Today, as planned, we got up and had a big brekky and then hailed a taxi for Kuta.
We’d seen a few factory outlets and wholesale places on our travels that, from the outside, were offering good deals.
Strike One. Once we got there and had a bit of a look around we found that the prices weren’t really much better. The factory shops in Kuta have even more expensive prices than at home and these bargain outlets weren’t really any cheaper.
Strike two, Kel couldn’t find much she liked. In fact, “downright ugly” was what she thought of most of it. Just not what she was hoping for… She got a few items, but not the fangs bared shopping frenzy she was expecting.
Strike Three, this shopping caper is hot work and there’s not an eatery to be found anywhere nearby. We’re outta there !!!
Grabbed a cab back towards Kuta Square with plans to firstly find a cooling ale and then try our luck in a few of the more markety shops around the alleys here.
Even after the cooldown of temperament Kel was unable to find much to cross off her list … and I daren’t even start on mine … A couple of items did catch her eye and lots caught Hannahs. The backpack was getting fuller, I was onto the second compartment now, at least.
Poppies for lunch saw a chicken satay beat Hannah. Despite it being ‘yummy as!’ she couldn’t finish it after sucking down a strawberry thickshake first.
K
Kel had no such issues with her satay. Beer isn’t as filling as a thickhake, obviously!
Each time the temperament heated up, we stumbled into somewhere for a “Large Bintang, 2 glasses, Terima Kasih’ and then stumbled back out to fight for the bargains. Biggest purchase of the day was a hammock for me, at a total of $46. This ones small enough to fit in the backpack for hiking and will probably find a home in the van. More likely never used at all, but it’s cool god-dammit and I had to have it. For its size its pretty remarkable. King Size and should hold 200kg … or dad plus 2 kids … just. And it folds up into a bag that would easily fit inside a shoebox.
Giving up on the main shops we then gave Kuta Market a go and didn’t fare much better there either. The backpack was now full, however, and that was the signal to call it a day.
Dinner was at the Bali Pub, nearly directly opposite our hotel. Chosen tonight purely for the live music tempting us inside. The owner ended up being a Scottish bloke and was able to fulfil Kels wishes for a ‘bloody hot curry’ with the best Beef Rendang she’s had in a long time. The single guitar player did a great job of keeping the crowd entertained. Again, more dancing was had.
I don’t think we’ll be awake too early in the morning somehow …