Location: Sanur, Bali
We made it to Bali w/o incident -- really good flights all the way. If anybody ever asks -- it's a long way to the other side if the world!!
Also, if anyone ever inquires -- don't check your bags if you don't have to -- MJ's are believed to be somewhere b/x Frankfurt and Bali. We are hoping they arrive soon. If MJ looks the same in all the photos, you can assume they never came :) Also, if you see her only in sarongs, you can assume the same.
Our guide -- for the organized tour when we return to Bali after the home-stays -- picked us up at the airport and brought us to the hotel.
The Hotel Sanur Beach is nice -- a very large resort on the ocean, with a large, warm pool and a couple restaurants. Our room overlooks the pool and faces the ocean, which is just beyond the pool. Nice lounges and umbrella type huts along the beach.
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| Hotel Sanur Beach - Bali |
MJ and I set a goal of staying awake until 8:00PM. We went out to the shops along the main street in Sanur to do a little research on clothing options - in case her baggage never shows up -- and to get something to eat.
Lots of options for both.
We opted for an hour foot massage before going too far -- $7 each. It was great -- our shoes fit back on our swollen feet by the time they were done with us :).
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| It was like a miracle -- my legs and feet were like brand new. |
We ended up at a local place for dinner, serving up local food and music. The food was better than the music, but it was a good first night in our jet-lagged, sleep deprived condition.
First Observations:
• Everything looks very tropical -- thatched roofs, tropical plants, etc.
• Everything looks very Balinese -- offerings, statutes and shrines everywhere.
• Sanur is very touristy. Lots of shops like what you'd find in markets. Lots of similar stuff for sale. Wide range of prices.
• many people, especially in the street markets are very forward and pushy about wanting you to bargain with them about prices.
• lots of drivers are available to take you anywhere --you rent a driver for a day or half day of getting around the island. They line the streets with their cycles and cars.
• the streets and sidewalks are in rough shape -- there are places in the sidewalk where the concrete is gone and a large gapping hole -- deeper than you can see to the bottom -- exists. Seems odd that they don't lose people and things down in them, especially after dark, but they aren't marked and nobody seems very concerned about it.
• lots of litter and more third world look in many places than I would have expected for such a big tourist destination.
Raises lots of questions -- my social conscience is sorting through it.
We crawled into bed around nine and both fell to sleep immediately. Of course I'm awake at 2:00AM, so we'll see how long I last today.
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| Looks good -- wonder what it is. The first of many food mysteries :) |
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