Sunday 22 September 2013
This morning Smitty wakes up early, he's catching a fast boat to Java for a 3 day surf trip to G-Land. He's super excited as he's never surfed G-Land before.
This kids & I are moving to Ubud today. We are excited too - the kids have never been before & the last time I was there was about 20 years ago.
Wayan picks us up around 10am & I ask him to stop in at a leather shop in Jl Dhyana Pura. I had ordered a bag a few days ago & paid 50,000 deposit - it only occurred to me this morning that I hadn't picked it up yet. We drove along the street & I couldn't remember where the shop was, then realised we must of passed it. After a long double back, we finally found the shop but it was closed! No problem, Wayan offered to pick up the bag for me when he comes to pick us up from Balian in 6 days time.
On the way to Ubud we asked Wayan to stop in at a supermarket intending to buy some cat food & supplies for our visit to Villa Kitty. Villa Kitty is an animal rescue centre run by a beautiful lady called Elizabeth (think she's Australian - please correct me someone if I'm wrong!). Before our arrival I rang ahead to ask if we could visit & what cat food brand they preferred for their moggies. Elizabeth explained it was cheaper for them to buy it in bulk & donations were welcome. She was thrilled we were coming to visit & welcomes anyone to come & give the cats some cuddles. She also invited us to their Sunday Lunch under the mango tree with the staff.
The kids really enjoyed cuddling the cats & playing with the kittens. Each cat is named & Elizabeth took us around & introduced us to many of them. Some were very timid & some were just wanting to be cuddled & loved like the one who walked up to Jaycob & sat on his lap.
The kids really enjoyed cuddling the cats & playing with the kittens. Each cat is named & Elizabeth took us around & introduced us to many of them. Some were very timid & some were just wanting to be cuddled & loved like the one who walked up to Jaycob & sat on his lap.
Elizabeth told us a few sad stories where people had dropped off their cats while they went on holidays then never picked them up again . It was a very rewarding experience to see what this lady has organised for these animals all through hard work with her Balinese volunteers & donations from visitors We decided not to stay for lunch, kids were excited to check out our next hotel...
http://www.alamindahbali.com/kebun_indah.htm
We managed to snag the last available room - Mangga Madu.... but the pick of the rooms , in my opinion, would have to be the Sandat room which overlooks the pool.
The staff are welcoming & take our luggage down the little footpath to our room. We walk past some houses & a small rice field.
Mangga Madu is the first room & adjoining is Mangga Bali, facing the other way with a garden view.
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| Mangga Madu |
Our room
is huge with a king size 4 poster bed, single bed, chairs &
table, plus a massive day bed – a perfect spot to curl up with a
good book. The only let down is the bathroom, just a bit outdated.
After our welcome drink on the porch, the kids were keen to check out their surroundings & have a quick swim.
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| Flower arrangements being made for our welcome |
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| Pebbled pathways leading to the pool |
By now we were all getting hungry, so we used the free shuttle into town & went to Clear Cafe for a late lunch.
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| Rest room |
I
chose the Organic Super Salad with avocado, Thai cashews &
curried pumpkin seeds 40,000 washed down with a mint infused water
5,000.
Kids
had nachos with home made corn chips & refried black beans
40,000.
Grilled quesadillas with avocado, salsa & sour cream 30,000 & chocolate milkshakes 30,000. Smiles all round
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| Some of the healthy treats in their little shop next door to Clear Cafe |
After lunch, we phoned Kebun Indah to be picked up & taken back to the hotel. There is a convenience store next door & we popped in to pick up some snacks & drinks.
The kids made friends with a local dog on the pathway, just outside the gate from our room.
The kids
are so excited to see some ducks in the rice field & go to have a
look. They find some baby ducklings, they are so cute &
fluffy... Sienna wants to know why she cannot take one home with
her.
Late afternoon we are treated to the complimentary afternoon tea & cakes. They ask us where we'd like to take our afternoon tea, on our porch or by the pool - by the pool please!
I had promised the kids their first taste of a cuppa tea - they weren't very impressed...
Back to the room for a rest....
I made
use of the daybed & with a drink in my hand, searched my notes
for restaurants in Ubud. So many to try & so little time.
I really wanted somewhere to go for dinner that had music. Checking the restaurant reviews on TA I found Il Giardino, an Italian restaurant on Jl Kajeng which is a sister restaurant to the Three Monkeys.
One reviewer mentioned some cool jazz...was not to be on this night - but we had a
great meal anyway.
The restaurant looks lovely at night all lit up &
the tables overlook a pond with ducks. There's a wood fired pizza
oven & bar area with big cushioned circular seating. Very clean &
modern rest rooms.
I started with a passion fruit mojito which was really good. There was complimentary pita bread & pesto. We shared 3 meals between us - shrimp ravioli in a saffron & lemon cream sauce, roasted vegetable pizza with pesto & a salad with avocado, pine nuts & Parmesan. The kids finished off the meal with a chocolate torte & chocolate sorbet. Everything tasted amazing. I can't remember exact prices for each meal but from memory the total was about $46. Was very surprised that there was only one other table of people dining when we arrived, & I hoped that I had made not made a bad choice - but I need not have worried as the service & food were very good.
After dinner I would have liked to have wandered the streets, but the kids were getting tired, so we phoned the hotel to be picked up.
No TV in the room (not missed by any of us anyway) so it was book time & off to sleep zzzz
