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During December we made arrangements to have 25 children come and stay with us for a holiday. Some were Madé’s relatives, some had been with us before to have medical attention, some were brothers or sisters of those that needed medical attention and others were children that we had found Sponsors for.
We had taken last year’s list to give us a start on the new list and made changes as we knew who to add or subtract from the list.
We then had to arrange paperwork to get all relevant permissions and arrange for some parents to give us a hand while the children were with us.
On Friday 18th December Chris & Dave, who have been assigned to us for 7 months by Australian Volunteers International, came over to talk about last minute arrangements for the following day. We had already made up in excess of 200 parcels to be taken up to the village to be distributed as presents for the other village children that were not coming down for the holidays.
We also had a lot of ceremonial paraphernalia that was used to open the temples in the swimming pool area and to reopen the temples in the house area. All these had to be sent up to the village at the same time that we collected the children. I myself am not Hindu however I do believe it is important to facilitate for the majority of those that we care for and both children and staff to continue to practice their culture.
Chris and Dave went away with a car load of items and we arranged to meet up with them the following morning at the Ide Bagus Mantra archway on the Bypass near Sanur.
On Saturday 19th December we had arranged with our friend Jeff for him to come over in the morning for his vehicle to be loaded up with some of the presents. He turned up bright and early with Colin, a friend from the UK, so we could then make our way to meet up with Chris and Dave.
Jeff left first while we were still loading up. We were also taking some people that wanted to go to the village for the holiday. Jeff decided to go via the coast road and we would go over the mountains.
We met up with Chris and Dave as arranged and proceeded to Klung Kung where we left Jalan Ide Bagus Mantra and headed for the mountains. We had a pit stop at the restaurant on the big bridge at Klung Klung then continued on up to the high mountain roads that do not appear on any maps.
The scenery up in the mountains is totally different to the low lands. There are many kinds of vegetation with pine trees and elephant grass as well as the usual bamboo. Everything is very green and of course it is a lot cooler up there.
On a previous trip up here with Madé’s dad Mangku Gede, a Holy Man, we were going through a village high up and on the side of Mount Agung when he explained that when Mount Agung erupted the last time, most of the people died and those that managed to escape made their way back and had to start from scratch to start all over again. This is probably why my Satellite Navigator shows no roads for most of the mountain areas and it looks like we are travelling along rivers.
We came down from the mountain to the coast road then just a bit further north we turned left up towards Munti. At the first stop there were lots of children so Chris and Dave distributed some of the presents and we then made our way up to Madé’s dad’s house where there was a big crowd of children and parents waiting for us. We stayed for a short while and had a lunch of nasi bungkus campur.
Madé and her brothers then distributed presents to the waiting children. This time we had lists to make it easier to see that all the kids got a present each, except of course those who were coming with us as they would get presents later.
After this we went to see the people responsible for the children to give them lists of those coming with us. So with their blessing we loaded up 25 children into the three cars then made our way back over the mountains to the house.
It is quite a long way to travel and takes over three hours. The children sang for a while and then slept before waking up and singing again until we got to the house. Madé had already arranged for food to be cooked in readiness for their arrival.
We had three tables put together for them. Madé’s brother had decorated the dining room and put lights up. The children were soon tucking into nasi campur followed by ice cream. After dinner they watched TV for a while then all went early to bed.
On Sunday 20th December I could hear them start getting up at 6am but I tried to ignore it as I don’t have a 6am in my day if I can avoid it! However by 7.40am I had to get up so by the time I emerged from the bedroom it was 8am. They were all laughing and calling “Pagi Pak” or “Morning Pak”. Apparently they had been waiting for me before they would eat breakfast. Madé’s sister Iluh was there and Madé’s sister in law was helping with the cooking.
After breakfast they all wanted to go swimming so at 9am we were all in the swimming pool. We had lots of inflatable arm bands and some pool noodles, inflatable rings and giant balls had all been donated. The older children together with Madé and her younger sister all helped the younger ones to get their arm bands on.
It was already hot at that time in the morning but the time was spent teaching them to swim and good fun was being had by all. At 12.30pm we got out to get lunch. The older children would get the younger children’s food first before getting their own. Lunch took quite a while and they were all chatting away.
By 2pm they all wanted to return to the swimming pool. This was great and by the time we all got out, it was nearly 5pm.
I went to have a rest at this time and I think every one else did the same. I put my feet up and was asleep within minutes. On waking up, some of the children did jigsaw puzzles while others watched TV until it was time for dinner. After dinner everyone watched TV and chatted away.
