When Wayan arrived to pick us up our friend from home was with him. Surprise...I could not believe she was there as I thought she was working....she had flown over the previous day to check on some problems at her villa. It was so nice to have her there to show us the area and her villa.
I was having a problem with my ears and one was completely blocked by this stage and I could not hear very well. The pressure felt like it would burst. I had put up with this now for about 7 days. I did try ear candling in Kuta and Sanur but that had only helped temporarily. We stopped at a chemist and got some drops and a syringe so Doreen could try to fix it. It did not work though and I continued to put up with the discomfort.
The villa was beautiful....so luxurious and stunning.....her staff were lovely too. 3 kings size bedrooms with ensuites.....beautiful pool that appeared to be inside even though it was outside....love the way they design their villas like that! We hired another bike for our last two days here. The night before we were due to leave I started to think what if my ear drum bursts on the plane. That afternoon I had forgotten and dived into the pool and for some time I could not hear anything at all. I decided right then to cancel my flight. Luckily I didn't have to get back for work and hubby didn't mind. Doreen and I went to the internet café just down the road and I booked a new flight for Sunday (3 days time).
Next morning I went with Wayan to take hubby to the airport. I went in with him through the xray machine and I went to the front of the air asia counter to ask about my flight. As I hadn't cancelled 48 hours prior to flying I could not re-use my ticket. Never mind. On my way back out an official at the exit door stopped me and asked me where I was going. I told him I was going out to the carpark. He was not happy and said only passengers were allowed in and his boss would not be happy if he knew I had come in. I told him I had to go the air asia counter and that I could not fly. He said I must pay. I said no and told him again what I was doing. Eventually he let me go without paying. I was stunned. No-one had asked to see our tickets at any point and I had walked in quite freely. In fact as I had not yet cancelled my ticket I had still been a passenger when I entered the airport.
That morning I went to a 24 hour clinic in Laksmana Street, Seminyak and saw a lovely lady doctor who had very good English. No waiting straight in. She decided to irrigate my ear as she could not see my ear drum at all. She said it may be painful for this procedure but I had no option as she could not diagnose the problem if she could not see my ear drum. If I had an infection she told me I would not be able to fly for another 7 days!! She put some drops in and waited ten minutes and then proceeded to irrigate my ear with a very large stainless steel syringe. No pain just a little uncomfortable feeling. Well it was instant relief as a large chunk of solid wax came out.......The pressure went and my hearing returned instantly. She said my ear drum was fine and no infection.....if only I had gone to her a week ago....
Now I could enjoy my extra couple of days in good health. Had a great time too with my friend and her sister who flew over that night.
Next morning I spent on my own in Seminyak shopping, having breakfast and had a lovely hot stone massage at Murano Spa which we had read about on the forum. It was a lovely place and easy to find thanks to directions from one forum member. We had booked a double stone massage earlier while we were staying in Seminyak but I had the bali belly so hubby went alone. I decided to have mine today. The stones were a little too hot for me and I did say but otherwise divine.....I decided to head back to the villa after this as I had exhausted my rupiah in my wallet. On the way back I got lost and went up and down the highway in Kerobokan for a bit and rang Doreen for directions. At one point the polisi passed me in a car and motioned for me to pull over. They waved me up to their window so they didn't have to get out of the car. Asked me for the bike registration. The villa manager had got this bike for me and I was a bit surpised to see no papers under the seat (he told me later they were hidden under battery and had forgotten to tell me). The polisi asked for my license and I gave him my international and Australian license. He said it was not indorsed for motorbikes. I told him I ride a scooter at home (I did mean to get my license but had run out of time). He said he would write a ticket and take me to Denpasar or I could pay now. I was starting to feel a little nervous as I knew I had no money on me and the 50,000 rupiah I had in my license earlier was no longer there (I must have taken it back out after we returned our last bike). I explained I had been shopping and had no money and that was why I was returning to my villa. He said again you pay. I told him sorry I have no money or I would. He said you just pay 100 and was looking at my backpack as if I had a stash in there. I apologised again and repeated my story. He finally had enough and told his driver to go and so I went on my way a little shaken up.
On my last day in Bali we all rode to Tanah Lot which wasn't too far from the villa. It was very hot and busy at Tanah Lot and Doreen managed to lose her motorbike key here. We retraced all our steps in the heat but did not find it...She rang her villa manager and he said don't worry he would bring the master key later and collect her bike. Everything is so much easier in Bali when you have good contacts...So she had to double up with her sister. On the way back we stopped at the famous Echo Beach Café which I have wanted to go to for a couple of years. This was a lovely place and we stopped for lunch and refreshments....they were setting up outside for the Sunday night bbq and entertainment though it was terribly windy and I wondered how it would go. Bought some lovely bracelets and had a lot of fun chatting with Nyomen while we had our lunch....
Later that night I went to the airport for my flight home. I was shocked when told I was not on this flight!!! Maybe tomorrow night she said and checked. No...maybe last night??? Yes you should have checked in Saturday night to fly home Sunday 12.30am......Oh dear I had made a silly mistake......You must buy a new ticket over there at that counter.....It took me the whole next 2 hours of check in time to get a new ticket organised. They did not want to take credit card as they said it would be quicker with cash. I did have $200 left but he wasn't sure if that would be enough so I dashed outside to the atm and got another $50 out then rushed to the money changer and then back to the counter to buy my ticket and pay for luggage....I had to leave my luggage and trolley with an official when I went outside to the atm. I wasn't really happy with leaving my bags before I had checked them in but I had no choice. I then had to go through the xray again in line behind lots of Japanese who had just arrived and I was getting nervous now that I would not have enough time. The official with my luggage was watching for me and came over and ushered me to the front of the line. I was so tired by now after the long day we had had. Finally though I managed to get my ticket and go up to the boarding lounge. Had about 10 minutes before boarding. Once I was in my seat I closed my eyes and did not even hear the air hostess do the safety talk. I kept my eyes closed the entire flight and dozed on and off. This was a first as I never sleep on planes. I was so happy to get home. Was a good flight although there was a poor baby that cried quite a lot....I heard it in the background while I dozed.
Straight through immigration and customs so quickly in Perth it was great.
Another wonderful holiday in Bali. Every holiday is different and there is still so much to see and do that we keep wanting to go back again....have to stay at Balian beach again, also visit white sandy beach with more time, visit the Water Palace which we wanted to see but missed the turnoff (...) , the lovely temple near lake Batur (didn't see it as we were lost) and we would like to visit the Gillis which we have never done before and go back to beautiful Ubud.
I loved riding the bikes. I was a little worried about it as I am not that experienced but I had bought a scooter in Australia 6 months ago to practice.....I wore shoes, three quarter pants instead of shorts and most days sleeves for the sunburn and scarfs around my neck for windburn, helmet of course (one that I bought in Seminyak as I didn't like the hired one). I would bring mine from home next time as it is definitely a safer one with a good visor that doesn't drop all the time....the roads on the whole were good. Did have to watch for pot holes and avoid where possible. A big pot hole could take you out if you are going fast and don't see it in time. I learnt not to put water bottle or phone in the front of the bike as they both fell out when I went over a couple of pot holes. Traffic was busy but if careful and eyes always watching I felt ok with it. Kuta was the worst but even then I got used to it. The only close call to an accident was a tourist going way to fast overtaking and coming towards us on our side - he went very close to both of us and it was scary. You do have to overtake and go on the other side at times but he did not allow enough time and was going too fast! At times the traffic coming towards us took up both lanes leaving just enough space for our bike!! What an experience......