Bali Day 6: More Surfing and Home Sweet Home

Only 2 families were left to enjoy the Bali breeze. I was too lazy to go onto the treadmill and lazed on the bed until it was time for bfast. Shiok ah. Hello sunshine from our balcony.

The original plan was to send the kids to the kids club so that the adults can relax and do nothing. The kids had other plans though. Lil Shauna felt that she was too old for kids club and wanted to surf again. We thought we could save some money by looking for Theo at the beach. Remembering that the surfing school's lessons were tied to the tide, we opted to go to the beach at 10am as we saw that the lessons were at 9am and 2.30pm and figured that 10am should still be good for surfing.

We didn't find Theo at the beach. The Balinese at the beach all looked the same to us in their surfer shorts - dark and skinny. We also didn't seem to find any of the previous day coaches; we probably couldn't recognise them too. We asked for Theo and was told that he was still sleeping. I don't know if that was real. We eventually took on some random instructors at INR200k per kid for 1.5hrs lesson.

We were told that the tide was too high and thus too deep for the kids. They suggested to go to the far right for lessons. They are the experts and we followed them to walk a long way before they finally put the kids onto the surf boards and into the sea. The sea was rough, the waves were huge. They were in the sea for a super long time and holding on to the boards for a super long time without launching. There were others taking lessons as well at the same area and seemed to do better. There were even some older kids without instructors and surfing on their own and doing fine.

The waves were huge and the instructors didn't seem to be able to go far without being knocked back towards the shore. Zaky's instructor appeared to be the weakest and Zaky was knocked off his board once while still in the sea. I was so worried. Eventually, Boo and Zaky's instructors released the board and they didn't manage to surf and were knocked over by the waves. The poor kids went under the waves, were in shock and crying. I told the instructors to cancel the lessons. The instructors were willing to do so too recognising that it wasn't a good condition to surf or maybe they were not competent.

I was upset. We didnt have to pay bcos no lesson was conducted. I refused to tip the instructors. I have to admit that the sea was much rougher than the day before but I think the instructors were just eager to do sales without caring about the kids' safety. Imagine if I and Auntie H did not tag along to look at the kids! When we made it back to stall, they were still trying to get us to let the kids surf, suggesting to do it at half price and at the part of the beach which they initially mentioned that it was too deep for the kids. I rolled eyes.

We went back to the pool and the kids soaked themselves silly. Zaky is a competent swimmer now and I didn't have to worry much about him.

The kids still wanted to surf and we decided to go back to surfing school this time. Bcos we didn't need the introductory anymore, we were charged INR300k per kids for 1.5hr. I asked the school to find back Theo and the instructors who taught the kids the day before.

We had lunch at the pool cafe before more soaking and then back at the surfing school.

Zaky wasn't sure that he wanted to surf. He was tired from all the soaking and had a bad experience in the morning. He also complained of tummy ache. I asked him to decide if Theo did come and also after he had seen the waves. The school allowed us to pay for Zaky afterwards if he eventually decided to take the lesson. I like the school.

The school did find Theo. When Zaky saw Theo, it was like meeting a long loss friend - hugs and fist bump. Lol. However, Zaky still wasn't sure. Theo apologised for not being at the beach in the morning. He wasn't sure that we would turn up.

We were at the beach at about 2.30pm and were advised to wait for another 30 mins bcos the tide was still too high. See, how professional these instructors were. The kids were happily running away from the waves while waiting.

After a final check that the sea was waist high, the kids were allowed into the sea. The sea was definitely rougher than the day before. Zaky was terrified. He was persuaded to try but after 1 try, he refused to go back. We didn't want to force him. We asked Theo to tell the school that Zaky didn't take the lesson but still paid Theo INR200k, which was what he would charge us privately. Afterall, he came all the way down to the beach for us. 

Lil Shauna and Boo tried a couple of times and they did surf then refused to go back. The waves were scary. I experienced it myself. I went into the sea with Daddy Lim to try to catch Lil Shauna bcos she didn't want to crash when she reached the shore. When I was in the sea and looked at the oncoming waves, I felt like tsunami was coming. I backed out and waited at the shore instead. Imagine how bad it was for the tiny kids. 

Her last attempt, she jumped off when she was arriving at the shore and went under the waves; she started sobbing. I was holding on to her and wanted to release the cuff on her ankle that was tied to the board. At that point, a huge wave hit us and we both were knocked over. Luckily Daddy Lim caught Lil Shauna. I sat onto the rough coral pieces and had abrasion on my backside. It was really ouchie. The kids wanted no more surfing after that. 

We already checked out of the rooms and had our shower at the hotel gym toilets. We went to walk around a little bit more before heading to the airport.

Zaky and I headed back slightly earlier bcos he complained of a tummy ache but wasn't successful at the toilet. Then he chomped down 2 donuts before the rest came back and we shared a car to the airport.

It was a mad rush at the airport. It was so bad that we ordered food then heard the boarding call shortly. We attempted to cancel the order but it was just being delivered. We had to pay for it without taking a single bite. Arrggghhh.

I sat with Zaky while Daddy Lim sat with Lil Shauna at the other side of the plane. The plane was super cold. We asked for blanket but there was none. Zaky was shivering and whining that he was cold even though he had his long sleeves on and also my cardigan. I though he was tired. He even refused his food, which I gladly polished off. He refused to sleep until he finished his batman Lego movie. Poor boy didn't sleep well and was fidgeting in his sleep. He was curled up in the seat and his feet was pushing against the lap of the passenger next to us. I was embarrassed but the man was kind and told me that it was fine.

As usual, Zaky didn't wake up when the plane landed. He was whiny when he woke up. He complained of pain everywhere and was very warm to touch. The kids slept from the plane to the airport to the taxi and back home. Zaky was officially down with a fever and I was glad that at least we were home.

Mummy Lim