Had my first gig on the Sunday evening after the orphanage visit, good quartet at the hotel, no problems fitting in as we had done it several times before, thoroughly enjoyed it. Like riding a bike except that the old fingers are not as nimble and slower than this time last year, as for the voice, yeah well, say no more.
Next day ( Mon ) was a nothing day apart from being beachside in the sunshine with a good book and herself.
Tuesday off for the side trip to KL. Don't like the place, the resorts and coast may well be wonderful but three days in KL was enough. Were it not for a new grand daughter I wouldn't have gone, herself can do it alone next time. Don't know what your sense of humour is like, try this. On the side of a van Hassan Al Mahoud, Italian Baker. Real Estate flier in the mail box, Three Storey Bungalow for sale. Love this. Petrified Wood. Antique Furniture. Manufacturer. Think I've seen a similar one somewhere in Bali. Shopped at the Twin Tower complex, wanted some socks for my runners, you know, those that dont even cover the ankle, looking for purple and blue, like to be colour co-ordinated these would match my varicose veins. Bought seven pair at a ridiculously low price, paid
up, walked out the door and the alarm went off, said to herself that someone's in the poo for knocking gear off and kept walking but not far. What he said to me I wouldn't have a clue, who speaks it anyway, it was obvious he wanted me and my store given shopping bag back inside quick smart. Walked straight back to the cashier, no problems, walked straight back out again. The socks had small metal staples holding the pairs together hence the alarm.
Couldn't get out of KL fast enough, just didn't feel comfortable.
Back in Bali, had another beach day on the Sat, Sunday was going to be a day out to Kintamani.
Went up through Batu Balan, Singapadu, Kedewatan and Payangan, what a beautiful drive, not a highway by any means, previous day had been the Iron Ceremony where they bless the cars, motor bikes and scooters.
There were decorations all over the place and other ceremonies in these villages, as ever the ladies all looked drop dead gorgeous with their baskets on their heads and in ceremoniald dress. The drive up is through paddy fields ( never saw in Irishman ) and countryside, breathtaking scenery. The drive into Kintamani never fails to impress
me especially the view of Lake Butan and that is where I was going, to the village of Buahan. Eighteen months ago I took a Special Kids Wheelchair to a little bloke born with one arm and one leg, this was my third visit and on the two previous visits he wouldn't have a bar of me ( can't blame him ) this time, singcancan ( no problems ) Took the wheelchair there because the word was out that he was getting too haevy for his mother to lift, well he's really well and truly mobile now and the really really really good news is that he starts to school this month and he starts to school because there are ex pats up there who are responsible for the school, for the books, for the teachers, for the tucker, for the new warung at the school that is getting a new paved floor and who also take kids in off the street His Mum made me one of the best copi Bali's I ever had, maybe the water from the lake, who knows. Left after about an hour. The area around the lake is absolutely stunning and of course you can go up there, hire a canoe, hire a bike and be part of it.
Next job, deliver a jar of vegemite just down the road, got a cuddle for that from a gorgeous young blonde who is doing so much for the villagers and their kids. Come on folks help out here go up there hire a bike and or a canoe.
Next stop lunch with the little fellows Dad, he managed to get a job, so what, you think, terrific, he's out there and doing it while the veggies he grows are growing for market. We were delighted to see each other, this is a new restaurant, if I put the name in this posting may get canned, email is open if you want it. I went with the hotel car, about time I mentioned that they support us in our doings and give us a car and driver at no charge, (that's Novotel folks,)
the driver gets jobs all over the Island with tourists from the hotel,
we also took the the boys Dad with us. The driver reckons that it is the best meal that he has ever had anywhere on the Island and I tend to agree, fantastic buffet meal and wait for it ladies, finished off with Black Rice Pudding, so sweet, so well done so succulant, sooooo good that to add the traditional cocnut milk to it would have spoilt it.
Thats it, said our goodbyes and back to Tanjung Benoa, here's a word that is rarely used, it was a joyous day, well that turned bad when I got back to the hotel and was greeted with a clenched fist to the middle of the back by herself when I was getting out of the csr.
What had happened is that herself always spends a half day in My Home Spa, gets the deal, youghart body scrub, steamer, massage, wrinkle treatment, told her times if they can't soak you in a 44 gallon drum of wrinkle cream for two hours don't bother cos it won't work. The only time her neck looks good and wrinkle free is when she doesn't wear a bra. Get it ? So she's had her treatment, chewed the fat with the ladies and caught up on 12 months gossip sipping her ginger tea and goes back to the hotel. Trust me on this story because nobody could make it up. Goes out on the verandah, one floor up and is on the recliner in the sunshine, topless and has a Nanna nap. The houseboy does his rounds, turns down the bed, leaves the lollies and the sleep well bit and locks the verandah door. Herself wakes up later to find herself locked in and out or is it out ind in ? So what does this un nubile silly old tart do ? Climbs over onto next doors verandah and is relieved to see a familiar face, a Japanes bloke from last year who nobly does the right thimg, asks her in, gives her a towel and because he's pleased to see her gives her a hug at the same time his girl friend comes back to the room to see the back end of a blonde with her arms around her bloke. Not the chic he had with him last year. You can imagine. So what does this silly old tart of mine do ? Uses their phone to call housekeeping to open the door, sensible.
The, how can you believe this, climbs back over the verandah to wait and Miss Japan wants her towel back. Three quarters of an hour and no body rocks up, what does herself do, only climbs back over the verandah again, the door to their room is open so what do all good aussie women do to be polite, taps on the door with " It's only me " puts her head around the door and they are at it if you follow me. For you latin fans coitus interruptus. Herself is now in a rage, abviously she thinks that babies in Japan are mail order. Eventually she sees sense, grabs Miss Japans towel and exits through their door
and heads for reception at a great rate of knots, she is ropeable. Here's me getting out of the car and I cop this almighty whack in between the shoulder blades and herself not even turning or slowing, full head of steam and all that, I couldn't catch her.
I thought, the dogs been run over, her sisters dead ( couldn't be that lucky ) the boys had an accident. Always think the worse don't we. Here she is paying out on the housekeeping manager who by ill fate, cioncidentally and just by chance was in reception. I listened to the story and copped another whack for laughing. Laugh, how I never wet myself I'll never know.
End of JBR4