This is supposed to be a natural medicine to heal the cuts and I mean they have a lot of them. Well from the looks on the face and the response given it must have hurt more than the fight. They were in real pain and I mean hurting. Went back to the hotel and told the girls about and of course they were disappointed somewhat they missed it.
When Made came to work the next we showed the girls his back and it was in bad shape. He also had the yellow stuff on him but within the next twenty four he was not hurting at all.
We went on a couple of trips around CD and into the hills which I really like to do because I don't care if I get lost as someone will help you out. Quite a few restaurants in town which we have been to most I guess over the time there. If you go there pick one and if you like it try it. The girls really had a good time here just laying around the pool and having a drink. You have not much beach if any in front of the hotel but can walk up the road a little and go down a vacant lot and go for a swim in the ocean. We did this and when we first starting walking through the vacant lot my wife saw two young people resting on the back of his bike having a cuddle with his girl. Carole said 'I see you' and they both laugh.
Went on down to the beach for a swim and when we came out there were two guys there that came from nowhere. You guessed it one had watches and the other had sunglasses. I really did not want any but as they do, show you what they have and I finished with buying five pairs and they were cheaper and I think better than in Kuta. Shirley bought a pair and Carole bought a watch. Out in the middle of nowhere and there is service. I did not have any money on me and told him where I was staying and he gave me the goods and said he would come later, now where else can that happen. One hour later he came and I gave him a good tip as well, for what reason I don't know I guess for being honest and trust worthy. Candi Dasa is a good place for however long you want to stay and what you want to do and we like about 5 or 6 nights there. You see I am left to do all the bookings and where to stay and I do not know if the girls have worked it out or not that I have a plan made so we all get some rest. Not really much shopping there.
Next four nights in Ubud