i had a piece of grilled chicken over some angel hair....the chicken was so tough i could not cut it...instead of taking it away they brought me a steak knife....i tried again with the maitre d' there....i ordered satay instead and that took about 40 minutes to bring....the waitress made a big deal about not making me pay for the grilled chicken....duh!!!!

others have told us that it has slipped greatly....generally by the time rest. get in books they have passed any prime that they once had...

she is doing way toooo many things and the food just pays the bills...

tonight at the village restaurant in sanur i had a piece of metal in my dessert---the last bite....he gave it to me free and 10% off the whole bill....

Just lost a long post, I think Bob's computer has an antipanda device.

We've run into the same people several times. One group in East Bali and then Ubud twice. Another in Ubud and then in Sanur. The second couple, Lorraine and Dennis from Australia, are Bali veterans. They come here lots for months at a time. They only recognized me because I was smoking a cigar both times.

Had dinner on Jimbarran Beach with Putu. The grilled snapper, prawns and crab were great. Very tasty. There was however a great deal of smoke that was somewhat bothersome.

Putu told us that in 2005 there had been a bombing at the very restaurant at which we were eating. This was disquieting, but not fear-inducing.

Before dinner, Putu took us to a fishing village. this was interesting. There were lots of people going in and out in boats as well as a fish market. Very pictaresque.

Like others who have commented on this thread, I too visited Bali in 1988. (We should have had a GTG then!)

Spent a month - Rented a jeep, drove around on our own.

Most vivid memories:

- Attended cremation in the forest where they sold snacks and souvenir T-shirts.
- Walked into a roadside shop. Browsed. Tried to buy coffee table. Turns out the shop was, in fact, someone's living room.
- Vicious monkey attacked fellow guest at our inn in Ubud.
- Bought so many crafts (especially masks) that we sold some on the beach in Legian to other travelers before we shipped the rest home by slow boat.

This thread is making me want to go back, though my Australian friends said it was spoiled even then.

Hmmm, I too thought the panda meant ganja and am truly disappointed. Was hoping he might share at the next Boston GTG.

Bob, do you always carry metal around when eating out or just in certain countries?

Typing in the dark. Others are asleep, wasting their time in Bali.

Both of our hotels have wooden doors like in a castle. The wood is light, so they move easily. The locking mechanism is a piece of wood that slides into a slot on both sides of doors that meet in the middle. A dungeon-like quality.

shaded chair across from the pool.

Ate lunch, salad and fresh rolls. Read some more. Watched a dance class for Balinese children at the hotel. Ridiculuosly cute.

Went for a beach massage. It was very good. The woman actually paid attention and did not chat with her friends as do most beach massagers.

Back to the room for a chat with B,B and K on the roof. Very relaxing.

Out to dinner at Ap Kobar (Sp?) recommended by Denis and Lorraine. The restaurant picked us up and dropped us back. D and L met us there. L demonstrated a drink concocted of Arak (a local rice wine), lime juice, Sprite and ice. Beth and Karen enjoyed this.
each couple got a dinner for two. Beth and I got the Seafood platter (150,000 Rupiah). t was quite good.

Back to the hotel. Some mild bantering with Bob and off to bed. Another brutal day.

A demon inhabits this computer. We need Bemo, son on Brahma to keep them in line. The last two posts were gpanda and not the evil RhkKmk. The second post was only half of what I had typed. Like I said, demons.

Crosscheck, I read your post and thought - 1988 - I think that's when I first went to Bali! But I went back and checked and it was 1989 when I made my first trip there.

You need some Kung Fu Panda!!
Carol

Hmm... Can we believe either one of them when they say it wasn't written by one but by the other? It seems like a set up for some mischief.

This is gpanda under the POB's handle. No purposeful misrepresentations will occur by me. What earthly reason would I have for disguising myself as Bob? Anyone? Anyone? Exactly. While he would obviously benefit from pretending to be virtually anyone other than he, there's no upside for me.

Back as myself.

beth, Karen and Bob have ventured forth in a shopping escapade. I'm left to guard the beach and ward off demons.

For breakfast, Bob and beth had an Indonesian specialty. There was yellow rice and sveral small servings of egg, tofu, ground chicken and ground coconut. Beth loved it. Bob did not appera to be impressed.

The shopping trip was successful. many items purchased. Surprisingly, beth got the most.

I played internet poker at the beach and won $14.



I also smoked an Indonesian cigar. They claimed it was cuban tobacco and rolled in Indonesia, Dos Hermanos was the brand. It was not bad and 1/2 the price of cuban cigars.

Lunch and dinner at the hotel. Both were quite pleasant. For lunch, I had Gaddo Gaddo, an Indonesian mix of veggies with a peanut sauce. Quite good.

Andy - have booked my flights so am going to be back in SE Asia in November. You trip report is really making me want to be there now. Glad to hear you are all having such a fantastic time

Speedos, Cubans, and Internet poker. Life is good.