Bali is frigin’ Awesome Part 2: Food & 'Poo' Coffee!

Curry served in a coconut & yummy Flying Fish


Outside Bubba Gumps & drinking Bintang


Drinking 'Poo' Coffee' & the animal that did it...!!!

The food was divine. If I were to live in Bali I would be a FAT lady. Curry served in a coconut, Yummy Chinese Duck Noodle, & mmm-mmmm the seafood. Pine –a-colada, not Pina colada is made with, yes pineapple & comes served in a pineapple with a hole cut for the straw...! Food & cocktails’ are so cheap & I drank freshly squeezed pineapple juice EVERYDAY!

We also ate at ‘Bubba Gumps’ (You know from the movie Forrest Gump) and before you ask, yes they sell shrimp! They have an awesome system at Bubba Gump’s with number plates on the table, one says ‘Run Forrest Run’, & then you flip it over when you want a waiter, to..... ‘Stop Forrest Stop’. They yell it across the room to each other “Stop Forrest Stop” “Stop Forrest Stop’’ & a waiter arrives at your table. If you order a cocktail they will sing & dance for you... soooo much FUN. We ate there a couple of times.

We also drank 'Poo' Coffee or Luwak Coffee by its real name. The "Luwak Scat" is the indigenous animal who plays an "active" role in the harvesting of the raw coffee cherries. The Luwak feasts on ripe, red coffee cherries seeking out the sweet taste of the cherry itself. Once the Luwak eats the cherry, the parchment covered coffee beans are passed out of the Luwak, with the parchment cover still protecting the green coffee beans. In other words it eats the cheery & shits out the coffee bean. It is then gathered up & the parchment shell is removed.

A rare, exotic & expensive ‘Poo’ coffee like no other!!!

Bali is frigin’ Awesome Part 1: Shopping

The Streets of Bali..


Kuta Markets & 'the Bracelet that Marty negotiated.

Shopping, shopping, shopping......

You will have to imagine a Balinese accent.......Just looking, what you want, yes – look in my shop, Boss you want sunglasses (Marty was reminded of working in the prison being called Boss again!),massage, you want massage, I have Billabong, what you want, sarong, dress........ you could have nightmares about being attacked by stall holders all trying their hardest to get you into their stall with some blocking your way in the street & others grabbing you by the arm. A firm NO stops them. Once there, you get to do some serious negotiating & the key is being able to walk away.

We stopped at one particular stall (they see the tourist coming, probably because we’re all wearing ‘Bintang’ singlets. Bintang is the local beer & not a bad drop!) & Marty is negotiating a bracelet for me (Again imagine the accent). (Marty) “How much” (Stall Holder) “$750,000” rupiah (M) “No too much” (SH) “How much you offer” (M) “$100,000” (SH) “No too low you give me more” (M) “Ok $120,000 that’s my final offer” & we walk away. Well the Balinese Stall Holder chases us down the street trying to get us to pay more, Marty tells him “NO $120,000 is my final offer”, we go into another shop, buy something, come out & he’s still there.....!!! (SH)” You pay more” (M) “NO $120,000” (SH) “Oh OK, OK $120,000” & we have to walk all the way back to his stall & the deal is done.By the way, that is about $13 Aussi Dollers. It’s one of my favourite pieces.

Marty was also offered other ‘treasures’ on the street........ "pssst I have drugs Magic Mushroom, Viagra, Cocaine!!! Hmmm & the penalty for drug trafficking is.......... death?!!!!

I came home with sooooo much stuff & even the lady at customs said I had a lot to declare, clothing, including Roxy & Paul Smith gear, leather handbags wooden & awesome sterling silver jewellery, plus dresses for Charlie & a Balinese Doll that is ‘anatomically correct’ much to Jo’s disgust.

And of course ‘Bintang’ singlets for the family.