Leaving Ubud

I was up far too early once again, I lay there thinking of work and all the sorts of things you shouldn't think about when on a girlie mini break in Bali. I managed to bore myself back to sleep and was feeling quite well rested when I awoke for the second time. Packing up was done in record time, so I read my trashy novel for an hour until it was a reasonable time for me to surface from my lair.

The girls were also up in record time and after a quick pancake for breakfast we were loaded up and were deposited near the markets in Ubud for a panicky shopping spree. Prior to leaving I gave Kadek and her niece a tip for our breakfasts even though it's included in the rate. Yanick told me he's had no customers for about 3 months so I paid a fair bit extra to help. We are so lucky in Australia to have social services and fare wages.  Like we whinge and whine about our government but when I come to the land where my parents and older sisters are from I am grateful that I come from the lucky country. I try not to bargain too much here and pay a fair price, as I feel so guilty when faces so similar to mine clamour for just $2 more. The normal wage for a shop assistant per week is about $25 here.

After Ruaela had bought two sarong kebayas and Mali had bought a present for Sheena we needed a reprieve from the humidity and vendor pressure and we headed to a resort bar where Mali had been before so we could have a ladies room break and a cold drink. We noticed that we needed to meet Yanick in half an hour at Chatime Bubble Tea so we sped down the road, stopping at Anomoli for a supposedly good soy flat white.  Well, it was a scurrilous lie  it tasted like dirt and after one sip  I discarded it, it was an Australian priced coffee so I was peeved.

We were at Chatime at 1230 as per our agreement with Yanick, I had messaged him about picking up a coffee so I realised 20 minutes later that he was probably waiting for my call, I jogged back to the cafe and called him, poor thing he'd been poised around the corner.  In we jumped and soon we were winding our way through the rice terraced lined country side,  the ambience only marred by Yanick beeping at anyone in front of him!.

After visiting a local temple, where Chinese tourists wanted to be photographed with the girls, we found a warung which served vegan food as well,  however they were out of tofu and our food was nowhere near the wow factor. I have had some great food here but nothing super drool worthy yet.

Driving through kaotic Denpesar and Seminjak made me appreciate Ubud even more. I must say though the shopping looks amazing,  I have to buy a duffle bag quick smart as I have 20kg to fill up my baggage capacity.  All the expensive homewares I covet back home are here literally as cheap as a packet of chips!

Yanick dropped us off at the end of our street and we had a very short walk to our hotel, unfortunately we did not see the entrance and we walked a kilometer past it, good for my fitbit but not for my mood. We were all pretty frazzled when we reached check in. Searching for passports and filling out paperwork are necessary but when you are sweating like a pig and needing an airconditioned laydown it is easy for my patience to fray!

I was annoyed that our rooms weren't near each other, Ruaela questioned the fact that it was all booked and payed for months in advance, I grumbled the 'words upgrade please' , and indeed that's what they did for my room, which is ridiculously large but has very limited view or lighting, however I could host a gathering for twenty very comfortably in here!

After a rest Ruaela and I ventured forth to look for a warung, it was hard to find one as this area is totally geared for tourists.  All the music blaring out was the regular stuff we hear at home on the radio. It is a real reflection on how the Balinese view Australians when you see that the majority of souvenirs are giant wooden penises and yobbo insult vile stickers.

We found a warung down a lane off a side street off the main drag and sat down on the floor with the locals and ate sate, it was plentiful but not adequately spiced, we also tried the gulai kambing - lamb soup, which was not a success story. The most interesting story was talking to the 30 year old vendor who was very proud of his stall and spoke very frankly about his financial reasons for being his own boss.

On our way home we diverted into a massage parlour which was not at all dingy, I somehow managed  to fall asleep during my hour long treat, despite the middle aged well meaning aussie 'bloke' loudly regaling the entire salon with his misguided attempts of humour. Maaate I don't care that your nails now have a clear varnish,  please let me enjoy the ambience!

When we got back we parted and went to our own rooms, I washed my day's clothes in the bath tub and had my shower. This way I have something to wear for the rest of our stay here, the hotel has a laundry service which I might utilize tomorrow. I was too tired to read so just lay down to enloy my comfortable king sized bed.