Today Lynda was out making friends again. This time she made 27 of them! She was out in search of a new bag and got waylayed by a couple of young people who were wanting to complete an english assignment for school with her. Of course she said yes and the Q & A ensued.
For those of you who have been approached by kids (usually teens) in search of someone to complete a school assignment with you will know the drill. It is pretty much the same questions every time (and this is the case regardless of what country you're in). They ask you your name and how long you'll be here and how you like it and whether you like the food....etc. Lynda answered all of their questions dutifully before she continued along to the soccer field where there was a specific photo she wanted to take. While she was busy with her photo in the middle of the soccer field she was approached by four more young people with the same list of questions and a request for her help with their assignment. Never one to say no to this kind of request but feeling a little tired of the drill she replied, "yes, and then you have to answer my questions and that will be more practice for you." As you may imagine the kids faces dropped and they looked as though they wanted to run from the field but it was too late now.....they'd already asked this crazy woman who wanted to talk to them even longer than they'd been assigned!
These kids were like most who are learning english....more lacking in confidence than in vocabulary and so in short order Lynda had them all laughing and fully engaged in conversation without them even realizing it had happened. Their conversation went on for some time and eventually Lynda asked where their school was and they replied that it is a private english school that they attend two evenings per week and that on Sundays they come into town (Ubud) to engage with the tourists in the hope of finding a native english speaker who will give them a little time so they can hear the words delivered with the correct pronunciation.
It was at that point that Lynda asked where their teacher was and the kids pointed over her shoulder. When she looked behind her there was the teacher and 23 other kids all waiting patiently while these four had their "extra long" session! Lynda apologized for keeping them all waiting and the teacher replied "not a problem" and somehow from that short dialogue Lynda and I have signed up to go to their school at some point to have focused conversation with them. As you may imagine they are all over the moon and Lynda is the hero of their day in Ubud. Not only did they complete their assignment today but they also have the promise of native english speakers coming into their class for an extended private session! Bottom line here is that Lynda and I are looking forward to the opportunity to help these kids out a little. They are all like sponges and so appreciative of the help. Last night we had another focused conversation with Ketut (the young man who makes our breakfast) and the difference in his confidence between when we arrived mid November til now is phenomenal! But back to the kids....not sure when we'll be going but it will happen at some point between now and April and it will be a fun way to spend an evening.
Later this evening after another wonderful meal we decided to head a little further up Monkey Forest Rd in search of an ATM. The one we had been using wasn't working properly and tonight it was only dispensing small amounts of money and since we have to pay a service fee for every transaction we look for ATMs that will give us the largest amount we can get to cut back on the service fees. I should mention here that it is SOOOO cool to go into an ATM and ask for $2.5 Million and get it! And then to see that your bank balance is in the tens of millions is even better. LOL
Anyway, while we were walking up the street (it was a beautiful evening by the way) we decided to stop for coffee and maybe a little dessert at another place we had not been to yet. It is a restaurant on the front of a very swanky hotel and they have comfy couches facing the street. At luck would have it there was also live music at the Laughing Buddha across the street from where we were and so there we sat....watching all the action from our comfy front row seats while being entertained with some fantastic live music that because it was across the street was the perfect volume to be able to enjoy it but still carry on a conversation. Lynda had some tea and a piece of apple pie that had been infused with lemongrass and I had an iced latte (light foam) and a lime tart. Lynda's pie had a scoop of strawberry ice cream on it and my tart had a scoop of sesame seed ice cream (yes....you read that right and it was delicious!). On top of each of our desserts was a pastry stick that had been dipped in chocolate as a garnish and if all that weren't enough the plate also had a smear of foam and a sprinkle of fresh fruit that was the perfect finish to this perfect finish after our perfect dinner! Oh ya....total bill at this swanky place for 2 desserts that were literally art on a plate, an iced latte, and a pot of earl grey tea was $14 including tip.
We thought it just couldn't get any better and just then a guy came walking down the street carrying his wife piggy back! He stopped in front of us and explained that she had refused to walk another step so he was having to carry her. We asked why they didn't come in for a rest and some refreshment and she gave him a little kick (like he was a horse) so he shrugged and they were off and on their way to find their motorbike that was parked somewhere among the masses of bikes along the road. A couple of minutes later we heard a "beep beep" and saw them waving at us from their bike going up the street. They called "good night" and we waved back to them as they drove off into the night. Only in Ubud we thought.....seriously.....the longer we're here the more it seems like a place to come back to or maybe just stay..... LOL. :-)
After leaving our comfy couch with the view (and finding an ATM that would give us some $$) we came across a young couple that looked to be visiting from Japan. They were both terrified of the big dog that was in the laneway they had to go down to get to their bungalow. As luck would have it this is the same laneway that we've gone down many times (last night being the most recent) as it is where one of our favourite little warungs is. So we ducked into the nearest phone booth and donned our superhero suits. Within seconds it was Lynda and Lorrie to the rescue. Lynda called the dog out of the alley and Lorrie ran blocker so the couple from Japan could run down the laneway (alley) in search of their bungalow. It's not that the dog was doing anything at all...not barking or jumping up or anything....it was just there and it was a dark alley and that was enough for them to be too afraid to go home!
Well....that's about it for another day.....so till next time,
L & L
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