A brush with an Idiot and a new Friend

Lovely little girls in the village.
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Hello, hello, hello!

Lets get to it!

What I didn't mention in the last entry was that I had been close to tears the evening before due to our accommodation. We arrived on the island not all that early so had settled for a tatty but cheep hotel and my room was like a cell. When I say cheep...this place cost about 1 pound fifty and I was sure I could stretch to a little more for say...a window! I had been having visions of coming here and luxuriating on the veranda of my modest but authentically Indonesian cottage and after the hell that was the journey from Kuta I was none so pleased to have my dreams in tatters.

Peace at last...until someone decides to come and chat and ruins it all!
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So this morning I decided to find a better place to live as I knew I'd be here for a little while and wanted to the peace and quiet I was never going to get staying next to the local school as we were. I was up early anyhow as Mr Japan had unceremoniously banged on my door shouting breakfast!! I dived inside for a shower and when I came out the others had gone off on their own days activities...ah ha...some alone on the beach might be nice later!

So up the island I plodded taking in all the inevitable stalls, warungs (local type restaurants) and dive centers coupled with bars. As the amenities subsided the beach got even more beautiful and local life emerged, then I saw my own little slice of heaven. A place I'd eyed up in the Lonely Planet and after I'd had a look at the tiny bungalow on stilts with openair bathroom and rattan walls I squeaked "I'll take it" before I could cry with perfect happiness. Does it make me shallow to be so overcome by interior design? Or just a big romantic?

Gilly sunset...nice.
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That done I felt overly proud of myself and wanted to have that alone and smug on a white sandy beach feeling. So plodded (very hot) down to the other end of the island to a nigh on deserted area. Do you think it's possible to sit for long on your own here....of course not! Before long a local boy had plonked himself down next to me and wanted to pass the hours practicing his english and asking me questions. I may have been a little rude and curt but he was taking my smugness away!

Lunch didn't offer the chance to even start reading my book before the guy next to me started chatting. He was shortly joined by an attractive girl who seemed to be feeling a little uncomfortable. The guy was German but lived in the US...possible bad combo but I make no judgments. However...even before I've made them this man seems to be the most incredible arsehole I've met in my life!! He starts telling me what the trouble with women is...that he's a perpetual traveler/pilot/all round adventurer that has been gracing various continents with his presence for the last few years and every time I open my mouth he's done it better, harder, faster, more times and with bloody great bells on. We talk about Africa and he waves away everything I say about it even before I finish.He laughs at anything me and his companion take seriously and shakes his head as if we're children to be indulged.

The team grows as Zoe joins the odd bods.
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What makes ME laugh is that Zoe, the companion, tries quite early on to make it as obvious as possible that she's traveling alone and has nothing to do with this total plonker. Just bumped into him on the boat and thought they'd go for lunch she says, she's also German and birds of a feather and all that. I start to make faces behind the Idiots back as he's talking to her sure in the knowledge I'll get away with it. She starts to roll her eyes when he's talking to me and a friendship is born! I invite her for diner and not him.

The boys at Rudy's havin it large!
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I bump into Mr. Japan by the pool of the hotel next door which we can use and have a salty swim. There is almost no fresh water on the island unless you're in a real posh hotel so all the showers are salty too. Small price to pay thinks I. Mr Japan agrees we should move hotels and we decide to head up there first thing in the morn. I spot one of the most beautiful men I've ever seen and nearly fall off a sunlounger because of it.

We have Sushi for dins much to Mr. Japans upset as it's not proper unless eaten in Japan (fair enough), he also hangs over the bar and gives the chef evils as he's making it...poor sod. Zoe is there and the little family grows as the others are quite taken with her and I'm pleased to have another lady around. She is marvelously theatrical and is in fact an actress with the exuberant character that goes with it.

Dancin at the party...we were the only ones but didn't give a monkeys.
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We go to Rudys Bar and sit on stools marveling at the incredible friendliness of the staff and their infectious energy. Then on to a party at the Irish bar called Tir Na Nog where we all dance, Zoe dances on the bar with lots of people looking up her dress and Mr Japan clearly thinks it's Christmas!