March 5, 2007

• We had a lovely
  weekend in Bali. Helen has a workshop today and tomorrow. I couldn't manufacture an excuse to stay past Sunday. We stayed at
  the Hyatt, in Sanur. It was overcast, but warm, with little rain.

  We went
  shopping in Denpasar - fabrics and touristy stuff from the main market, which
  is always a great place to poke around.

   Both mornings,we
  walked around Sanur. Yesterday morning, we wandered around the produce market, where
  we encountered Ibu Dian, Helen's ex-teacher assistant.

   Apart from
  that, we spent some time on the beach, and ate and drank a bit. Saturday night, we
  had a fabulous meal at The Village restaurant, now located just down from Jl.
  Bumi Ayu. We met Ketut Kasih who owns surf shops. His boys, whom we had taught,
  were sent to Geelong Grammar to finish their schooling. The older one is about
  to start at the Victorian
  College of the Arts
  (after a year of sorting himself out) and the younger one is a prefect, in Year
  12. It made me realise the resources that the great private schools can draw
  on.

   We then
  migrated to Café Batu Jimbar (now opposite Alas Arum - now Hardy's) to listen to
  Tropical Transit (who used to play at Kafe Wayang). They still play brilliant
  Latin stuff, including "I will survive" in Spanish! We had a chat
  with Monos, the band leader/percussionist/singer (who was surprisingly lucid,
  considering his substance-enhanced lifestyle) and two long-term expats.

  Yesterday afternoon
  I wandered around a bit, and had a good, cheap massage. After afternoon tea,
  again at Batu Jimbar, we returned to the hotel where I packed, headed for the
  airport and caught the plane back to Surabaya.

  • 6:28 am
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