Out of gas....

I don't know if it is the humidity, or if it is just me, but today was a weird day.

It started by me being woken up by the thunderstorm and then having some wild dreams, one that really upset me (about a person I work with). But I finally woke up at 8 and had breakfast and it seemed like it was going to be a normal day.

The same characters were at breakfast and it seemed like the normal goings on were going on, the guys were knocking flowers down from the trees to put on our beds, and the women were making offerings and cooking breakfast.

Big Made seemed to be completely ignoring me this morning. I thought it was very odd, from his initial friendliness, but as I've said before, I think it is better when he leaves me alone because I don't trust him.

Well, I spoke (thought) too soon, because soon he made his way over to me where I was working on my laptop and asked me what I did yesterday. I told him I went to the Barong and Kris performance. He didn't seem to care. It was just an intro.

"What you do today?"

"I'm not sure"

"Shopping?"

"mmmm....maybe, I bought some sarongs yesterday."

And soon, he had convinced me to go with him to a nice little village not far from here where I could buy silver at a good price and see woodcarving.

I wasn't finished yet on the computer but he told me he was ready. So I shut everything down and went to my room where Little Made asked me where I was going. I told him I was going shopping with Big Made.

He told me he was going to get some medicine. He seemed to be hinting around for something. I was playing dumb, because I don't like hints, especially when it comes to my "maid" asking for money.

He was standing in my doorway and every now and then would give a cough for effect. He told me how much the medicine cost, and I think the cost went from 200,000 rp to 600,000 and maybe more, but I wasn't sure because he was speaking in a kind of whisper.

Finally, he came right out and asked if I could help him out.

I was going to give him some money before I left as a tip. I did give him 100,000 rp. the other day, figuring it was for last week ($10), and was going to give him another 100,000. I guess I will give him 200,000, and leave it at that.

It was getting too weird with Big Made inviting me (sort of forcing me) to go silver shopping (and I knew he was getting a commission on whatever I bought if anything) and then the Little Made hitting me up for money for medicine.

So, we went to this village where I was brought to this little workshop and explained how they make silver. It was interesting and the guy was a character. Then I went inside the shop while Big Made lounged around like a sea lion outside reading the newspaper.

I could tell immediately that they didn't have anything I liked. The jewelry was very gaudy and big, nothing any of my friends would like.

I kind of breezed around the store and Big Made came in and said, "slowly". I was starting to get really tired of him.

I found one little opal pendant I kind of liked, but then thought about the whole situation and finally decided I was not going to cave into the pressure, so I told them thanks and left.

The guy who explained the silver-making process was really nice and I told him it is hard to buy jewelry for friends because I don't know their tastes. He totally understood, though Big Made didn't look happy.

Big Made then told me to follow him to the woodworking place, but when we arrived it was closed. He told me he was going back to the hotel and I said I wanted to ride around and take some photos. He told me several times to be careful. I am not sure why. I keep getting the feeling I'm doing something illegal by riding around on this scooter he rented me with an expired driver's license.

I took a few photos and then headed to Cafe Wayan for lunch.

First I stopped to change money. I went to two money changers. The first one had no money. The second one couldn't find the clerk. So I walked and found a third one. It was a nice air-conditioned antique shop and there was a nice, healthy looking dog inside (rare to see... healthy looking dogs that is).

I gave the guy two hundred dollars and he spent what seemed like an infinity examining them. Then he handed one back to me and said it was no good. I asked him what the problem was. He said the paper was no good.

I told him it was from my bank, which it was. I knew my bank would not give me counterfeit bills. I held it up and could see the watermark of Ben Franklin's face which I know you cannot counterfeit. I showed it to him and said, "look, you can see the face, that is how you know it is real" and showed him the other bill which when you held it up to the light looked the same.

He hemmed and hawed and I was getting really irritated. He was really pissy and seemed like he didn't want to change my money. I was getting ready to tell him it was okay, I would go somewhere else, when he finally made the exchange.

But even after he gave me the money, he continued to examine the bills. He had me write my name, passport number and hotel name and once again said, "this one no good".

I said, "look, if you don't want to change my money, I can go to another place", and he said, "okay", meaning, it was okay. But I still don't trust him. Now I am waiting for him to come here with a fake bill claiming it is the one I gave him. I should have had him write the serial numbers on my receipt.

Finally, I got to Cafe Wayan. I had the nasi campur again, and it was as good as yesterday.

I had decided I was going to Nur Salon for a massage to avoid coming back to the hotel and facing either Made. I didn't know what was inspiring both of them to suddenly look at me as an ATM, but I was hoping it would pass in a day.

As I headed up Monkey Forest Road my moto suddenly stopped. I tried starting it and it would not start. My gas gauge said "E", but I thought it was broken because it said "E" before and I opened the tank and there was still gas. This time I opened it up and it was bone dry. Whoops!

I saw some guys sitting by the side of the road waiting to say, "taxi? Maybe tomorrow?" and asked them where I could get gas. They said Jalan Hanoman and I was afraid they were talking about the gas station past The Pond, which would have been really far to push the bike.

I passed some other guys on the corner who were very aggressive and all wanted to help me (of course for a price). I really don't like Monkey Forest Road because everyone seems so aggressive to get something from tourists.

One guy tried turning the bike sideways but that didn't help. The other scowled at me because I wouldn't accept their offers to leave the bike and go get some petrol to bring back.

I preferred to do it on my own without any $trings attached.

I pushed my moto down this little street that runs between Monkey Forest Rd. and Jalan Hanoman, and as soon as I got to Hanoman Rd, there was a guy selling gas in bottles. I got one large bottle which filled the tank about half-way and cost me 12,000 rp (about $1.20). I would have probably paid much more if one of those guys had helped me.

I had a wonderful massage with the same guy I had before at Nur. His name is "Made, Yang Made". It reminded me of "Bond, James Bond", the way he said it (he said it the same way the last time). I told him my name was Rick but he had a hard time with that, so I told him Ketut, and he referred to me as Mr. Ketut from then on.

The massage was great, and I got a tamarind scrub. I think I've had enough scrubs. I could feel my skin kind of burning from all of the exfoliation and the sun. From now on, only massages. I might do one more with "Made, Yang Made".

When I finished it was 3 and I knew the boys would still be knocking down leaves and sweeping, so I went to the gas station and filled up my tank. It cost me a dollar more. I then passed Ubud Wellness Spa. I had seen their flyer in our lobby and knew they had an aloe vera facial, so I drove into their driveway to check it out.

It was a really nice newish spa. I think as far as design goes, it's my favorite so far. They have little individual massage rooms, some with two massage tables, all with a bath and shower and all looking out onto some nice greenery and statues (each room has a different statue in its window).

The facial was great and I now really do look like I am 40 (and I feel like it too!)

Big Made just came over to me to whine about not having any money. I don't know what he wants.

And so, today was a mixed bag. Weird stuff with people and running out of gas and money changers and wonderful spa treatments. I guess this is Ubud.