Bye Bye BAli
Trip Start
Nov 28, 2009
1
15
18
Trip End
Dec 13, 2009
Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
our last day in BAli.
we started our day pretty early, as we hoped to see the orphanage after breakfast and the doctor.
We had a lovely chat with our new york friends Dorathea and Wayne, and learnt that they would also be keen to see the orphange...so we arranged to meet them after the doctors visit, and we would share the driver costs of $350,000.
The power went out again, but this time it was toally unexpected. We had a laugh as we were all doing things like - asking for the toast to be heated...no power! doh!...pushing reset on the router...doh no power, recharging the camera...doh no power. We realised we would not beable to settle our hotel bill until; after 5pm, so we were glad to have a distraction with the tour.
Made was not going to be present during the evening shift, so we said our goodbyes and took the opportunity to have a group photo and hug:) we will miss her very much:(
The hotel staff dropped us to the doctor,and Escher had the banages reapplied, as well the blisters cleaned. We had a laugh as we could not pay the powerbill, since the power was out! So we arranged to get the hotel to pay it after we had left. All good. We all got a photo there too, we are very happy to recommend this doctor if people need a doctor in Bali.
We left with a handful of medicines, banadges and notes for the travel insurance company and also the medical note allowing us to take medicines on board the plane.Awesome! NZ, take note, these were free! Gee........
After out pick up we drove back to the hotel and got ready for our drive to the Orphanage with Dorathea and Wayne. We set off in high spirits.
The drive was glorious..the countryside where the orphanage is, has very lush forest and vegetation, plus many geese and cows grazzing by the roadside.Fewer cars and the lanes are bigger, although not always pothole free:P
We arrived at the orphane to meet the daughter of the lady who started it in 1979. Sadly the staff here had very poor english, so we were very glad the driver today had better english and could translate what we said. Not everything was easy, but we got a pretty good idea about the place. It was a dump. It really should be pulled down, it is dangerous and in NZ would be condemned. We took photos of the boys dormitory and some of the rotten ceilings and walkways we managed to see...this was a very small section.
There are 128 children at this place, all of which are aged 6-17.After that they are out on their own. The governement only help out once every 6 months...and to date, they have not paid in over 2 years.
We were in awe of the lady who runs this orphanage. What a hero. She cooks for the children every day, in the tiniest , most savoury kitchen you have ever seen. That is nasi pudi...plain rice for 128 children , 3 times aday.If lucky they get a vegetable or 2 to add. She does this work without weekly assistance from agencies, and is helped by 6 volunteers.
Luckily most of the children are at school 6 days a week so they have time to refuel! (no pool though, this place has little relief from the heat.) The only new thing I saw was a water feature with a goldfish floating around. sob, speaking of floating around, the children all showed us a fish pond and their turtle, who was definately long departed, ... looking a little ripe. :(
The out door area is even worse, with the smell from the pig sty pretty much dominating everything. I had to struggle not to throw up, it was that powerful. There are broken cracked surfaces everywhere you go, it is hard not to have your mouth hanging open while going to a place like this. You can't put into words how hard it is to see 128 kids living in such squallor, and such cramped conditions.We left with a million thoughts racing around.Dorathea and Wayne are also going to help , it is hard to imagine leaving a place like that and not feeling compassion.
We have the address and will be helping very shortly.Watch this space. Big plans afoot!
I was slightly disappointed to find out that the orphanage I had originally thought we were going to, was near the hotel the whole time! We had hoped to see the children from newborn- 6, but Gin at the hotel must have not understood. I work with the babies so obviously have a special interest in this age ...plus because of the babies we have fostered, I have many clothes and toys to donate .So this will sadly have to wait until next visit to Bali. At least we know where to head next time:) Don't get me wrong though...I was totally excited to see the older children, I guess we were lucky to go during school time, as we got to meet a handful.I think 128 would have been alittle depressing, especially as I was already feeling sad we were soon to leave such an amazing country
I met 'made( a very common name in Bali...i'll explain this later)'. Made had a ceft lip and bad eye. She stole my heart, she was such a sweetheart. Very good command of the language, both in Balinese and englis, despite her obvious disabilities. Her speech suprised us, as many with untreated cleft lip usually can not speak. I took her photo and told her how beautiful she was and she said ' thank you miss ' She was delightful. Khailana left asking if we could adopt her:) She also wants to clean out her room and donate lots of toys and clothing.I definately jumped on that one! Woah....Khailana is the hoarder from hell!
I am so proud of my kids...so accepting.Many would not even look at a child with facial deformities, out of fear? repulsion? from the unknown?..but not my children.you guys rock!
After the orphanage we saw a silversmith...we did not stay long as it was obvious this place was very highly priced for the tourists, and Dorathea was not impressed that we were not being taken to an actual local silversmith. Seriously, this place was very upmarket, but in the entrance were some people making the silver, kind of like a step 1, step 2 type thing.We were handed water and then lead to a door and told...now you can buy sort of thing...we all left fast! No offence to the driver or the people at this place, but when it is set up for commissions, it isn't real anymore.We want to go see someone working away in their home.That is the real deal:)
After we fled from this place, we drove to Sanur to have a little look.We extended our stay at Dewani, it was so nice...so missed seeing Tropical Bali. We hoped to check it out, for interest sake, but never managed to find it. Luckily Dorathea and Wayne are looking for a week in another area, so will try to stay there, if it meets their standards.Cool!
EEK though... before we left SAnur we looked at a recommended hotel...it was terrible! They opened the room and millions of dead moths were on the floor and coming out the door.The smell of mould was terrible, I could not breath. The other room, was slightly bigger but the smell of mould was everywhere...I could not wait to leave. I swear i elongated my stride especially:P
From here we went back to the hotel to pack and do some last minute charging of gameboys! We decided to meet up with Doratha and Wayne for a meal at MAdes Warung...Seminyaks and Balis oldest eatery. It did not dissapoint. They had traditional dancing every few minutes and the food was great.
