Back to the Mainland - Nusa Dua

Josh was sick all through the night. The power also went off so it made for a restless night in the heat. We got up for breakfast and I had to drag Josh from bed he was so tired. We had pancakes - huge, thick dinner plate-sized things.

After returning to the air-con Josh rushed to the bathroom and I packed. We checked out at 9am and put our bags on a ledge under an ornate roof. At first I was worried about leaving them so out in the open, but then I figured it was a good thing that they were in plain view of all staff and guests. No one would touch them without being noticed.

We scored the beach front cabana after the deck chairs were too hot and uncomfortable. We read books while the waves smashed against the sand and coral endlessly. At times the noise was annoying and later relaxing. I watched the water twinkle in the sunshine and clouds build up over the mainland. After a couple of iced teas, we needed lunch. I had a grand plan to hire another scooter and go to Mushroom Bay on Alex's recommendation for a new view and lunch. But Josh was now feeling quite nauseous so we scrapped that idea. With air-con to cool us down, we only had the pool to lower our body temperature. The several groups around us were playing musical chairs with the deck chairs, cabana and poolside chairs. There was a lone girl who spent all day sunbathing (actually burning), a pair of South Africans, two German girls and heavily tattooed German group of four. We lost our cabana at lunch, giving in to spring rolls and mi goreng, only to get the beach deck chairs.

Josh lay and read his book while I attempted to paddle board for the first time, I was on my knees most of the time. After gliding/slapping against the tide over crystal sand and seaweed patches, I summouned the strength to stand up the whole way in. My knees were shaking with the effort!

After checking our pick up time with the helpful barman, I had another quick dip and got changed. The walk to the street felt long and extremely hot. Sweating, we piled into the mini truck. The boat 'station' (actually a Chinese restaurant), was heaving with confused tourists getting off the ferry or trying to get on it before it was ready. To add to the confusion, a bintang recycling boat turned up with 3 trucks full of empties to meet it. There were people walking everywhere with recycling, carrying two 24 packs on their heads in a steady stream. Eventually we boarded. Confusion ensued - people hadn't checked tickets and some people had to stand because it was overbooked. Josh and I sweated down the back in a seat with no air flow. Eventually the boat motored forward over smooth glassy swells several feet high, causing welcome breezes and sea spray through the window. Thank goodness it was a short boat trip.

We arrived in Sanur to peak haggler-hour. We jumped off the boat between the motors to thigh deep water and black sand saturated with drain pipe fluid. The staff forced most of the hagglers away while we waited for the bags. A nice taxi driver drove us aggressively through Sanur, had an argument about being home later with someone on the phone and dropped us at Sadara hotel in Nusa Dua. Josh tipped him 50,000 for the inconvenience of being made late.

The first impression I had of the hotel was complete luxury. Free bottled water, afternoon tea, massage and complimentary drink on arrival. The rooms looked lush from the outside. Second impression was a dark dated room where you had to unplug the lamp (making it darker) in order to charge your phone. We were in the bottom floor. The sun set while I was showering, which made it dimmer again.

Erin and Dave's room was similar, but above ours on the second storey. We exchanged stories over bintang. Ours - the adventures of Nusa Lembongan, theirs - what they had bought in some massive malls.

We had dinner at a restaurant called Glaze just down the road from our hotel. The decor was fresh, white and alive with orchid plants, Seminyak style. The food was delicious but really expensive for Bali. We had cocktails and a good time although I felt overfull.

Afterwards Josh still felt too poorly to watch cricket until 1am with Dave, which I was secretly pleased about. He went to bed and I kept walking to the pool through all the trees with lanterns and spirit statues lit up. The pool circled a bar, just behind a white sand beach. I lay in a hammock for a while next to some hurricane lanterns, starting to enjoy the place.

The next morning we started our day with the buffet breakfast where you ordered from a chef. I had banana pancakes and juice.

We went to the 'mall' a Nusa Dua gated community where you had to pass a security check to get in. It was bizarre. The shops were set out like Duty Free ones with weird little gardens and footpaths between them. Erin was looking for a bookshop so I ended up buy The Happiness Project and some hand made key rings from another shop as presents for friends.

The rest of the day was spent in the pool at resort. We read our books on the loungers and drank cocktails and beer.

We wanted to go to the seafood restaurants on the beach at Jimbaran, but we were too tired so instead we went down the road from the hotel to the cooking school Bumbu Bali. The food was amazing - delicious, authentic meal and very reasonably priced! We had prawns, BBQ chicken, banana leaf steamed fish and mi goreng.

Bumbu Bali