An interesting and embarrassing day!
Of course woke with a mixture of jet lag and a hangover. It turns out the beer bottles here cost fifty thousand rupiah, which is about £2,20, and each one is 620 ml. A pint in the UK is about 570 ml and costs between £4 and £5, unless you’re a knob who lives in London and happy to pay £7 a pint; still they get paid more in London and pay £1000 a month to rent a box room in a terrace in the East End.
Breakfast was cheap. I asked for a ‘continental’ breakfast, which was interpreted as two slices of toast, scrambled eggs, butter and a sachet of jam! But it was only 70p so I am not complaining.
Nobody in the pool at midday, though it was very busy when I got up at 8. The other great thing to note is that there Arnt any towels on the sunbeds. Last year when I was on holiday in Turkey, the sunbeds were all ‘towelled’ by 0800, though nobody was on them. I think European travellers can be cunts sometimes.
Mid/late morning wandered down the road to KFC – I know, crap traveller. Long queues but I eventually got chicken and chips … Took my life in my hands crossing the road. Apparently this is one of the main roads north out of Denpasar and is always busy. Went to K Circle and bought a six pack of Bintang, the local beer. I probably should have gone back to the hotel and put it in the fridge, but no – Peter is more sensible. Headed off to the beach with it in my backpack. Walked for miles along the beach – I need to go back and sit down to listen to the waves.
After a convoluted walk I eventually found my way back to the hotel. It turns out KFC is one of my landmarks – bizarre.
Jumped into the pool and swam ten lengths. It’s about 10m so happy; 2m at the deep end. Nobody else in the pool. It appears the hotel fills up mostly with Indonesians and they don’t swim in full sun, Mad dogs and Englishmen…
Back to Google Maps – is there a bar nearby? Well yes there is and it is called ‘Sunshine 88’ and it is right next door to the hotel. Turns out to be a karaoke bar, but they serve food and beer. My first time for listening to Indonesian Karaoke. Some great singers and the girls who work there help to dispel the myth of the petite Asian woman!
At the end of the evening I went to pay with my card – ‘we don’t take cards. Cash only’. I didn’t have enough cash!’ One of the girls offered to put me on the back of her scooter to take me to a cashpoint; I don’t do two wheels anymore – still suffering from the motorbike accident in 1982! So I walked down the road to a cashpoint. Neither of my cards would let me have any money! Both rejected. Which was weird because I had used my NBO card in the supermarket and KFC, without a problem.
Embarrassing.
We went back to Sunshine 88 and there was a guy out there who helped as an interpreter. I offered £15 which was something like ninety thousand rupiah more than the bill. They accepted.
Will I go back?
Probably – beer is less than £3 for a massive bottle and the food was good!
Back at the hotel I did an online chat with my bank. My card is fine, no blocks on it. Must be a problem with the ATM.
Also noted the card runs out at the end of July so how can I get my replacement?
Another mini hurdle!
Fairy Hanny 