I had gado gado..a cold dish with vegatables and peanut sauce. Rich had NAsi CAmpur..rice with a selection of traditional balinese offerings such as minced chili, eggplant, tempah and tofu. The chili was super hot!
We all got drinks, mine being a favoutrite..avocado juice made with chocolate milk., I loved it.My favourite drink in Bali. No suprises but Escher opted to turn down his dinner...the much anticipated black rice pudding, so I ate that as well and he had nothing! Khailana loved hers...phew!
We suddenly realised the time was running short so made a dash to the hotel in a taxi too small for us, we had kids on knees...it felt so illegal!I kept thinking the cops were going to pull us over, and we would spent 20 years in jail with Schapelle corby:(
We made it back to the hotel, packed up bags, got ready for the drive to airport, swiped the card to pay and guess what.. we got a message on the credit carde terminal...it read...' card not accepted'.I swear I nearly died on the spot.
We tried it over and over.Reset the machine. I had only just used it at the restaurant and everythng had worked..but now that we were half an hour late for the airport...nothing!
We had Doratha and Wayne explaining to the staff that we had used it all day and were honest, but were going to miss our plane.Luckily they agreed to let us go to the airport, where I said we could try an ATM.
When we got there, the ATM would not allow us to take out such a huge ammount. The biggest is $1 million ,5 hundred.We needed $8 million 5 hundred! It was after 10 pm so no chance of a bank and no time. We had to reassure the driver we were not skipping off without paying.We were honest kiwis. He then told us why he was cautious of this.An Australian man had done this a while back and never paid. This staff member was not paid for 6 months, to cover the losses.How wrong is that!! So we left with heavy hearts, we were not wanting him to feel bad, and we felt terribly helpless, esp as we were already late to check in. Thanks to the security who want to check your bags out...more than once I might add! I can't understand why they took my moisteriser/suncream...obviously not 100mls worth. What cracked me up, was hearing that even if it was empty, I could not take it ...why??...LOL because it SAYS 150ml on the net weight!! how silly is that??!?!?!?! I love my 49 pirated dvds I got through , as easy as my underwear! Thanks Bali!
Last minute, I guess in panic, we decided to leave him with Richards credit card, from our joint account. We told them to try it again the morning and I would call mastercard when I got to Australia. We said please cut it up when you have tried it.We are trusting you now...like you need to trust us.
It was a very weird thing to do. But all is sorted now...the card is photographed cut up and we have seen a statement. We will also cancel that card or security reasons, just incase.
We were sure it was the credit card machine playing up...and found out this was the case after going to leave Bali at the departures gate! After getting our bags searched ( lol i couldnt find the key to my bag anywhere) we waved bye bye to BAli and proceeded to walk through the terminal....'' where is your departure tax?'' eek...so we had to go out of the whole terminal and back to the very ATM I had already come from... and you wouldnt believe it...the credit card worked , first time. NO swearing needed! grrrrrr with much grunt!
We paid the departure tax and spent all of 2 minutes in the departure lounge. A minute of it was spent trying to figure out why you can't take a sealed drink onto the plane, after all , it was brought in the coffee shop right by the departure gate!
We had our bags searched and x-rayed yet again...the first of many for the upcoming journey, as we were about to find out!
We were led to buses, that were transferring us to the plane..oh and another security check. I must admit I was quite impressed.They even have a bag wrapping scheme going down...you can have it cling wrapped...my question though? who rewraps it after each security check??? I only saw one company offering this service. Maybe that IS the point...you have to go back to re wrap it...so more money...clever! My opinion?? totally a waste of time. Use far to many padlocks like me and have piece of mind, nothing can be planted in there, and instead, you can spend the remainder of your time worrying about where the bloody keys are!
These buses were crammed full of hot, sweaty people...it really was the longest 3 minutes .I can't hold my breath that long!
Oh and did I mention I had woken up this morning with the starts of laryngitis...so my throat was scratchy already.No drinks allowed, so boy was I glad to get off that bus and breath again.
The plan was packed this time!Full of Australians , I usually wouldn't mind this fact, but many were the loud obnoxious types...grating voices screeching at their children.'' get ov'a ere' ' get yer arse ov'a ere ya c#*T. Child talks back to their sibling, the same way, they were spoken to and get clouted around the head....'' cut the crap, you little sh*t... need I say more.?
I have some lovely Australian friends, I have just come to the conclusion you are a different breed:)
We seem to find this particular Aussie , right when we want some sleep! Right in front of us..across both rows! Every day we found one or 2 in Bali, all morbidly overweight,falling out of their clothing, foul mouthed and so incredibly rude to the locals Everything was an inconvenience, put there only for them.. We were really embarrassed for them. They even speak a different strain of the aussie language.. gutteral, and very rough.Rich reckons this is the women trying to identify with their more masculine side. ME...I think most men sound better when they open their mouths. personal opinion of course :P
We got free tv channels this time..all good and well, but it was past midnight...so how many wanted to watch anyway??
We tried to sleep throughout the flight, which was quite bumpy. Most of us drifted in and out of sleep, but Escher suprised us and slept most of the way..success! I read some Bill Bryson...nothing like a travel book, when you have just finished a trip. I would love to travel and write about it...hmmm....is it my calling? call me...0800- oh-to-travel-more-!
Stay tuned...same bat channel...same bat time:P I'll be loading all the photos soon! There are some amazing photos and videos we want to share..hope you'll enjoy them as much as we had taking them:)