On Monday 21st December everyone went swimming again from 9am until 11.30am when it was time to get ready to go to Ricky’s Sports Bar in Legian where Broddy had invited all of us for lunch. A lot of the children had been before and had enjoyed it so much that they had told the others all about it. So now everyone was looking forward to this outing with great enthusiasm.
Chris and Dave also arrived at the house at 11.30am as they were assisting with the transport and Dave also was taking some photos. It was soon time to get going and when we arrived, Ricky had arranged parking for us so that made things easier.
Ricky and his staff had set up a huge table along the length of the Sports Bar as there were about 30 of us altogether. They helped get the children settled and chatted away to them. They really are a great team in there! We must remember that the children usually live up in the mountain and don’t really leave their village other than go to school yet they all looked very comfortable in Ricky’s Bar as Ricky and his staff all went to great lengths to see that the children were settled and happy.
We all had a nice lunch of local food and soft drinks as well as coffee for the adults if they preferred. Then, to the delight of the children, one of Ricky’s customers, by the name of Mick, bought them all Cornetto ice creams which were a real treat. When they had finished those, they started singing “Merry Christmas” in English and Bahasa as well as some of their favourite songs as their way of saying thank you to Ricky and his staff as well as to Mick.
After lunch it was still too hot to go to the beach and as we needed some shopping I decided that we would go to Carrefour. This was much to the consternation of Madé who said “You can’t take 25 children shopping!” As it turned out, they were no problem at all and it was just another experience for them as most had not seen a shop like that never mind actually going inside! When the shopping was finished, we went down to Sammy & Suzy's at Legian Beach.
Madé and Dave took the opportunity to take many photos. All the children except one little one went for a walk along the beach so she just stayed with me at Sammy & Suzy's until the others got back. We all then went back to the house for dinner before watching TV until quite late.
On Tuesday 22nd December at 8am I emerged from my bedroom to the sounds of “Pagi Pak” and “Morning Pak” from 25 voices so I had to reply “Pagi” to the merriment of all the children. We had breakfast then it was time for swimming. My friend Colin from the UK and his wife Rose arrived to join in the fun.
The older children played a game of Crocodile that involved choosing one person to be the Crocodile then that person had to catch one of the others who then became the Crocodile. They all decided that Colin had to be the Crocodile so from then on the aim of their game was to keep trying to make Colin the Crocodile as often as possible.
After lunch Chris and Dave arrived and everyone went swimming again. Dave again took lots of photos and joined in with Colin in the game of Crocodile while Chris joined Rose in the shallow end and helped the younger ones to learn to swim. I stayed up the deeper end trying to keep an eye on things and some of the younger children used me as their catcher. They would swim towards me so that I would catch them, whereas the older children would get behind me and hang on, hiding from the Crocodile. It was great fun for everyone and there were big smiles everywhere.
At 4pm it was time to go to Sammy & Suzy's where Dave continued to take lots of photos. They all played with the football and went for a walk. Little Kadek stayed behind with me again as she was too tired to go along with the others for a walk. I knew the feeling as we had spent hours in the swimming pool being very energetic. The others then played football on the beach and still had energy to go for a walk.
After sunset it was back to the house for TV and dinner. It is amazing just how much they can eat. Madé put all the food out in the kitchen including rice in a huge great rice cooker plus there are plates of fish, chicken, pork, tofu, tempe, sayur and sambal. We then have piles of baskets and grease proof paper liners which fit into them, great for saving on washing dishes! Again, the older children and Madé’s sisters get the food for the younger ones first and then they sort their own food out. Madé and a couple of the older girls take it in turns to sort out my dinner.
After dinner they watched TV and it was midnight before they all had gone to bed.
On Wednesday 23rd December we had all been invited by Mark Wilson to go to the Wicked Parrot Restaurant in Sanur for lunch. Chris and Dave came over at 11am and everyone piled into their car and mine. We arrived at the Wicked Parrot to a warm welcome by Mark and his staff and all sat down around the table. The staff made sure that all the children got soft drinks and even got high chairs for the two youngest children so that they could see over the table and talk to their friends. Everyone was then served Nasi Campur followed by ice cream and you could tell from the expressions on their faces that they enjoyed every mouthful of their meals. The children then sang Merry Christmas in English and Bahasa to say thank you to Mark and his staff.
Walter Van Oel the famous Artist is school sponsor of Two of the children also came to join us and it was a special moment when he was introduced to a young girl whose schooling he was funding. She was obviously very grateful to him.
