Hello again, beautiful souls,
Today was another adventurous day here in Ubud, with just a little dash of drama, as you’ve probably come to expect by now! So today we had booked ourselves in for a silver jewellery making class, but first things first, breakfast.
Feeling more adventurous after last night’s dinner went without incident, I finally felt brave enough to add some variety this morning and ventured to have a more adventurous breakfast. Jason, of course, sampled a bit of everything on offer as usual. While we ate, we were serenaded by the frogs nearby. They didn’t make an appearance, but judging by the chorus, they were definitely keeping a close eye on us.
After breakfast, we just had time to nip back to the villa to grab some essentials... sun cream, water, and, of course, raincoats. Then it was back up to the lobby to catch the 10 am shuttle into Ubud. Having learned our lesson from the other day, I made absolutely sure to confirm our return pick up time of 4.15 pm not once, not twice, but three times. And then Jason checked again for good measure ha ha. Once we arrived at the drop off point I even took a photo of the shuttle bus and its registration plate, just in case.
Once we got our bearings in Ubud, we made our way down Monkey Forest Road (isn’t that name fabulous) to find the silver workshop. We took our time, noting the shops and cafés along the way, mentally bookmarking a few to check out later. This area of Ubud has a completely different vibe, being a little more upmarket and buzzing with boutique shops, stylish cafés, and even the odd designer store.
We found the workshop easily, tucked down a tiny side alleyway, and walked in feeling excited and a little apprehensive about what to expect. The staff greeted us warmly, and soon we were choosing designs and jumping straight into the creative process.
For the next couple of hours, we melted, moulded, hammered, stretched, twisted, shaped, and polished our silver into our own unique rings. The only part I didn’t do was the pulling, which I left to Jason. It was far too hot for that level of exertion! Eventually, we both had our handmade rings, which we polished to perfection. Of course, me, being me, something had to go wrong and I managed to bend mine out of shape during the polishing stage, but our guide kindly reshaped it as best he could. It’s still a little wonky, but hey, aren’t we all?
Proudly wearing our creations, we wandered back up the street and found a lovely café that served amazing cappuccinos. We also treated ourselves to a slice of carrot cake for Jason and a salted caramel cheesecake for me, blissfully spending a good hour enjoying the coffee, cake, and watching the world go by.
From there, we strolled back along Monkey Forest Road, browsing the shops and soaking up the vibrant atmosphere. We had an hour and a half to spare before the shuttle, so we decided to indulge in one of Bali’s many massage offerings. Jason opted for another full Balinese massage, while I went for a facial to avoid irritating my sunburn......or so I thought.
Feeling chilled and relaxed while the facial mask worked its magic, the therapist surprised me when she began massaging my hands and arms then (sharp intake of breath) my shoulders. My right side was fine, but when she got to my left shoulder, oh my goodness, I nearly cried out in pain. But I gritted my teeth and pushed through the pain, and I'm glad I did as surprisingly it did feel much better afterward.
Feeling relaxed and rejuvenated, we headed to the pick up point a little early, determined not to miss the shuttle this time. We sat on the steps outside the Art Market, enjoying the dry weather and watching the daily buzz of Ubud. But as 4.15 came and went, no shuttle appeared. At first we weren’t too concerned, as traffic was very heavy at that time of day, so it seemed reasonable to expect a delay.
By 4.45 though concern turned into frustration. We tried calling the hotel, only to be met with the same unhelpful recorded message in Indonesian before the call cut off. Emails went unanswered, and by 5 pm, we admitted defeat and approached a taxi driver who had been touting for business just in front of us. This time we were quoted the going rate so no haggling or negotiation needed today! We jumped in and headed back to the hotel. Jason was decidedly not impressed though when we arrived at reception.
The staff were apologetic and insisted that the shuttle had indeed come, but they had sent a different vehicle and driver. They said he had looked from one end to the other but apparently he couldn’t find us...mmmm 
Jason suggested that it might be a good idea if they were to put a sign with the hotel’s name on the dashboard in future so guests can actually recognise the shuttle. The receptionist seemed genuinely surprised by the idea but agreed it was a good one. I also now have her WhatsApp number, so fingers crossed we won’t have any more pick-up mishaps.
Back at the villa, we jumped straight into the pool to cool off and let the stress of the shuttle saga float away.
As the rest of the evening passed uneventfully and nighttime closed in Jason was wiped out by our early start and creative day so has been in bed since 8.30 and I've been enjoying the opportunity to start reading a new book.
Now, as I settle down to write this update and the clock is ticking on, my eyelids are beginning to feel heavy, so, with that, I’ll say goodnight...... and I would wish you all sweet dreams, but I know that when you read this, you will be waking up to a new day, just as my day is coming to an end....I still can't get used to that!
With love and hugs from Ubud,
Jayne