FREE DAY!!

Had to drag myself out of bed - I am blaming it on a food hangover and so I skip breakfast and scurry down to Starbucks. Seriously, there is no Starbucks in Thurso, but there is one in Ubud.  

It's like every Starbucks except the people are nicer - if you can imagine.  She is just about to ring up my iced soy latte extra strong when I spy a purple piece of cake labeled purple yam coconut cake - well, I have to have one of those, right?

I spend a long time in Starbucks, using their wifi and watching the world go by - the aircon is very good and the seats are very comfortable, but finally the wifi decides I have had enough and kicks me off - permanently.

I wander through street and alleys.  My guidebook said 2 of Asia's best spas are located in Ubud, and I have an appointment at one of them at 3.  I find a place to get my nails done, which is good because they look awful - the trip has done my very glittery manicure in.  

The gal that does them is very nice considering it takes her 20 minutes to get that polish off and she is covered in glitter when she's done.  She has a good laugh when it's over and says perfect for Christmas. 

She asks me if I am here on my own and I say yes.  She is not surprised by this.  This nonreaction is the normal reaction in Bali about being a woman on my own - it is not like this in the UK.  She asks if I am married and I say no, and she giggles and says she isn't either.  Then she asks if I tell people and I said what? and she whispers, how good it is...being single.  I laugh so loud and say I try not to rub it in smug-married faces, but I suspect they know.  She tells me her name is Katherine, and she practices saying mine. 

I walk out with beautiful nails that compliment my pale skin.  I wait for the driver as the spa is supposed to send someone, after 20 minutes, I am thinking something has gone wrong.  Making the appointment was hilarious.  What would you like - a facial and a massage - what kind - I tell him - you want aromatherapy - no - back and forth - finally I say, are you telling me this is all that is available - YES.  10 minutes later he is saying, are you telling me there is no "i" in your name?

He is waiting to open my door when I finally arrive at the Royal Kirana, and my name and appointments are arranged perfectly.  It is quite simply the best massage and facial I have EVER had - it was also probably the most economical.  I have my own terraced house with changing area and open deck and swimming pool - it rains, with thunder, on and off through the treatment.  The whole spa is situated right in this big valley on the river - it is heaven.

 

Back at the hotel, I work up the nerve to call Oka in an attempt to cancel the next 2 days of plans.  I have a whole "it's not you, it's me" speech prepared, but I cannot get through to his cell phone number.  I try a variety of combinations and the office - I cannot get through. In a way, I am pleased and send an e-mail to the office. 

For dinner, I hit Bar Luna and have a giant beer and the weirdest Balinesion tostadas, really I did.  They tasted like cinnamon sugar with iceburg lettuce. On the way back to the hotel, I stop at Cafe Havana.  I swear you wouldn't know you were in Bali - there was a band playing, and it was TOTALLY Buena Vista Social Club - when they stopped playing, they all bussed the tables.  I had fried plantains and a cheese empanada - with a giant beer.  

All in all, it was a very good day.