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Yesterday we hired a driver for 300,000 rp to drive us from Ubud to an east Bali village called Padang Bai. We took a scenic route to visit some of the the artists shops on the way. The art here is quite impressive.
We arrived in Padang Bai to see it is a laid back hippy type beach village. We found a place immediately - PadangBai Beach Inn right on the beach. We had a room with a ocean view and a balcony which opened out onto an ocean breeze with glass french doors. Lovely air con and all for $35.00! But there were 22 steep stairs (which all seem to be giant sized - weird to us as the people are so small.)
Mom took one look at the room and said "no problem!" she has really gotten in shape with all these stairs!
We had a lovely game of scrabble on the ipad while looking at the ocean...postcard picture perfect setting!
Went out to Ozone for supper and Terry's fresh Grilled mahi-mahi was declared the best fish. Prices are reasonable here as well.
We went to bed early as we were going snorkelling the next morning. Mom' next big adventure
We awoke to gorgeous weather and mom was psyching herself up to snorkel! We had not firmed up a dive trip the night before. Mom made an executive decision and hired the hotel waitresses' friend!
We went past the Blue Lagoon on a cool Bali catamaran boat and stopped in a quiet bay. Mandul was patient with mom and got her all set up and jumped in with her.
After a moment's slight panic, mom settled in the warm water and was off snorkelling! She went with the guide for a few minutes, got the whole thing under control and then joined Terry and me.
It was beautiful. The coral was very interesting and there were a lot of various fish. Tons of colors and types, and they totally surrounded us after we got closer! One touched my nose and another black beauty nipped Terry and I! What fun!
Mom loved it and we snorkelled for an hour and a half. It is so peaceful and cool to float with the tide and simply watch all the fish nibble and weave their way amongst the coral. Heaven!
We returned totally satisfied from our experience ($13.00 each!) and returned to Ozone for lunch. (Terry wanted their tuna with onion rings pizza! He was so disappointed to find out the tuna was not fresh and the onion rings were not deep fried!)
But the pizzas were thin crust and darn tasty!
We hired a driver again to visit a traditional Bali closed community. The lonely planet made it sound like a real working village - NOT a tourist trap. We got there and it looked quite idyllic and really from the 11th century. They bring up their water from the village well, cook on wood stoves, and make Bali traditional calendars and double woven ikat cloth. Only found here. The people can only marry from the community and the guide who met us told us how his heart hurts because he cannot find anyone who he could marry and if he marries from outside, he will have to leave.
We were taken into his home which is over 200 years old and he promptly told us he would show us his craft. It was seriously amazing - he uses a knife to carve into palm leaves and then rubs cardamon to put them in relief. It was quite the detailed process and he was quite talented. We ended up buying two calendars. Then he showed us the unbelievable fabric they spin, dye with homemade dyes and weave in a special manner. Lonely Planet said textile people need drool cups here. I had to buy a unbelievably soft pink scarf as well.....
Then, we walked over to....a cockfight that was happening in the village! Mom was quite interested in actually seeing a cockfight! we got good seats and the bidding was fast and furious. THEN the fight started and the men ruffled up the cock's neck feathers and threw them at each other! Yech!! It was awful, we had to pretend not to be repulsed by this spectacle. I kept telling Mom, "Dont make a face. Pretend to be interested ." all this while we cant stand watching.... We were the only tourists there surrounded by 200 yelling Balinese men. I was worried about taking pictures but while i did get some looks, it wasn't too bad, so Terry videotaped it. When the White c*** escaped and cowered injured to the corner right in front of us, and the other big brown c*** came after him and attacked him again, Mom, Terry, and I had had it. The White one lost and they took off the knife from his leg and in front of us, they stabbed him in the heart then chopped off his feet. They gave the feet to the winner. They started pulling off his feathers right there. Blood all over the place.
Ok, time to leave. Our mood was not good. :(
We said a hasty good bye and then got in the car to see an imperial water palace- very beautiful, and some more terraced rice fields. We were tired and anxious to get home.
Back to the beach and some supper. What a supper it was! Balinese grilled red snapper in a beach teak second story restaurant. The Kurti. The fish was Soooo juicy and tender and well seasoned. Mom and I had to order a whole one so we were glad to share it with Terry. All that was left was the skeleton! It is grilling it over wood coals that is the secret.
- comments
Marie m It i s sooo nice to read your blogs Jan.Of course it is nice to have them shock my brain into remembering details. I went to bed at 10:00 pm & woke up at noon today A delicious 14 hr. nap {with my Mika].The trip home is like a blur to me today.I think I was comatose.Keep blogging LOVE Mom