The Harries Family Happenings

Over the June Long weekend, after Brendan got the all clear about his appendicitis scare, we went on a TLCC trip down to Deua National Park.

It didn't start well, as the side rails, that had only been installed on the Wednesday, at TJM Wollongong, were found to be barely hanging on. We were only on dirt roads for about 15min!The front mounting bolts were showing about 6mm of thread in the gap and the rear bolts were only

hanging on by the barest amount. Just imagine if the front had dropped, the car could of cart wheeled! They had, obviously, only been

hand tightened! ( Apparently TJM didn't think this justified reimbursing my installation fee, as I was fobbed off on the weekend with a promise to ring me on the Monday... I'm still waiting . I bet you can't guess where I'll be telling everyone NOT to go to, for their 4wd gear )

So after crawling around in the dirt to install the rails, properly, we headed off towards Braidwood. Plenty of river crossings, some steep tracks, and some very cold nights saw out an enjoyable weekend.

 

Our last day today...Once again sat & watched the waves while eating breakfast. - one could really get used to this !

David & I decided to get a massage from the Melasti Spa, outside the Melasti hotel ( 2 up from ours) we had been told really good things about it. Brendan stayed to play in the pool with a few friends he had made from Perth.

We were taken into the waiting room through 2 very large solid timber doors, very posh.was like another world.completely different to our previous massage...We sat on the large lounge chairs waiting for our masseuses & perused through the service guide as to what we could have done  .. the prices on the sheet were double that of what we paid before !  You could buy special masks & oils, from the reception area (where they did the feet massage) they were displayed very nicely. There was a huge variety of treatments you could have ranging from foot massage, facials, stone massage etc ..we were even offered a romantic spa for two.in chocolate !

David & I were taken to our room, together, where there were 2 tables next to each other. we stripped down to our underwear & lied down, when you looked down though the hole in the table there was a container which contained various flower patterns to look at,( a lot of small things made a huge difference). The lights were dimmed &  soothing background music was played while massaging.  so much different from our previous massage.The one negative I have is that we were coated in oil, they gave you a towel to wipe it off but we really needed a shower.An hour later we headed back to have our shower & check on Brendan.

We decided to head back to the shops for some last minute spending , stopping to say goodbye to Tony & Yudah along the way.

Back at the hotel we changed into our cosies & headed straight for the pool.was so humid , had sweat dripping everywhere!  We ordered some drinks & some lunch to eat while soaking in the water. While we were waiting for our 2nd plate of chips to be served, a storm came,really dark clouds & strong winds, blowing the umbrellas over..lightning flashing..& the rain that fell was so heavy & cold !  In less than 2 minutes the walkways were all under water again -about ankle high , the kids were sliding down the ramp ways  which looked like waterfalls, the pool had overflowed & water was every where. All the adults were soon out of the pool up into the restaurant. We finished our lunch in the restaurant which was marginally drier & then made a mad dash  for the room.

Continued...

Yahoo, sunshine today. We had breakfast outside overlooking the beach & watched the peddlers try to sell their wares to the tourists who walked past.

Off to Waterbom park this morning, we hailed a taxi & it took around 3/4 hour as traffic was heavy due to a fire in the middle of Kuta. We handed over our entrance tickets & were given an E-bracelet ( you pay money & it electronically calculates what you have spent - acts as a credit card because they don't use other currency in the park. We hired a locker & towel & headed out.  The grounds were really beautifully - green & lush with pools kept in immaculate condition. We found 2 banana lounges near the pool bar & claimed them, then were off to try the boomerang ride, Brendan & I rode together, 5 flights of stairs later we hopped on our double tube & went down - going round & round ,then a steep drop which flicks you over to another slope much like a ski ramp. Brendan & David then went on this again, then Brendan was ok to go by himself. Next ride the Boogie, you lie on a mat & slide down the ramp. Then the Macaroni & River raft, this one finished at the lagoon where you could float around the circuit in the tubes.

Brendan made a friend - Jarrad from Perth & went off, with him, doing all the rides again.

Continued...

Morning sleep in before a leisurely breakfast..inside today as it is still raining, but only lightly. We left Brendan playing in the pool, as the temperature is still hot, while we went shopping yet again - this time for shoes for Jarrad & Chris, we went to every shop along Garlic lane & of course no one had the ones they wanted, finally in a back ally we found some, but not in the right size! luckily the store owners really wanted a sale, we waited for around 20 minutes while they located some, agreed on the price (130,000rp ea for 5 pairs), finished our sale (with extras for David & me) & started to walk back to the hotel to pick up Brendan, stopping occasionally to look at a few other bits & pieces.

Emptied the bags in the room ( they put the wrong shoes in after all the hassle we went through !....not going back again, so Jarrad will have slightly different to what he wanted.

We met Scott & Fiona on the way to collect Brendan from the pool & arranged to go out for tea at 6.30.

 

 

 

 

 

Continued.

Yes raining again, it hadn't let up all night. We had breakfast & decided we would taxi it in to Kuta, as we hadn't been there yet. The taxi ride took about 10 minutes & cost 30,000rp. As we got to the entrance a man came up to us with a promotion, we opened the ticket, I won a T-shirt, Brendan got a free Waterbom park ticket & David could win $1000, all we had to do was go for a 1/2 hour drive to Nusa Dua & listen to their sales pitch. We said ok as it was still raining heavily & we hadn't been to  that part of the island. We didn't even get to see the hotel, it was for members only, like a time share thing & cost $A8000. Of course David didn't win with his ticket. We were taken back to Centro, the shopping complex, where we were originally & continued to have a look around. David looked at Oakley sunglasses but they were similar prices to home & in the centre they do not bargain. We had lunch on the top floor food court at a place called Lada, Chicken satays' all round. Note to anyone coming this way .do not use the toilets...extremely dirty! We finished looking around & as the rain had stopped walked the beach way back to the hotel.

