Mon 4th June
Slept fairly well and had a lie in. Thank goodness! We woke up at 10am and nervous we may miss breakfast we hastily nipped over to the cafe. No need to worry as other residents turned up at 11am. We spoke to the Dutch couple and to some young Germans we met earlier in the week. A few little lizards joined us for breakfast too.
We asked the woman on reception about getting the bus - she drew directions on the map for us. We readied ourselves and walked the route she had shown so we knew where to head the following morning - our early afternoon walk.
On the bus 1RM (other fella must be doing well). We even stopped for more diesel - whilst the bus was running. Hmm, no worries here eh? By the way, everyone leaves their motors running. Cars, bikes, vans buses you name it. Bikes because - we assume - it saves them the trouble of starting it again when they're only popping into a shop. Cars/vans/buses? For air con? Ironically if they all switched the engines off the country would cool down by a degree (or five!). Fuel being so cheap I guess it doesn't matter about the cost.

Another good lunch had. Peaked into a place where there would be 'live music/band' called 'Me and Mrs Jones'. It was a rock bar and we got the feeling if you played music YOU were the live music/band. Frank said we should check it out later.

Later came, and after dinner we again peeked into the bar which was more like 'Me, Myself and Irene' given its (un)popularity! Back to Shantaram for our last session. And what a special one it was. Just Dus, Frank and I to begin with and as promised all weekend Dus treated us to a tune, playing Bob Dylan's 'I shall be released' on guitar. It was a very emotional performance. We sat quiet and still feeling that this song ran deep with Dus, there were definitely tears in his old eyes. With all the interesting stories he'd shared with us over the last few days you felt he was keeping a particular one very close to his chest. Another few songs from Frank, Dus sang another, Ayako walked in and blessed us with her sweet songs. Other locals popped in/out grabbing a beer from Dus. A tall young bushy haired Croatian wondered in, Donat, he too joined in the singing (and drinking). And later Pieter arrived with his travel sized guitar. Songs, stories and smiles filled the smokey night and time was wiled away. At around 2am we said our final farewells, exchanging contact details and hugs, giddy and full of beer.