Archive for December 19th, 2006
My old friend Toby, from Eugene Oregon, brought his 3 year old daughter Maya, with him as well as friends, Ollie and Asia. This morning we strolled down to Cafe Seminyak for a coffee, and the ‘kid treatment’ started, with every waitress and shop attendent carrying Maya off, telling her she was ‘cantik‘ (beautiful). This morning they were getting the ‘Bali experience’, seeing Balinese people laying offerings on the street and acquaintences of mine saying hello. I know as a parent you have to be careful who you leave your child with, but out here, there are many willing pairs of hands, and the kids definteily feel comfortable with people who are used to kids.
Today after a session at the beach, Maya asked if we could go back to the swimming pool. Toby said “Yes Maya, that’s where we’re going.” She said “No I want to go to the swimming pool with the surfboards and the monkey.” (there was a monkey on the beach today). Many more interactions and adventures to come for sure.
source : www.baliblog.com
December 19th, 2006
Morning Toby’s friend Oliie wanted to rent a surfboard, for the duration of his 2 weeks in Bali. Repeating wahtt I had heard before, I told him not to rent from the guys on the beach. All those boards are snapped, and will snap again at some point, in the same place. When that happens, the oowner will demand $300. My friend Palu from Byron Bay, has 3 shops selling boards, as well as a surf school. He also has a selection of used boards for rent of sale.
Meeting with Palu on Poppies Lane II, around 9.40am, we checked out his boards and prices. Palu told Ollie that if he rented a board, he could change it if the conditions changed. Palu does a range of boards, focusing on the learner end of the market. Ollie did find a fish type board, ideal for an experienced surfer in small swell. The prices for the brand new rental for a week was 600,000rp. The price to buy its was 2.5m rp.
Short term rental include 20,000rp per hour, 150,000rp, 600,000rp, deposit or passport required. Day surf trips can be arranged, including lunch for $100.
source : www.baliblog.com
December 19th, 2006
Being married to an Indonesian, means ther pantry gets a mixture of items, that often have nothing in common. Having friends from around the world who travel, also adds to the stuff in my pantry. Taking a photo this afternoon, the line up was interesting. We had
Belizean Pepper Sauce, Kee’s Dark Soy Sauce (Singapore),
Green Mole (Mexico),
Kecap Manis (Indonesia),
Habanero Pepper Mash (Belize),
Extra Virgin Olive Oil (Italy).
Toby goes to Central America a lot and loves Belize. He brought me packets of Belizean spices, that we can use at a bbq. These include Belizean Stew Chicken, Hot & Spicy Belizean Blackening and Belizean Black Dinner (Chimole). Sitting here typing, I can smell that pepper, and it will liven up anything I chuck on the grill for sure. Toby already annouced he is looking forward to getting the bbq back in action.
For people living in Bali, you can find a selection of peppers and spices at the back of Bintang supermarket, in Seminyak. Everything from black pepper to cilatro (coriander) seeds, cloves, tumeric, all kinds of stuff. These locally made packets are a few thousand rp, and are about an ounce.
Jimbaran is the place to get your hands on fish for a low price. In my experience, you need to find a way tto keep the fish chilled, otherwise it will go off fast. I have ridden down there on my motorbike, coming back loaded down with fresh fish. This is not the optimum way to go, and a taxi will not want to carry you and your fish.
In the past I have picked up 5kg of tuna for 50,000rp. its cheap, and if you get there in the morning, after the boats come in the fish will be that much fresher. Let’s see what we can come up with!
source : www.baliblog.com
December 19th, 2006
Kuta Beach is a crash course in how to deal with locals and bargaining. Today I took my freinds form Oregon, to the section of Kuta Beach, directly across from Poppies II. Kuta Beach can leave people with varying impressions and I was a bit nervous, knowing the vendors can descend like mozzies on a bare bottom. Sitting under a tree, next to a drink vendor (Niki), we were provided with chairs and were immediatley swamped by vendors, selling temporary tattoes, bow and arrows, massage, nail cleaning and other goods and services. Nobody panicked and after 15 minures most of them drfited off, realising we weren’t buying.
Today was great as far a beach day, but not so good for serious surfing. There is no swell right now and the only people catching waves were learners and a few locals, who were content with the ripple in front of McDonalds on Kuta Beach. One guy came along selling kids toys, including a frog like puppet, that spat out a rolled up tongue and made a sqeak. Maya indicated she wanted it, Toby indicated he did not. I told the vendor ‘tidak mau’ (don’t want), but his rebuttle was that the kid wanted it. Very annoying to be a parent in some instances. Funny thing was, when Maya and Asia went to the waters edge to paddle, the same guy tried to sell toys, to us 3 guys. Banging a square peg through a round hole” I said. Still, people were good vibes and Kuta Beach was not a bad place to be this morning.
source : www.baliblog.com
December 19th, 2006
People taking a break on Kuta Beach might like to go for a spot of lunch, that is within a short walk. That is exactly what, Toby, Maya, Ollie, Asia and myself did today. The deal with Bali, is that on the busy main streets, rents are high, making restaurants more expensive. Down the narrow alleys the rents are cheaper, so the costs are lower for food. The nearest place to the beach on Poppies II is Ninety Degree Bar & Restaurant, located at the first 90 degree bend in Poppies II, 100 meters from the beach. Today was hot, but the upstairs area of the place enjoyed sea breezes.
Here’s the menu:
Breakfast - including American breakfast (juice, toast with jam, 2 eggs any style, with sausage and bacon, coffee of tea (35,000rp).
Appetizers - including Shrimp cocktail (17,500rp)
Soup - inclduing Tum Yum Kung (20,500rp)
Main Dishes Seafood - including Fish & Chips (30,500rp)
All Day Favourites - including Sirloin Steak (35,500rp)
Indonesian & Chinese Favourites - including Satay of your choice (28,500rp)
Pasta, sandwich & Burger - including Club Sandwich (28,500rp)
Balinese Specialities - including Seafood Mabese Bali (35,500rp)
Ninety Degrees Pizza Garden - including Pizza Due, with ham & olive (28,500rp)
Vegetarian Favourites - including Baked aubergine & tofu (23,500rp)
Japanese Food - including Tempura (35,500rp)
Dessert - including Banana Split (20,500rp
My lunch was the Club sandwich which came with chips. It was quite good. Ninety Degree Bar & Restaurant is located ideally for people looking for food and drinks at a reasonable cost, close to Kuta Beach.
source : www.baliblog.com
December 19th, 2006