Our anniversary day and I was a little nervous as I had planned to surprise my husband with a band on the beach after breakfast. The reason for my nerves was that I had not been very successful in pulling off the 'surprise' part in the past ( I had tried, Jesus! had I tried). Though he doesn't go fishing around or snooping he just seems to stumble apon it or to somehow spring the 'trap'!
Thanks to a couple of wonderful forum members 'didiaust' - thanks for giving me the idea in the first place and of course, j_hercules - through who's wonderfully useful, detailed replies I was able to organise it all from Oz (gotta love modern technology). I text messaged 'Bob' a local musician who lives on Mangsit beach (the next cove over from Klui) and I sent him a couple of links to songs I would like.
Below is 'the' song that I really wanted out of the 4 I sent 'Bob' ...it was going to be interesting what they came up with. Rob and I didn't have a history with this song but the lyrics said it all for me.
this link will take you to 'Youtube'
Shania Twain - Live Performance - You're still the one.
With a bit of covert murmurings the hotel staff were up with the game plan. We organised for one of the beach bales's to be set up with glasses, ice bucket and oj for the couple of bottles of bubbles I had brought over with me from Bali and we couldn't forget the Bintangs. The security guy was let in on it too so he would allow 'Bob' and his band up the hotels beachfront.
He was there to greet us every morning at breakfast too. What a great way to start the day.
The staff at the Klui were wonderful and very patient with our attempts at Indonesian.
Our friends were all milling around trying to look inconspicuous whilst we waited for the band to arrive. Rob, hopefully still oblivious, decided he was going to have a little nap on the day bed on the porch...
'Oh no don't lay down, how about you come down for a beer on the beach'? says I.
'Since when do you offer me a beer at 10:30 am'? (suspicion rising) says Rob.
We managed to manoeuvre Rob on to the bale and Bob and band strolled up and sang 'the' song.
My husband was very thankful he wore his sunglasses. ( I know we both have trouble staying composed whenever we hear this song now).
It was wonderful.. they followed that song with "Sea of Love" and then just hung around on the grass and jammed for the next couple of hours. A bit of Pink Floyd, Bob Marley (of course, Bob's name sake and his dreadlocks do the man proud ). They had a song book with them with a lot of old favorites.
The one on the right was the vocalist and did a really good job.
It turns out that Bob had taught all the boys there were 4 how to play on his well worn guitar.The other guitar was borrowed and the percussion was a pill bottle. I would love to take them some instruments next time, as we have some well worn guitars of our own. It is obvious they love their music.
when she was introducing herself. "Nenek tapi muda dengan lima cucu. Tapi gila!" ( Grandmother but
young with 5 grandchildren. But crazy) ! It always got a good response but when she added the gila bit
at the end some people were a little unsure I think and gave her some sidelong glances. hehe
The jam session ended when the perahu we had booked with Eko again pulled up to the beach for our next snorkel. It was goodbye to the band and an invite to visit them at Mangsit where they play every night.
out of commission for a couple of days but he was now ready and rearing for some adventure!
The snorkeling was better this day (but still not as good as when Rob and I had just waded in from the Gili T beaches the previous trip) we visited Gili Air first. Eko had brought along old water bottles filled with bread that we squeezed when some fish were around and pretty soon the fish were swarming around us and eating it from our fingers too. Good fun, you've got to watch those Parrot fish though they can nip.
On Gili Air we snorkeled from the boat and then off of the beach also. Off of the beach we were getting stung by jellyfish, not badly but it was uncomfortable, like a bit of an itchy sting and it seemed to go quick enough once you toweled off. It was nothing like the stings I've received in Oz waters. There was some rubbish floating around and Eko said they got caught up in the rubbish. I never did spot one of the little @#%*ers. They got me again badly whilst having a snorkel out the front of the Jeeva down my face and chest which drove me out of the water and into the shower (in the daylight ! but I kept my bathers on because of the roof workers).
On Gili Air we camped out at a bar on the beach for awhile where the guys got along really well with the staff and we all bought some great things from the beach sellers. Geri got Lance his 'Frank Sinatra' hat, Rob got his Gili Air tank top that I had to pry off of him a couple days down the track. Karl got his 'Kamahl' cheesecloth shirt and Shaz and I got our lovely Sasak woven blankets/wall hangings , mine has taken pride of place on the wall behind our bed. The seller was lovely and told us all about them. On our return I will definitely have to visit the villages on Lombok where these are made.
We went for a snorkel off of Gili T and afterward went for a wander down the main drag. Geri reckons she would of been most unhappy staying there but Rob and I had a great time when we stayed the previous year. I wouldn't stay too long though just a few days is enough for us. We all got a laugh out of the billboards offering trips to the moon and back via their Magic Mushroom concoctions. It was agreed that our psychedelic phases are well and truly behind us though. There is enough to keep me spinning out on our holiday every day as it was by just walking and looking around ,without any visits from the White Rabbit thanks!
The return journey was all good until it became time to moor the boat. Eko had decided he wasn't going to fork out for transport as part of the fee (as he had the previous day) so this time he had intended to drop us back at the Klui beach but that was deemed unsafe. I started to get a little nervous at this point as all likely spots were looking rough...I don't do waves.
It turned out ok in the end thank goodness, with no injuries..We just needed to time it right with the waves when we each jumped from the boat into the water, where we then sank knee deep into the sand. Whilst trying to maintain balance we then had to get either under or over the side ballast thing that was made out of a tree without knocking ourselves or any teeth out.
Not easy when the waves were knocking us about too. Eko was attentive though and such a fit guy. When we had all made it to shore and the boat was waved off , Eko sprinted off to the road to find us taxi's and when he couldn't by the time we had joined him at the road he grabbed a bike from somewhere?? and rode off to find one. He paid the bluebirds and we were home safe and sound.
I had plans to visit "The Square" for our special dinner but we ended up staying put at the Jeeva for dinner again to just relax.
We watched the sun set on our 30th. year together after a wonderful day.
Surprise ..a success!
30 years of Love..a success!
Bali/Lombok holiday..Having an absolute ball!
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