Sekian dan sampai jumpa (that’s it and goodbye)

After another busy day enjoying the pool, the beach, our bure facing the sea and a relaxing massage we ended off our last day at Senggigi yesterday with a walk to the very upmarket "Fresh Market" for a last feast on our fave red bean stuffed pandan flavoured donuts.........

 ....before settling in for another beautiful evening light show on the beach - with our happy hour cocktails......

 ..... our last sunset at Senggigi (this holiday anyway) .......

 Our drive to Praya Airport this morning struck a bit of a traffic jam at Ampenam - the original port town of colonial era Lombok. It provided a great opportunity for us to stop and look around us on a day when a lot of locals seemed to be in a happy mood heading off for family picnics (according to our driver). There was a festive mood on the streets. 

 Apparently this is a spot where elderly men like to gather for coffee and a chat and engage in a bit of barter and offloading of second hand scooters and bikes (a bit of sidewalk Gumtree perhaps?)

 This guy (and his mates) gave us a big smile and a thumbs up (which we missed with the camera!)

 Our driver told us that normally people can't be transported on the tops of cars/buses, but he thought the police might be turning a blind eye today because it was family picnic day!

 We saw all types of transport too......

 On the way we had an interesting discussion with our driver about the student demonstrations in Jakarta we'd seen reported on the news. He explained the controversial new legislation to us that the demonstrators fear will limit human rights in Indonesia. As a proud Muslim man he supports the proposed restrictions around men and women living together before marriage - and the more draconian laws protecting property rights. I must confess I supported the concerns of the students but listened with interest to his very strong support for the new laws. Religion seems to play a big part in all this!

Back at Denpasar Airport (by about 2pm today) we had about a 10 hour wait for our midnight flight back to Sydney - which we decided to spend at the new(wish) Airport Novotel in a nice, quiet, modern and bright and well equipped room. The hotel has a lovely swimming pool, good eating places on offer and a very scenic rooftop bar. Rob was happy because he could watch the planes from the bar area and I was happy because i could see the ocean and one last fabulous Bali sunset.

 We both remarked on how this hotel was at least 3 squillion times better than any other airport hotel we've been in (Rydges Sydney Airport I'm talking about you in particular!!!) and how noticeable is the refinement and grace of Balinese people compared to the local people we met in Lombok.

 Here's to beautiful Bali/Lombok and the wonderful holiday we have enjoyed together over the past two weeks. We'll see you again next year ...........