DAY 53---CELUKAN BAWABG, BALI, INDONESIA

 

Ok, so last night we sailed around to the north side of Bali and are docked today at Celukan Bawang, Bali, Indonesia.  It is 88 very humid degrees here at 2pm with rain showers building around.

Historical/Background Info:

        This is another new port for us.  There’s not much information online but here’s what I found.  Celukan Bawang, with its large wharf, is the main cargo port on northern Bali.  Nearly 600 million tons of cargo come through this port.  The cargo port trades in cement and timber from the Indonesian islands of Java and Borneo.

        The port allows cruise ship passengers to discover a different and not crowded part of Bali, as well as fascinating natural and cultural Balinese sites.  The coast around the seaport is sloppy and rocky but nearby is Lovina Beach which features a stretch of quiet black sand beaches.  Singaraja, Bali’s second largest city at over 80,000, is 25 miles away.

       We were to be anchored in the harbor which is well sheltered from winds and swells making tender operations safer and easier.  But thankfully we were able to dock on the commercial pier today.

LAST EVENING

          Good time at dinner in Prime 7 with Richard, Harvey (two doctors from NY), and Marcia.

                                                  Marcia showing off her new necklace.

                                                   Harvey had this half roasted chicken.

I had surf & turf.  6 oz filet (with our lemon pepper on it) and crab.  They took crab meat out of crab legs for me before servicing.  Rebecca had a 6 oz filet.  One of best filets I have had on Regent.

                                                       Loved this red velvet cheese cake.

                                                               Marcia had some berries.

                                               Harvey had the 14 layer chocolate cake.

We went to Mikey's show.  Unfortunately, we were on side front row and did not want to walk out.  It was a high energy show but too the orchestra was too loud up front.  We did not like his song choices either.  Won't go to his next show.

TODAY

        Yesterday morning when I checked the inside temperature via our Honeywell wifi thermostat I noticed it was 58 degrees when the usual temp is 10 degrees warmer.  So I emailed our neighbor, Melissa, to call Summit Heating to come check the radiant heat boiler in the garage.  It was night time in Durango when I sent the email.  First thing next morning in Durango she called and they came right out.  There was a problem but he fixed the issue.  But he turned the Honeywell thermostat heat on.  That thermostat only controls air conditioning so I tried to turn it off via wifi.  I couldn't.

         I woke up at 4am this morning  which was 1pm day before in Durango.  I called Melissa and asked her to check in garage to make sure the boiler was still working and asked her to turn the Honeywell heat off.  She said she would not be home for few hours but would do it.  Later this morning I figured out how to turn the heat off via wifi.

        I was supposed to go on a 7 hour tour which I paid $109 extra for but was uncomfortable doing it as wanted to monitor the house temperature.  I canceled it at 7am as it was to depart at 7:45.  Well, at 7:45 I got an email from Melissa saying the boiler was running and house starting to warm up.  

        I wish now I had gone on the tour but it was too late to get ready and get down to the theater before it was to leave.  The house temp is now 2 degrees warmer at 11am from what it was at 7am.  Radiant heat is where the pipes are in the floor and hot water pumped through them from a boiler and pump out in the garage.  I can also monitor the temp in the garage via wifi.  The boiler provides some heat to the garage when running so it is another clue if it fails.  The garage is warming up also.  Melissa will go back over when she gets up tomorrow morning to make sure all is well.  Durango is to get 1 to 3 inches of snow Wednesday.

        We love doing world cruises but leaving the house during the Durango winters causes me to have a lot of worrying.  Thankfully I can monitor temps via wifi and thankfully we have a great neighbor.

Our next cruise ship!

                                      Mountainous on the east side of Bali where we are today. 

                                                    Cargo pier on left side of the ship.

On right side this is where passengers head off to the bus area at top of photo.  From the end of the red carpet to the bus area the pier is lined with small temporary shop.  The shop owners drove here from where we were yesterday in Denpasar.  In some of the shops ladies were sleeping on the pier due to driving last night.

This morning as the people left on tours there was a Balinese band and dancing girls.  Probably also came from Denpasar.

We got the red carpet treatment.  I walked off the see the shops after my treadmill time and before showering as it was very hot out there.

Just under the tent were several men in uniforms.  We had to fill out a customs form and take it with us but no one asked to see it.  The officials just smiled and said hello.

The shop people were very much after you to buy something.  They were very competitive with each other.  I would look at what I wanted, priced it, said no and started to walk off.  The price came down and down and down.  

For example they want $10 for the cap.  I ended up paying $5.  They initially wanted $25 for the batik shirt.  I paid $7.

              Headed back to the ship after less than a half hour off of it.  It was 87 humid degrees.

        Lunch in La Veranda.  They were carving turkey so got some dark meat with cranberry sauce.  I then went out to the pool grill and got a toasted hamburger bun and some hot french fries.  I made a turkey sandwich with my turkey.  I also had some chicken soup.

        I don't think I have mentioned the money exchange rate here in Indonesia.  $1 US is equal to 15,280 Indonesian rupiah.

        The ship is pretty empty this morning and early afternoon with most off on tours.  So it is quiet today.  I'm tired this afternoon with being up at 4am and on the phone with Melissa.  Rebecca is caught up on her soaps is cat napping.

        At 6pm we will be having another ship-wide block party.  As you may recall a bell is rang over the PA and everyone is to come out in the hallway where wine and canapes will be served by the stewardesses.  We visit with our neighbors then Captain, F&B, cruise director will come racing down all the ship's hallways greeting everyone.  This is unique to Regent ships.  Fun time!  I will make my Manhattan and Rebecca will take her La Crema chardonnay out to the party.

        Dinner tonight is planned for Compass Rose.  Rebecca is eye-balling the pasta and I am undecided.  Tonight's show is featuring a comedian juggler, Cameo Rascale, from Perth, Australia.

James Capener has a partner, his wife Rebecca.  We will NOT be on the front row.  Back row in case we decide to exit during their show.

        We will be sailing at 5pm this evening.  Our next port will be tomorrow morning by 7am at Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia.  This is a new port for us as usually call on Semarang which is in Central Java.  Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, is in West Java with a population of over 10 million.

        Maybe this photo I took on my laptop of Google Maps showing Java will help.  You will probable need to click on it to enlarge it as with all photos on my blog.

This interesting looking boat went chugging by our suite.  Not sure what it's used for.  Maybe fishing?