Month: December 1993

Lazy day by pool. Early swim – trip into Galleria for supplies etc. followed by more swimming and lunging by the pool. Saved our appetites for evening meal of Betutu Bebek (duck cooked in banana leaves stuffed with goodies) at Rai Restaurant – ordered Babi Guleng there for Friday. Also watched dancing there before departing.

Betutu Bebek  is also known as Bebek Betutu – the latter rendering of the dishes name seems to be more common, at least now (2018).

Not an especially memorable day but this was an exceptionally memorable meal. We had been recommended this restaurant to try traditional Balinese dishes, which we had to order in advance. 

Janie and I both look a little red in the face in the pictures from this particular evening. Perhaps the old-fashioned flash photography or more likely a touch too much sun that day.

So pleased were we with the Bebek Betutu that we ordered a Babi Guleng for Friday, despite protests from the staff that the latter (suckling pig) is a dish for many, not just two. 

We tend to avoid places with “traditional” music and dancing these days, but were more tolerant (or perhaps less discerning) back then:

4th Dec – Easy day at Melia Bali Sol acclimatizing ourselves and orienting. Went to Galeria (posh local shop bit) for late breakfast & supplies. Sat out by pool (mainly in the shade) and swam. Lite lunch by pool and dinner in hotel’s seafood restaurant in evening (mixed seafood & seafood stew).

It seems the Melia Bali Sol is now simply known as the Melia Bali – still highly regarded though.

5th Dec – slept in – easy day by pool again. Avoided hottest part of day at Galeria and shopping centres (seaweed for Janie’s legs?) by looking into day trips for the next few days, Swam etc. Finally received some bumf from Kuoni & tried one of their recommended restaurants (Bonaventura) in evening – lobster crab.