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Published: February 3rd 2017
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Bali bomb memorial Today we were very happy at our plan to bale out (literally) to Krabi tomorrow. It rained and blew all last night, then stopped and started on and off all morning.
We asked in reception about the price of a taxi to the airport. Using a meter it should be about 60,000. We weere spectacularly ripped off when we arrived. I did a spot of googling and found that actually the official bluebird taxis are not allowed to pick up at the airport, only drop off. Therefore the so-called official taxi voucher counter isn't, and thenprices showing on the board aren't always stuck to. We paid 170,000 and would have been better off negotiating with one of the touts who approached us. The hotel offers a transfer for 100,000 but said it can take up to 40 minutes as the roads have changed. At least that's what we think they said! So we are going to use them, as at least if they don't show the receptionist will have to chase it up. We need to leave by 5am so not sure trying to flag one down on the street would be a good idea.
We needed a few
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The row of little shops all put their buckets and mops on the pavement opposite. There is a lot of mopping so the floors are spotless things so walked around the 'block' - up to the main road, down Poppies 2. chatted with the shop owners, haggled and bought a cap, hair clips and a sarong. We saw 3 young girls (early 20s) paying a man who had dressed up a monkey to pose for photos. They were on the other side of the street, saying how cute. We couldn't believe that at their ages they were not more aware of the abuse it represents, so we shouted shame at them, show them up and make them think a bit was our plan, stupid idiots! Then it was too early for lunch and we had our kindles so went into a bar at the end of the road (Sandbar, I think) for a couple of cokes. Then the rain started. An absolute freakin monsoon, so we were unable to leave for 2 hours. We made the cokes last and they left us be, every time it nearly stopped there was a new downpour. Out came the ponchos and a few umbrellas, although the wind turned this into an extreme sport.
We had looked on TripAdvisor for a good place to eat babi guling, lunch seemed
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Warung babi guling a good idea and and very long overdue by the time we risked making a dash for it, although it was still raining a lot. The place with rave reviews was near to the bar, down an alleyway, we jogged along, Sam in her wedges, and had to go through puddles up to our ankles. We saw the warung and if it hadn't been raining I'd probably have said no. Nobody was eating there and it was a tiny place, food not refrigerated, no menu was offered. We just said babi guling, sat on the only 2 dry seats and were given a plate each with rice, some spinachy stuff and 3 different sorts of pig, stone cold. There was a smalll bowl of hot broth with some unidentifiable body parts in it. We ate it, trying not to think bad thoughts about it being too late in the day to eat it safely (around 2.30). We paid 25,000 each and jogged home, Sam's wedges coming apart at the sole and needing serious drying out and glueing. All our clothes needed a bow dry with the hairdryer!
In the evening we went back to reception to book our airport
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Messages written on the wall from appreciative customers transfer. A different older guy, now quoting 150,000, saying it can take up to an hour. We insisted on the former price, saying who we spoke to and that the time would be only 30mins. He was not happy when we stuck to our guns, rang the driver saying we could speak to him. No, we said, we'd like you to book it for us. He was surly in the extreme, but finally did it. Now we are wondering whether we will have to argue the price at 4.45am! We walked down the road and asked in a few places, prices differed but agreed that there is now a new road. One said that a metered taxi would be about 50,000 in the day. Google maps don't seem to know this yet and put the driving time at 12 mins! So we have uber and the bluebird taxi office number in case we have to argue the toss, sweat it out that someone arrives quickly. Will definitely write a TripAdvisor review. We think the guy on the desk wanted to do a deal with the driver and slush something off the top. So annoying!
We needed a few more
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Satay on a baby barbeque rupiah for the evening and tried to change $10USD? This did not go down well. Too small! Equally £20. We resorted to the cashpoint, now that Santander have at last unblocked all of Sam's cards.
Exhausted, drinks and dinner at the hotel where my satay came on a cute carved wooden barbecue all of its own.
Up at 4.15. Next blog from
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