On the way we saw a Balinese ceremony, where hundreds of Balinese were dressed in white, Chanting & walking down the street from the beach. We stopped at the Hard Rock Cafe for a picture of Brendan with the Big Surf Board, he was a star, once we had taken his picture, 5 other tourists ( Japanese etc )  wanted photo's with him as well.we should have charged!

A Balinese taxi driver grabbed David's arm and tied a leather bracelet onto it, and said it was free & for good luck. Brendan has it now ;-).

Continued.

 

We woke to an overcast morning, had an early breakfast to be ready for pick up at 8.30, for our Bounty day cruise . We were met by our driver & taken to Benoa harbour at Sanur, about 45 minute drive, where we boarded the large, bright yellow catamaran (holds 700 people / peak time around Aug/Sep). We had a photo with some of the staff, found some seats on the middle level & had coffee & cake while we waited to leave. The fist few minutes were ok, as the water was still calm &  we moved to the upper deck where we found our Chinese shipmates bopping to the loud dance music being played. We were looking at the small villages being past when I felt decidedly ill, the water was a lot more choppy, this was not good as we still had 1/2 to go before we arrived at the pontoon. I sent Brendan downstairs to get a few plastic bags - yes I felt that bad.just shoot me & get it over with!. While I was moaning & groaning about dying a painful death , one of the ships cruise directors came over to check on me & started talking to David. We arranged for David to do a scuba dive for $US50. We finally reached the pontoon, which is a water playground. We went up to the top level & found 3 Banana lounges to sit on, which overlooked the Banana boat rides . I didn't feel any better yet !.Our concierge friend came over & arranged for towels & a locker to put our gear. 

Continued.

Had breaky in the hut & were ready at 8.15 for our white water rafting day. We were met by Tony, from MBA, at the lobby who introduced us to our driver Mr Dewa, we also had 1 more person from another hotel - Andrey from Russia. The car trip was for about 1 1/2 hours & the roads further to the East had road works. As we approached the drop off point you could see Mt Agung - another active volcano - we would be rafting on the side of it. We were let off at the starting point & were given life jackets & helmets to wear.  Our rafting guide,Noman, went thru some instructions with us & we set off - 16km of rapids. David & I were in the front with Brendan & Andrey in the middle, the guide at the back. The first few km were ok, with a few places you had to duck down low otherwise the trees & vines that came over the side of the river would get you, we went under a few bamboo bridges where you had to lie down flat backward or get taken out, on the 3^rd one I got hit in the side of the arm & on the top of the life vest but was ok. We stoped half way at a large waterfall for a break, we all went up and sat in the lower pond & had a few photos taken.  Back into the boat for the next section which included a 4m drop, the guide prepared us in the correct sitting positions & we went over, you got nice & wet. The guide liked to use the cliff walls as a steering measure & we heard a lot of the command BOOM, BOOM, which meant brace yourself we will be hitting something! & we did constantly - usually in the front where David & I sat. Brendan found out how to use the paddle to splash David & we had a constant battle of who could wet each other the most. We stopped again at a narrow section of the river for a swim in the currents, where Brendan went under the front of another boat & his helmet filled up with water, causing it to pull against his neck- he was more frightened than hurt, I think the guide, Noman, was more worried than us when he started crying, so when we assured him Brendan was ok he decided to climb up the wall of the gorge & jump into the river - showing off for Brendan plus taking his mind off crying. We had about 4km to go & started to look around at the scenery more, we noticed a beautiful blue kingfisher.

Continued.

 

After breakfast David & I headed out to find a printing shop & left Brendan to play in the pool. We didn't find the shop that we were looking for but bought a few other bits and pieces from other vendors.

Booked our Island cruise tour (bounty) with Tony from MBA.

Changed money over.rate 8,250rp/$Aud.

Found sarsaparilla drinks at the mini mart.yes I had to buy a few, 7,000rp each

We came back & got Brendan out of the pool & watched "how to train your dragon" movie while it was really hot 12-1.30ish. Another swim in the pool, drinks ( yes more Toblerone. am becoming an addict) & chips at the swim up bar.

Then, once again, hopped out ready for another walk. We bought some more shirts (Brendan's Bintang Singlet Top) & shorts, & found the road we needed to go on for David's printing place. We checked out a few art galleries. Then we stopped for a massage on the way back 180,000rp for 1 hour (for all of us),we were all in our own little stalls and every now an then one of us would call out making sure everything was ok, It wasn't the best massage, but was ok .although I don't think we will go back to them, will try elsewhere. David also had his hair cut.

Back to the hotel for a quick shower (about the 5th for the day) then off to Poco Loco Mexican restaurant for tea.was nice , David had the Burrito, Brendan Texas chilli & corn chips & I had chicken quesadilla, cost 194,000rp. Brendan was shown a magic trick by one of the staff & was entertained for a good ½ hour. While we were eating a storm approached, and Brendan kept commenting on the lightning strikes, we had a bit of rain but luckily it stopped for us to make it back to the hotel without getting wet..then a huge downpour came for a few hours.was really loud & heavy.