Today is tattoo day! Not for me, but for Jamei. We aren’t in a mad rush to get going though because she’s not getting picked up till 10am. I am super keen to get a walk in after feeling quite lazy from yesterday’s relaxation on the boat, forgetting all the swimming we did.

I decide to head out for a walk and chose yet another different route. This time choosing a much longer lap which takes me by the beach and through the shopping areas of Legian. Along the beach front the pathway is shared by bikes and people so they’ve installed speed bumps to make sure bikes in particular take it easy. For me, it’s just another hazard that clumsy me needs to navigate.

I feel faint from the walk today, being a hot day and being able to pick up pace on account of walking on paths and not the sand. I pass many runners chatting away and others out for their morning walk. I say good morning to many, just as I would when I exercise in the mornings back home.
What I don’t get to see is all the wonderful colours of the traditional dress during ceremony time. They’re always in incredible and vibrant colours.

As always I check in with the girls to see if they’re ready for breakfast. Boston is, Jamei is not answering. So I head back, but grab a coffee to go from my favourite coffee shop. It’s here I have a quick chat with Steve. An expat who lives here 6 months of the year. Originally a FIFO (Fly In Fly Out) worker, has visited Bali many times. He says he worked to enjoy a balanced lifestyle and loves it in Bali for that reason. I bid him farewell as I make my way back to the girls.
Boston is almost ready and eventually Jamei knocks on the door and we head to breakfast. The late night hair season has definitely taken its toll on us both but she is on a time frame this morning so it’s time to eat.
We order breakfast and then Jamei heads out to grab some cash and snacks for her day in the chair at the tattoo shop. Seems the pancakes take a little longer than my breakfast of the day so she makes use of the wait in a more productive way.
Jamei returns to find her pancakes and also her sister disappeared as she has left to head up to the room. I’ve decided to blog after breakfast so basically the 3 of us all have different plans this morning.
I finally finish blogging, some days it takes hours, other days it just flows. It also depends upon what has happened. Some days have more stories than others. Yesterday was certainly full of exciting things to share. It’s not long before Jamei reappears as her ride is here to take her to the tattoo shop. I tell her I love her, as is customary for me when I part ways with a family member, both over the phone and in person. I do this because if there is ever a last time we interact because of something terrible happening, I know the last thing they know is that they were loved by me.
The labor of love blog is finally done so I pop upstairs with Boston for a quick dip before we head out to wander around to do some shopping.

I love our rooftop pool, it’s such a peaceful place. A contrast from the craziness that is just beneath us on the streets. It’s incredibly hot today. The sun burns the skin on impact and has a real bite to it. So Boston stays a short time longer while I freshen up and wash my hair as I decided to take out my braids today.
It’s not long before we head off and happily chat on our way in the lift as to what Boston is on the hunt for. But before we do that we’ve decided to head into Kuta to see how Jamei is doing with her tattoo. She is still pretty upbeat, so we hang around for a little bit.
The shop has only 2 artists and both are working on day long tattoos. So Boston and I excuse ourselves to grab lunch not far so we can pop back in to farewell Jamei before we head back towards Legian.
Boston and I find a place on Poppy’s Lane and meet the owner at the front. He introduces himself as Blacky. He sits and chats with us for a while, as does his nephew Made (pronounced Mar-day) but apparently his “Aussie name” is Douglas. We laugh and chat for a while before and after ordering.
We talk about life and work. Including Made being interested in dating Boston of which she was not keen cause he is too old. He is 22 (despite looking much younger than that). We find out that he is paid by the day and not the hour, earning the equivalent of AU$6 a day. He asks Boston what she used to get paid for her causal job, and he is shocked to hear that it is AU$15/hour. Such a contrast in lives. Boston comments to me about how the cost of living is different here, which is true. But still such a significant difference.
It’s time for us to go after eating our lunch and we quickly pop in to say goodbye to Jamei and find a taxi back on the main road. I’m impressed that Boston can already spot the good cab company and we wave it down.
I get our driver to drop us off just short of our hotel because I know a shop Boston has been eying off some clothes. It’s a fixed price shop so no bargaining required.
We move on, and now I get into my element. We walk in and I talk to the staff in each place in Bahasa. This makes them realize they are dealing with a seasoned Bali visitor. Either way, both Boston and I are friendly even when the price I attempt to haggle might be too low. I teach Boston about walking away, because if they chase you down the road you know they can do that price. If they can’t you will walk away knowing you have gone too low. But at least it gives you a gauge of what you should be paying.
We have plenty of success with Boston coming home with nearly a ticked off shopping list. All smiles when she spreads out her stuff on the bed for the all important “look at what I got for my $50” Snapchat for all her friends to see.
Now I am keen for a foot massage so I head out and leave Boston to chill out. The place I want to go to, which was where they did Jameis hair last night, was busy and asked me to come back in an hour. Sweet! Gives me time to have a cold bevvy on the beach, in the shade.

