Magnificent Kajane (the leg)

Van Holidays Diving Dreaming

March 26th - Two days before the trip to Bali


Thursday evening (March 25th) panic: My leg (lower left) was totally swolen. I called the doctor immediatelly the next morning. Appointment at 12 o'clock. Explained the situation (Bechterew, just back from Detroit, leg/knee is hurting already quite some time, etc, etc). We went through a medical flow chart: slight indication for DVT (Deep vein thrombosis). So, off we went to the AZM (Academic Hospital in Maastricht) to get my blood tested. At about 15:00 hours the doctor called to brief the outcome: not good. An echo is needed to be sure. At 16:00 hours back at the AZM to get an echo: No thrombosis. We can go to Bali! [but what is the issue with the leg ...?]


March 27th - One day before the trip to Bali


My sisters 12½ wedding anniversary: the leg wasn't getting any better. It was getting worse.

March 28th - Leaving for Bali

Sunday morning. Getting up to leave for Frankfurt. Shit, now the knee is also swolen! .... Flight to KL was smooth. We sat on row 11, so the front row, and I therefore could stretch my leg easily. But after 12 hours of flying ..... it wasn't getting better.

Stop-over in Kuala Lumpur (few hours) and walking is getting worse. To be sure, and since the knee feels instable, we buy a knee support band and some elastic bandage. And now .. to Denpassar (~3 hrs flight).

March 29th - Arriving in Bali
Damn, I can barely walk anymore when landed in Denpassar. Leaving the knee support band on in the plane was obviously not very smart.

Van Kajane Mua - Ubud 2010

Customs, imigration, bagage reclaim, it all goes smoothly, and the boy from Kajane is also already waiting for us. Immedately when arriving at our privat pool villa in Ubud I call my own doctor in Maastricht: Bechterew (diagnosed about 2 months ago) was not known to him. The medication that I already take due to that is also what he would suggest for muscule or tendon issues. So, rest and put ice on it to reduce the swelling was the advise. In case the issue is in the joint (what doesn't seem to be the case) than I may go to the local hospital for further treatment.

What a mess - on the possitive side: "The Holiday can start!".

In the evening we had a nice dinner, just a cross the street, at Cinta. Hopefully tomorrow things have improved.

March 30th - Ubud

Long night, despite of that I slept well. When going to the toilet in the middle of the night walking was also much better. Petra looked for the button of the light outside of the villa (as it was a litte too bright). No success.

In the morning walking was again more difficult. Under the shower I could, again, only stand on one leg. So, as before, ice on the leg and keep it high. Later in the day I did some 'excersize' in the pool. Yes, that helps. Walking to the restaurant for lunch is doable. During luch we had a tropical downpour. Now back to the villa for our afternoon thee.

Quite enjoyable, doing nothing all day. But I hope my mobility improves tomorrow.

Next task: to the restaurant for dinner. Going was easy, coming back more difficult. The calf muscle was cramped (a 'long' pain over the middle of the muscle). The knee is still warm, but if I walk carefully and use the knee band, I am fine.

March 31st - Sarong

Second half of the night I was sweating quite bad (just like yesterday), due to which my back was stiff in the morning. I better cut back on the spicy food?!

The swelling is reducing. Will be well after all?

Petra has been to the local market where she has bought 2 very nice sarongs. A coton and a silk one, both with bird print.

Walking is improving. The leg is swelling every time I attempt to walk, and sit down normally. But it's getting less and less on average.

In the evening we, again, had a nice dinner at Cinta. I chose the lean Tuna Steak - so my diet may be okay!

April 1st - Bag and Bike

Today again a lovely day in Ubud (although the above may read as 'all bad', we had planned to relax at our beautiful privat pool villa, and that's exactly what we have been doing). After breakfast we went shopping - Petra bought herself a nice blue 'summer' bag in the town center. We did all by foot - so yes, things are improving significantly. After that we picked up the (free to use) bikes (or what they call bikes here) at Kajane, to go to a nice restaurant for lunch. In between and after these activities floated, swam and 'excersized' in the villa's pool. After an afternoon nap we went to our favourite restaurant: Cinta. This may sound dull, but it's just across the street and the food is good, so .... .

A little bit of reading and than a nice and relaxed day in Ubud is ended.

April 2nd - Sightseeing

Van Kajane Mua - Ubud 2010

It's time to see something else than our pool villa. Time to do some sightseeing! We rented a car with driver from the hotel ($15/hr only) and headed for the 'things to see' in the Ubud area. Our first stop was to see the world famous rice paddies around Ubud. After making some pic's of the scenery We drove on to Petulu, the fanous town of the White Herrons (our driver told us to watch out for the birds droppings - at the same time he explained, with a smile, the locals percieved this as blessings). Next stop, the Goa Gajah - or Eliphant cave. Last stop was to overlook the river Ayung Gorge. This is where the out of budget hotels (like the Fourseasons) are located. And it is clear why! We visited one, the Royal Pita Maha, that is owned by a/the Bali royal family.

Van Kajane Mua - Ubud 2010

A very nice morning was completed with a simple, but very nice, lunch at one of the more authentic (little bit off the road) small restaurants. The afternoon clarified why Bali is so beautifully green: down pour all through the afternoon and evening.

Time for afternoon thee.

April 3rd - Leaving Ubud

A sad moment, seeing goodbye to Kajane. This little 'Special Lodging' may be the best value for money in the world. It for sure is Petra's favourite pace to go! One of the main reasons we returned to Bali, and they - again - didn't disappoint us a second.

To be continued ...........

Van Kajane Mua - Ubud 2010