Saturday 19th June - Ubud

Ubud doesn't seem like the "place to be" on Saturday nights!

Everywhere seemed dead. I heard about a party @ Exile, but didn't end up going.

Today was spent mostly between Monkey Forest Road and my bungalow. I would go out for 1/2 hr, then return to cool down and re-apply sunscreen on my face cos it's so friggin red now.

I bought yet more Bahasa Indonesia books ;) and a book called "Eat Smart in Indonesia for 9,500 R, which explains the market foods and describes the menus... (apparently - I haven't opened it yet). Although I don't think I'll need it, Bali's menus are mostly in English anyway :)

I had another Bahasa Indonesia lesson, I think if I made more of an effort to use what he has taught me, I'd be able to pick it up easier. I'm excited again about learning the language.

I found a big supermarket and bought a Balinese Calender, a notepad as I've completely filled my diary, some candles, and cheap water.

My heart is light tonight after an evening of depression; I called Nick earlier and left a message on his answering machine to give me a call back and he did. I ran back to my bungalow so I could plug him into charger and talk for ages.

MAN it was good to hear from him and he's so funny and I'm just so comfortable and natural with him.

He has met other girls on holidays previously, twice in fact, whereas I never have. I realize things are different in the "real world" and it is unlikely to work out in the long run, and I don't even know if I'll see him again, and I should just be happy with the time we've spent and keep the happy memories.... but then there is that "what if...?" question, which ALWAYS gets me into trouble, but I'm a curious cat, and I'm going to leave the possibility open instead of just closing the door to opportunity. Who knows?

Earlier today, I walked down to the Monkey Forest with the intention of looking at the monkeys but there was a guy shoving bananas in front of me who kept repeating "For the Monkeys", and suddenly I was put off going by myself, will wait until next time.

I had dinner at that grand opening place again, this time I ordered what the owner had recommended the previous night, Thai Green Curry Chicken, served in a coconut (kelapa) shell. It was pretty good, more interesting was the way it was presented.
Lisa? who was a sole traveller sitting in a table next to mine, offered to take a pic of me with my weird meal, so you'll get a visual when I get home ;)



After dinner, I went to the Putra Reggae Bar again to meet Oka who had SMS's me that he was waiting for me at the bar.

Met some of the nicest travellers there tonight...

Sabrina - 20 yo from Germany who had spent the last 8 months in Australia and was on her last leg of her journey before heading home. She was so nice, so friendly, and very interesting and spoke English very fluently.

Riva, Sarah?, and Mike from New Zealand, they were a great couple, really friendly, easy-going and fun. They are in Bali for 2 weeks, leaving on Tuesday. Will meet up with them tomorrow night for the live Reggae Band if I'm still in Ubud.

An older guy named Hark? from Holland. Friendly. Building a home in a village in Bali somewhere and doing some project to help the community. His English was also very excellent.

The normal reggae crew was there too.

Oka sat between Sabrina and Sarah. I don't know if he was trying to make me jealous, but he was flirting very heavily with both. In one way, I was glad, because it means that hopefully he can find someone else and I don't have to be "the bitch" :.. but on the other hand, considering his friends and staff have seen us together the past 2 nights, it was disrespectful to me for him to act that way - was he looking for a reaction? He reminded me of the guys that are common back in Ballarat, and as the night progressed, I didn't really want to even be friends with him anymore.

I was having a very interesting night chatting to all the travellers (and I wasn't drinking), but was feeling like crap having no way to respond to the situation... I don't know if you can picture it, or if it's one of those "had to be there" kinda things.

So I went across the road and left that msg for Nick (cost 5,000R to listen to his sexy voicemail and leave a quick msg), then went "next door to the bar" to an internet place to check my email.

Replied to Prue's email explaining my feelings at THAT exact time (pre-Nick's call which has elated me). While I was replying to the email, I saw Oka walk off with Sabrina up the darkened streets - I assume to walk her safely back to her hotel or to come on to her. I hope for her sake that she isn't stupid enough to get involved, although I'm sure she's not as naive as I was, she's a lot more aware of the world than I am, even at her young age.

Nick rang me while I was in the internet place, so I asked him to call me back in 5 mins so I could pay the internet guy and run back to my bungalow. Perfect timing because that also meant that I could avoid going back to the bar altogether.

I mysteriously got a few SMS's from a Bali Mobile number, but I couldn't work out who it was, and they weren't going to say, so I ignored it.

Just now, I got an SMS from Oka which I couldn't work out? It said:

"Call Me... He you want too.. I might to in home Oka"

I mean... WHAT THE??

I guess I'm taking the easy way out here, but I'm thinking that if I don't respond, he'll think that I think he went off with Sabrina to do naughties which makes him the bastard, not me for not being interested. It's the easiest way I think.
He then called, but I let it ring out.

Ok, well happy Penny will now try and get some sleep. Big Day Tomorrow, Bali's Art/Craft Festival. I leave at 10am with Nyoman for 100,000R.