Waiting for Chris to arrive in Bali

G’Day Nick,

I lazed around the pool all afternoon awaiting the return of the THE INCREDIBLE TRIO, but alas, I opted to watch the live telecast of the opening of the Bali Arts Festival on the TV whilst sipping ice cold tea!. From what I saw, the Festival seems to be a great one this year so I will probably check out a few of the events.

As for the antics around the pool, they have changed again quite surprisingly actually!. Okay you twisted my arm!. The update as I read to you all last night at Captain Haddock’s with a few additions:

Such a conglomeration of sexual diversity manifests itself daily in the watery playground of our establishment.

The gay Italian frolick daily discarding all femininity for a few moments and don their masks of masculinity as two charming and pretty Japanese girls seducingly pass by hand in hand. All token of manliness is demolished when the two girls attempt to dislodge each others tongues in a passionate embrace.

This afternoon, two heterosexual Korean couples availed the diversity. The male members of this quartet painfully attempted to impress their counterparts by base-jumping 15ft into the shallow end of the pool thus creating rapid development of grey hair in their ladies and not to mention high coronary activity.

Of course there are the half-dozen or so ‘ladies of the night’ procured for obvious reasons (but not displayed openly), daintily flitting from room to room, and I can only surmise they are not involved in some bizarre game of chess but instead making their ‘moves’ with astute cunning.

Then, surprise surprise, our gay Italians are suddenlty frolicking with young ladies in hand-to-hand romantic combat of an unusual nature. Again I can only surmise it is some form of cryptic finger-painting technique developed by our ancestors centuries ago in a cave somewhere atop a mountain overlooking their fellow human beings getting splattered on the rocks as the heavy surf rolls in.

As I observe my fellow human beings ‘at play’, I am drawn to think of what Sigmund Freud would make of this had he been sitting around the pool in a pair of floral Bali shorts and wearing a ‘Osama doesn’t surf’ T-Shirt sipping a Bintang through a pink straw……

Okay Folks, it’s time for the restoran report. I have three for you but this doesn’t mean that Candika & I have been pigging out for the last 36 hours!.

As you read in a previous blog by Nick, Josh Grillo, Nick, Candika and myself sauntered down to Captain Haddock’s last night for a bit of tucker.

Captain Haddock’s
Jl Benesari (Poppies Lane 2 end)

I was quite amazed and pleasantly surprised at the restoran’s location tucked away in a small corner of Jl Benesari. Open air, with simple yet unobtrusive decor, it was a delight to sit there and observe the comings and goings of people in the street as we awaited out meal. The restoran menu boasts quite an extensive array of conitnental food as well as Indonesian fare.

Nick opted for French food and chose Marlin sauted in a creamy saffron sauce (Rp22,000). As I cannot remember the actual French for the meal, I am sure you will forgive my ignorance!. In between copious gulps of Indonesia’s finest brew, Nick seemed totally sated. Actaully I did try a portion of the Marlin and found it to be quite soft in texture and not the usual hardness that you find in most game-fish.
Josh on the other hand chose Sauted Jarwo (Rp26,000). A spaghetti dish which Josh described as bland but very tasty. Hmm.

Candika decided to go out of the country and try the Nasi Goreng Thailand (Rp18,000)which she described (some words deleted) as ‘bloody beautiful!’. Candika told me it was very spicy but had a delicate picquant flavour. I stole a little from her plate and my tonsils asked for the Fire Brigade!.

Yours truly, being a fish lover, decided on the Ikan Bumbu Bali(Rp15,500). What can I say but ‘Outstanding!’. Slices of fish steeped in a thin but highly spiced sauce and cooked to perfection. By the time I had finished my meal, my tonsils had already called the Undertaker cos they had ‘pulled up stumps’ and left me.

Atmosphere: Excellent plus a lot more.
Quality of Food: Outstanding!.
Service: Above average.
Rating: 9

It would be hard to find a more congenial atmosphere in which to relax and Captain Haddock’s is a ‘must’ for anybody coming to Bali.

Now for the second. we were walking back to the Internet Outpost after dining at Captain Haddock’s and passed this little warung where the owner beckoned us over in an attempt to draw us into his establishment. We promised to return AND Candika & I did just that for lunch today. The warung is extremely simple with only 5 tables for patrons. However, the extensive menu is the drawcard. Ranging from the usual Bali menu, to Sushi, Javanese, Chinese, Mexican and even has package meals. There is no music banging your eardrums, only the sounds of the daily activity as you sit and await your meal.

Warung Kita
Jl Benesari

I must admit that Candika & I were drawn there out of the desire to eat Javanese food. Candika yearned for the taste of a little Chinese (food, not man!) and ordered Sechuan Ayam (Rp9,000). Tender pieces of chicken topped with a tangy sweet and sour sauce with a side order of Nasih Putih. So much for her desire for Javanese food eh!. So that was left to me.

I have alaways been fond of Ayam Goreng Jawa (Rp7,500). Simply diced chicken fried lightly with the Nasi in an extremly hot wok. Because the wok is so hot, this is the reason the nasi tends to taste a little hard but in fact that is the way the Nasi is eaten with this particular dish.

Candika was still a tad hungry (that woman loves her tucker!) and decided to push the stomach limit and squeeze in a Pisang Goreng topped with ice-cream ann nutmeg. I never saw her lips move but the plate was clean!.

Atmosphere: Acceptable
Quality of Food: Edibly satisfying.
Service: Excellent
Rating: 6

Have you ever looked at a restoran and thought ‘Geez, that place looks a bit top dollar’. Well, this is what I thought about the final restoran for the night. It has a certain amount of elegance in its facade but once inside, it is tastefully decorated and extremly friendly. Candika & I found a table near the entrance so we could watch the action in the street. Immediately the waiter was there and apologised after giving us the menu for the lack of waiters becuase the boss had to lay off half the staff due to recent events. This basically meant that the Mexican and Italian food was off the menu!. However the menu remaining was incredible and I was lost for choice. There was too much to choose from!.

Aquarius Restoran & Bar
Jl Legian (Opp. Prawita Cottages)

I was surprised that Candika’s stomach was empty after the lunch she devoured, but she decided on the Fu Yung Hai (Chinese Omelette with a Sweet & sour Sauce) which was only Rp8,500. We were both astounded at the size of the omelette and its thickness when it wa placed in front of her. Needless to say Candika couldn’t eat it all, and so I helped her finish it after my meal.

Here is where I am going to put my head on the chopping block!. I ordered a Chicken Satay (Rp11,500) AND it was far better than any I have ever tried in my life and that includes at Bamboo Corner.
The Chicken virtually melted in my mouth and the crunchy peanut sauce was so moorish that I had not been in company, then I would have licked the plate!. What was even better was the plentiful serving of prawn crackers I received with the meal.

Atmosphere: Extremely pleasant and relaxing.
Quality of Food: Finger-licking bloody marvellous!.
Service: Excellent
Rating: 8.5 - 9

For value for money, you cannot pass by this place. It is a treasure!.