After a great lunch and feeling very full, we all said goodbye and thank you to Mark and his staff for such a great time and piled back into the two cars. We arrived back at the house and everyone then went for a swim before dinner and TV watching.
On Thursday 24th December we had another really fun day with swimming in the pool in the morning until lunchtime and then Dave and Chris came to join in another session in the pool in the afternoon until 4pm when it was time to get ready for a visit to the beach and a refreshing cool drink at Sami & Suzy’s plus a walk along the beach before picking up the Christmas cake on the way back home. Then home for dinner and more TV or just talking until late.
On Friday 25th December the day was spent again in and out of the pool with the children playing games and the younger ones practicing learning to swim. By now no-one was wearing arm bands and all the children were much more confident in the water. Even little Komang Pino aged 5 was forgetting all about his arm bands and practicing swimming underwater across the shallow end. Chris & Dave and Colin & Rose also came up in the afternoon to join in games in the pool.
At 5pm Made and I went to get the babi guling for the Christmas Dinner. Meanwhile the children spent much time getting ready for dinner and getting dressed up in some very nice clothing which had been kindly donated during the year and which Made had been saving up for the children.
We must remember that these children never get the opportunity to dress up as they just do not have the clothes to wear and apart from school, they never leave the village. So it was a real treat especially for the girls Made and her sisters and sister in law had been busy most of the day cooking up a spectacular feast. Made’s brothers and brothers-in-law also came for Christmas Dinner, along with a friend of Dave & Chris’s, Maxine, who was holidaying from Australia.
Made’s brother made very short work of cutting up the pig and nothing was wasted. At 7pm it was time to eat and everyone had a wonderful dinner of babi guling together with soup, nasi, nasi kuning, sayur and Made had even cooked roast potatoes which were delicious. This was all followed by Christmas cake and ice cream. Then I played Santa and handed out presents to all the children. Hugs and kisses all round plus the children singing all made for an unforgettable evening. The visitors left around 9.30pm and the children sat around singing and talking until late into the night when the younger ones fell asleep and then eventually the older ones too. No-one wanted the night to end.
On Saturday 26th December everyone was up and ready early for a trip to the waterfall near Sukawati. Chris and Dave came over at 10am and we loaded up the two cars. The weather was hot and there were many ceremonies taking place so it took two hours to get to the lookout overlooking the waterfall.
We all had a cool drink at the warung there then I sat at the top and had a coffee while the others all climbed down the steep steps to the river below and along to the waterfall. They spent time clambering over the rocks, watching people swimming and a few of the boys even went for a dip before going for a refreshing shower at the natural springs and climbing back up to the cafe. We all had mei goring and then piled back into the cars for the journey back home.
We arrived back at 3pm and everyone was hanging out for a swim in the pool as the weather was so hot.
On Sunday 27th December we all had a relaxing day and included some sleeping along with a couple of sessions in the swimming pool to keep cool.
On Monday 28th December everyone was up early to get ready for a day at Villa Bintang, the home of Phil & Auriole Michelson down in Ungasan in Jimbaran. For several years now, Phil & Auriole and their staff have put on a fantastic Christmas Party for the kids complete with games, lunch and swimming in their pool. Chris & Dave arrived at 10am then Phil arrived shortly afterwards in his car and we all piled into the three cars for our journey down to the Bukit. Phil & Auriole and their staff worked extremely hard to ensure that everyone had a great day and that even the kids who didn’t win a prize for winning any of the games all ended up with a present to take home. Finally at 5pm it was time to leave to go home.
As they said goodbye, Phil & Auriole gave all the children a bracelet as well as a trumpet to keep for New Years Eve. Then, once again, everyone piled into the three cars to drive home. It was an especially long day for Phil as he had driven up from Ungasan to Kerobokan to pick up some of the children and now he also drove some of them home before having to drive back to his place in Ungasan.
On Tuesday 29th December everyone had another relaxing day with sessions in the pool. After lunch Colin as well as Chris & Dave arrived and they all joined us in the pool. Once again the older children played the game of Crocodile while the younger ones practiced their swimming and just played at jumping in and out of the water. At 4pm everyone got ready and we all went down to the beach to Sami & Suzy’s for a cool drink and a walk along the beach before returning home for dinner and TV and staying up late.
On Wednesday 30th December, it was a very similar day to the one before. Sessions in the pool before and after lunch with Chris & Dave arriving for the afternoon pool session. Then a visit to the beach at 4pm for cool drinks at Sami & Suzy’s and the usual walks up and down the shore. Unfortunately, the drive home after sunset took a good two hours due to some of the roads down in Kuta being blocked off which caused heavy traffic. By the time we had stopped at the supermarket for a stock up on supplies, it was nearly 9pm by the time we got home so it was a late dinner that night!!
