My Thursday was all about food. I started off at Café Moka on Jl. Raya Seminyak with a bread basket and coffee for 12,000rp, then rode down to Kuta.
I wanted to continue my information gathering for my ‘3 best restaurants in Kuta’ article and swung by TJ’s on Poppies Lane I to interview one of the owners, Jean from San Francisco.
TJ’s serves Californian-Mexican cuisine and is a great place to bring friends for a good time. Jean came to Bali in 1970 and has spent over half her life here. My interview with her will be up soon.
Lunch today was at Maccaroni which is located on Jl. Legian close to the corner of Poppies II. They might also feature in a future article. Maccaroni was severely damaged by the bombing but has rebuilt and is back in business. The great thing about this place is its location. My glass of chardonay was 32,000rp and sandwich 35,000rp. Both were good.
My old friend Mick Turnbull is back from a 6 week world tour with a new friend…the plaster cast on his leg. Mick went skiing in Japan, visiting friends in California, skiing in Utah and off road motorbike touring in Spain among other things. The highlight was a 5 day trip with the 5 time world champion off road rider close to the Pyrennes in Spain. Mick said the riding was sensational but one thing bugged him, hard as he would try he just couldn’t overtake that damn world champion guy, he was just too quick. So on the 4th day Mick saw his opportunity unfold before him. Roaring down a mountain in a group of five Mick was placed 4th, world champ in #1 spot. A hairpin bent and dirt ramp off an overhanging cliff presented itself and Mick got ‘big air’ like Evil Knievel and passed his rival. Unfortunately the front tire exploded on impact and Mick somersaulted 20 ft and landed with his leg damaged and to add insult to injury world #1 rode over it!
The reason I got to hear all this was because Mick was packing up his mansion in Umalas and invited me over. Poor bugger was stressing because he had to get all his stuff in storage and fly back to Oz for an operation. He hadn’t eaten all day and asked me to pick him up some ‘nasi bunkus’ from Warung Gossip insisting it must include beef rendang, the Sumatran coconut spicy dish.
I swung by and loaded him up with veggies, potato, tofu, rendang and other stuff. At 2pm Gossip has finished with the lunch rush and usually the food that’s there is a little scanty. Today I had a full choice of everything. The latest news from Warung Gossip by the way is that Ary wants to learn to be a bartender and has applied at Rumors on Jl. Oberoi. I know this because I saw her talking to the manager yesterday. I told her not to do that cocktail juggling nonsense but concentrate on her customers and making good strong drinks.
Arriving at Mick’s I saw his 2 smelly feet poking out over the desk on the second floor while housekeeper Wayan and movers were hard at work packaging Mick’s gear. I tell you I shed more sweat moving from Jalan Drupadi to Gang Bima than this guy has moving around the world. He doesn’t actually know where he will be moving and as a Cathay Pacific engineer could end up anywhere on their flight plan. I think it will be hard to beat Bali although life is an adventure and sometimes the most underrated places turn out to be the most memorable. He didn’t want a photo as he wasn’t wearing a shirt and didn’t want the famous gut on public view. So here’s a shot of his leg without the gut.
The good part of all this is Mick used the travel insuranace I sold him a couple of months ago. He joked that he must be the only person ever to collect on it. Travel insurance is often the last thing people think of and can seem like a drag but it will cover your ass so it is important you get it.
Mick is having a private party tomorrow night at Liquid with free flow vodka (with the amount he’s spent there over the last 3 years he should get a lifetime membership and a couple of waitresses thrown in). I will be there and do my best to sample as much of the vodka as possible.
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So does this mean Mick won’t be in Bali anymore, or he will once his leg has healed? Where in Aus is he heading too?
Good thing you organised him insurance!
Can’t wait for some pic’s of the VODKA party!!!!
Naughty Nick, you still managed to get Mick’s tummy in the pic!! Have fun at Liquid, watch out for strange looking women on the way home!!
G’Day Nick,
I had a good conversation with Jean at TJ’s when I was there last. I knew a few friends of hers from SF. She has an amazing story of how she set up TJ’s from the beginning. Might be interesting for the readers eh.
Poor Mick. I know how he feels!. I spent 6 months in a full leg cast many many years ago.
Crafy PICNIC !!
Chris, they may enjoy the change.
I had the same thought as angie. And that’s because you mentioned the tummy, Nick, otherwise focus would have been on the leg.
Mick sounds like a daredevil - what courage!
ehhehehehe Thanks Nick , a comical story.. But let the truth be out there.
It wasnt a bike accident !!!!
I blew my knee out doing stretches after an exhausting days riding in the Pyreness.
Have an operation on thursday, so ill know how long ill be off work after that.
Nice leg cast, what are half the women in Bali going to do now Mick’s leaving.