Bali Gems

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=120 BGCOLOR="#FFCCFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="0433f781egdyul.png"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#009900" FACE="Arial" ><B>BaliGarden</B></FONT> <B> </B><B>|    </B><B> </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BaliGarden"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BaliGarden Info"><U>BaliGarden Info</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="News and Events"><U>News and Events</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Location"><U>Location</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us"><U>Contact Us</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Our Products and Services"><U>Our Products and Services</U></A>   |   Bali Gems</div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=190 BGCOLOR="#CCFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> On this page we will print stories that could have only happened in Bali.</div> <div> If you have a good story that you would like published on this page, email it to us and if we print it we will send you a BaliGarden Gift Voucher to the value of $20.</div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=360 BGCOLOR="#CCFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> Bali Gems</div> <div> More Gems.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Ferry Trip</U></B></div> <bR> <div> This is one of our own stories.</div> <div> For any of you out there that adventure is a thing of the past, try driving in Bali. For a greater adventure, take the car to Lombok on the ferry.</div> <div> On our April trip to Bali with the family we decided to travel to Lombok and take the rental car. Having driven in Bali on several previous trips I now felt I was competent in tackling any trip in Indonesia. </div> <bR> <div> On the morning of the trip we packed  the car with all our belongings (those Kijangs are not as big as they look) some snacks and drinks for the trip and off we headed for Padangbai. I navigated to Padangbai without incident and was starting to feel confident that this trip would be a breeze.</div> <bR> <div> On arrival at Padangbai I drove into the car park area and was immediately met with a smiling face at the window inquiring my intentions. I told him and he directed me to parking space and said he would arrange the ferry tickets. (How many times do you have to be caught before you learn?). Upon parking the vehicle I was accosted by another smiling face, this time in a Police uniform. He politely asked me for the vehicle registration papers and my driving licence. I obliged with both. After studying both the licence and vehicle registration paper he then asked me if I had written permission from the owner to take the car off Bali. I didn't. And also where was my International Drivers Licence? No, I didn't have one. I was then summoned to the nearby Police Station where a lot of conversation was exchanged between the officers. (I would guess the gist of the conversation was 'here's a sucker'). </div> <bR> <div> I suggested to the officer that he might ring the owner of the car, who I knew personally, and he would clear up the matter of permission to take the car from Bali. His answer was 'No Phone'. 'Not a problem' I said and produced my trusty mobile and dialled the owners number. </div> <div> I managed to have the Officer and the owner of the car to have a lengthy conversation at the termination of which the Officer handed me back the phone. I spoke to the car owner who duly informed me that 30,000rp would resolve the matter. I paid.</div> <bR> <div> Then back to the Police Station and after another round of talks I was duly informed that 50,000rp would resolve the matter of the international licence. I Paid.</div> <bR> <div> Having bought my way out of the Police station I walked confidently back to the car to be met by smiling face holding our tickets of passage. Smiling face had nothing to do with the ferry company and so it cost me a 100,000rp this time on top of the standard ferry fare.</div> <div> I did feel better later however when I spoke with an american traveller on the ferry who said to me, "those bloody cops got me for 150,000rp" </div> <div> We did eventually make it to Lembar Harbour in Lombok without further mishap.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><U>A Trip Back Down Memory Lane - 1978 - A Visit to the Doctors</U></B></div> <bR> <div> This is a story from 1978 - Sue and I returned from alovely day of shopping at the Sanur Markets, shell necklaces, new sarongs, sunbathing, swimming, but by 8 O'Clock that night, I felt very faint, hot and cold etc.  I had a terrible night and by the morning, I was as red as a beetroot and had a rash from neck to toe.</div> <bR> <div> The hotel doctor was on the top floor so wearing the biggest, loosest cotton mu-mu, I took the lift up.</div> <bR> <div> The door in front of the lift said Surgery and inside behind the desk sat a Balinese man in a white coat.  I said Doctor?  He said Yes, so I told him about the rash.  He look very concerned (as they do) so I upped with the dress exposing all, and I mean all.</div> <bR> <div> Just at that moment, another door opened and a large Dutchman in a white coat stood looking at me.</div> <bR> <div> I don't know who got the biggest shock, me, the Doc or the other patient he was escorting out of his room.</div> <bR> <div> The Balinese man behind the desk picked up the broom from the corner of the room and finished Sweeping !!!!!</div> <bR> <div> Yes, I had exposed myself to the office cleaner.</div> <bR> <div> So, between the pool bar staff and the cleaning staff, I must have been the talk of the Bali Beach Hotel for the rest of the week.  I must admit I still get a hot flush when I think of it.</div> <bR> <div> PS:-  It turned out to be a reaction to the Amber Solair Sun Cream.</div> <bR> <div> <B>AUNTY BALI</B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>