On Thursday 31st December it was an early start as Made and I had to take one of the children, Nengah to the dentist in Denpasar for her monthly dental check and the possibility of having her braces removed. Unfortunately the appointment had to be rescheduled for February due to the holiday but we did not find this out until we got there.
Chris & Dave arrived at 10am and we spent the rest of the morning looking at the many photographs which Dave has taken so far during the holiday. The children love to have the photos taken and love looking at the photos just as much as it is something they never have the opportunity to do back home in the village.
At about 12.30pm a family who are sponsoring 3 of the children for school arrived to visit. We all decided to have a swim in the pool to cool off and to play some games with the visitors. Everyone had great fun and the visitors stayed on for some lunch before returning to their accommodation in Kuta. Chris & Dave then went out to buy some fireworks for later and then everyone went back into the pool until 5pm. Some of the children had a sleep while others played or watched TV. Then after dinner we all went outside and watched the fireworks display which Made’s brother made a great job of setting off.
Chris & Dave went home at 8.30pm and everyone sat around and chatted, trying to stay awake until New Year. The younger children eventually fell asleep before 12 but the older ones were still wide awake until the early hours.
On Friday 1 January everyone had a relaxing day, tired from the night before. Chris & Dave arrived at 1pm at the same time as one of the children’s sponsors who had come to visit and then come to the beach with us. Everyone went for a swim and games in the pool before getting ready and heading to the beach around 4pm. There it was the usual cool drinks at Sami & Suzy’s plus walks up and down the beach before heading home after sunset for dinner.
On Saturday 2nd January it was an early start for a picnic at Bedugal. Colin & Rose arrived with their transport at 8.30am, followed by another friend from Sami & Suzy’s, Steve, in his car. Shortly afterwards Chris & Dave turned up with their car. Made & her sister in law had prepared a picnic to take with us so we piled everything and everyone into the four cars and set off up to Bedugal. We had arranged to all meet at the markets in Bedugal so finally got everyone together there around 11.30am. Our car arrived first so Made took the opportunity to start buying some corn and fruit as well as school shoes and other items which some of the children needed for school and which Made managed to bargain down to a much better price than down in Denpasar.
We then all headed into Bedugal Botanical Gardens which was very busy so there were lots of vehicles all trying to get parking. We eventually found a good place for lunch overlooking the lake and luckily were able to grab somewhere undercover with a table just before the rain started. There were about 50 people including all of us all huddled in together trying to get shelter from the rain which then didn’t let up for over an hour. It was amazing how cold it became once the rain came in and the winds picked up. The children still thought it was great fun and proceeded to start singing some of the favourite songs to pass the time.
Eventually some of the other people decided to go home as the rain was not stopping so that gave us all more room to start eating our lunch. Made made nasi campur for each of us and there were also krupuks, potato chips plus cakes and fruit to follow. Made had even brought along a big urn of hot water and noodles if anyone wanted them. The hot water came in extremely handy for making some nice hot coffee for the adults.
Finally the rain stopped and the sun came back out in time for the children to go for a walk, get more photos taken and generally run around on the green grass which is a real treat for them. At 3.00pm it was time for the trip home. Everyone was home by about 5pm, just in time to go for a swim before dinner and another night staying up till the small hours talking and having fun.
On Sunday 3rd January it was time to go home to Munti. At 8.45am Chris & Dave turned up with their car plus Phil Michelson kindly arranged for his son and driver to come along in their car to help with transporting the kids back to their village. We finally got everything and everyone packed up by 9.45am and headed off along the bypass to the turn off for Klung Kung then stopping for a cool drink at a local warung at Jambul Hill. Then we all drove up and over Gunung Agung and on to Munti.
The children were all excited to be back home and quite a few parents and friends were waiting at Made’s parent’s house to greet them. We unpacked all the cars then had nasi bunkus. The children then started to say their goodbyes and those who lived nearby walked home and we piled the others into my car to give them a lift halfway up the mountain. We could not go very far as the track is so rough and very steep. In fact the track gets worse as the rainy season progresses. It also gets very narrow and so it is extremely hard to turn the vehicle around to come back down onto the road again.
We then returned to Made’s parent’s house to say more goodbyes before starting the three hour journey back to Denpasar. We were all very sad to say goodbye to the children as it had been such an enjoyable two weeks with them. They had all been extremely well behaved and so appreciative of everything they had been given and what a great holiday they had experienced.
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