I am greeted at Benny’s Bar. Eddie has a chat with me and tells me all about his girlfriend who lives in Perth. I’ve heard a number of young Balinese boys say they have Australian girlfriends. I wonder how much is real love or the young ladies having holiday flings and just staying in touch. Either way, as long it’s working for them both who am I to judge. I later overheard Eddie talking to his girlfriend and asking her when she is coming to visit again. Seems November is the time.
While I’ve been enjoying the cool I have been messaging Jamei who is struggling. It’s a long and painful process for her but continues to handle like the bad ass that she is.
I giggle at the stubby cooler before returning it and the empty cider to Eddie and the other guy working there ask me if I need a new son in law or maybe a husband. I decline both and head back for my foot massage.

Theyre almost ready for me and they ask me to take a seat and they won’t be long. Each salon has their own way of setting things up. It’s so cute to see how they choose to decorate their areas.

I take the full hour today and actually find myself almost dosing off in the chair. So relaxing. I let Boston know what time I am likely to be back and she can decide whether she wants to go for another dip or perhaps head to the beach for the sunset. I saunter in and we make a collective decision to head to the beach. It looks like a beautiful clear evening and therefore is likely to produce a gorgeous sunset.
We are not disappointed. As we walk along the beach we stop to take a couple of pictures. We also take in the sights. Boston points out a soccer game that is going on. They’d marked out a field on the sand and it’s a combination of locals and tourists. As is often the case down here.

The sunset is the perfect backdrop as the silhouettes of the players litter the beachfront. It’s quite remarkable indeed. We find one a new beach bar to enjoy their beanbag chairs and are given menus. This place is definitely on Bali time for sure. We eventually ordered a drink each and some chips to nibble on. Ordinarily I wouldn’t care about time, but I have been back in touch with Jamei who is keen for some company. Boston is keen to head to the hotel. Not before enjoying some live music and of course watching the sun go down.

I settle the bill and we walk back to the hotel. I grab the portable charger and head outside to find a driver. I intend on jumping on a bike because to get in a cab at this time would take too long. Kuta will be in full night time swing, and Jamei’s tattoo shop is right near the three biggest night spots. So I look for transport which finds me in less than 10 seconds from stepping out onto the street. The driver wants me to pay $10 for the privilege. Obviously this isn’t my first time here, so I walk just a bit further down who will take me for much less and I jump on for the ride. We chat all the way into Kuta and I pay him more than we agreed, just because he has been super awesome.
I jump off and head in to see Jamei. Seems there’s a couple of other mates that have popped in for the other customer. I realise that she is German and the two people with her was another German and an Aussie, Andy, who they’d only met a couple of days ago. We are all chatting and Andy and I head over to the minimart for a roadie, and check to see if anyone else is interested. Seems we are on our own. He has been impressed by my Bahasa too, as I interact with the cashier. I honestly don’t know that much, but the reaction from the Balinese is always so warm and grateful so I like to keep it up.
Andy is from Airlie Beach, but I soon find out that he is currently living in Papua New Guinea and working in a gold mine as an engineer. I am suitably impressed and ask more questions about his work. Seems he has a busy job and it is always interesting. They have their own major security in place due to thefts that happen and sometimes have to call in the military to protect their assets. He is super friendly and we chat for a while, until I realise that I probably should be passing the time with Jamei so I head back inside and watch her face go from content to pure pain. She isn’t able to find her happy place as the final touches are put on.

As the final touches are done for the day, tears well up in Jamei’s eyes. It’s all part of the experience, and to be expected, but watching your child in pain never gets any easier. I cheer as she is finally told she is done for the day. Made takes a few pictures, and I look at the clock. Jamei has been here for 12 hours. Even the staff in the shop tell her she is a tough chick.
It is now time for Jamei to have some food, so we walk down the road and head to a place she recalls from her time here during schoolies. The food is good and cheap. Having already had a snack on the beach with Boston I wasn’t really too hungry. Jamei spotted tacos on the menu “its only 2 tacos mum”. When they came out they were the biggest tacos I’d ever seen. Pretty much ate the insides of one and didn’t even get to start the second. They offer for me to take away the rest, but as we know that we are hopping on bikes home, there’s no point. I won’t be able to carry them without incident.

We pay the bill and walk outside, and there aren’t any bikes going past, but we are not far from the bar Boston and I had lunch in, and I am sure we will find some transport there. I was right! But seems that Legian was ‘too far’ for them to take our fare. Then Made (Douglas) from earlier that day spotted me and asked if I was ok. I said the drivers were not willing to take us home. This sparked the attention of Blacky who was sitting inside and invited us to join him for a drink. We declined as Jamei is in far too much pain and just wants to got to bed. I explain to him what’s happened and he rallies 2 staff members to drive us back to the hotel. I took the opportunity to say to Jamei in the lift how this was a life lesson about being kind and friendly, and it will be returned to you.
Home safe and sound we both say our goodnights. I blog and watch the ever entertaining late night antics on the street, and hopefully Jamei has been able to get to sleep. Tomorrow is another day in the chair for her, so she needs to rest. It is also our last full day here in Bali and I can’t believe it’s nearly done. Ahhhhhhh but the memories, the people, for the love of Bali.