SPOILING OURSELVES ROTTEN

We're spoiling ourselves rotten in Bali and having "treatments" as often as we possibly can. Jayden is a little massage sponge:
















Whilst Dave and Sofie are adventurous and keen to try a different spa treatment, the "fish spa." This is where the little fish eat all the dead, dry skin off your feet. They were laughing like crazy to begin with, saying it was tickling and then said it felt like little electric shocks. Me, I'll just stick with massages, foot scrubs and the like.

BALI FUN SHIP

Yesterday, we had another "awesomest day ever" in the words of the kids. The earliest start so far, we were picked up from our hotel at 7.45 am and headed to what promised to be another day of fun in the sun aboard the Bali Fun Ship. We all had a go at snorkelling, a banana boat ride, watersliding (off the side of the boat) and canoeing. Sofie was straight into the water however Jayden was a slow start, saying he hates salt water (what does he think the beach is?) but once he got his feet wet it was a case of how to get him out. After a fabulous barbequed lunch on board we headed, in a tinny, to the shore of Lembongan Island to see some seaweed farming, hand weaving, animal cruelty in the form of a tied up monkey and cock fighting (which was referred to as "just for fun"), what we first thought was some locals praying or such in a temple zoomed in to see them watching a plasma. We came across some real estate for sale before having a quick dip in the Coconut Beach Resort pool on the edge of a cliff before making our way back to the ship. Thinking the trip over was a good one for us (but not for so many others) with a high swell and lots of rocking and rolling the trip back made up for it with Jayden being sea sick into a plastic bag and the ship looking like a battlefield with many green faces and vomiting going on. Other than Jayden throwing up, Sofie was starting to go pale but Dave and I faired quite nicely. Of course the day wouldn't have been complete without Dave having a few Bintang's which he referred to as his seasick tablets. Another great day out and a "must do" for visitors to Bali.

FUN IN THE POOL

by Jayden

When Sofie and me woke up this morning we watched tv. Then we went to kids club and went down the slide and swam in the pool and made cards. Mummy and Daddy went shopping and bought me home a surfie bracelet. For lunch we had a chocolate crossiant that Mum and Dad got down the street. This afternoon I had a snorkelling lesson then I had a treasure hunt and watched Madagascar.

For dinner we had sausages and mashed potato but I didn't eat all my potato cause I was full from my apple I had just before dinner.

TOURING BALI

We had our local guide Gustik organise a tour of the country side. Lots of pictures which will speak for themselves but the highlights were:

- The Bali Barong Dancing, Sofie and Jayden enjoyed the dragons;

- I replaced my lost wedding ring at the local silversmithing shop, now have a great silver wedding ring;

- A crispy duck for lunch while looking over the rice paddy's - Shelley's curry was also delicious. The kids were once again "exploring" the local cuisine with Sofie getting crumbed chicken breast and Jayden getting garlic bread and pancakes;

- Drinking Lewak coffee at the coffee and cocoa plantation (a Lewak is a native mammal that eats the coffee beans, these are collected after they "journey" through the animal's gut giving the coffee a unique flavour - at $80 / 100 grams). There was a definite difference in taste, no bitter taste in the coffee. The kids had local cocoa drink and Shelley had lemon grass tea;

- Looking out over the volcano Mt Batu, and Lake Batur - you can see the lava flows from the last eruption;

- The breaktaking panorama of the rice terraces;

- Buying some fantastic paintings at Ubud markets;

- Of course the Monkey Forest - we bought some bananas and the kids fed them to the monkeys. The little ones and the females were quite friendly but the bigger males could be a little cranky. Gustik had some lollies on him and Jayden and myself held them over our head so they had to climb over us to get to them. And no they don't steal your wallets etc;

- Stopping on the way home at the fruit markets - Shelley bought some fruit including Durian while I bought some deep fried eels (yum);

- Cold Bintang when we got back to the hotel.

A great day all in all.

GOTCHA

It was a typical morning with me heading out for an early morning walk whilst the rest of the family slept in. I've found a great track and head down to the Bonsai Cafe and walk along the beach seeing many sights such as these along the way. Thought the fisherman out there might like to see how the Balinese do it and for the Rio peeps to see the safety standard of a construction site. Any ideas why it's called the Bonsai Cafe?


























It was again time to exchange some more money and after a sleepless night (me worrying again) we devised a plan as to how we'd go about it to ensure we didn't get ripped off. And wouldn't you know it. It seems 'ol mate, the banker, doesn't want to do business with us anymore now we're onto him. This time we bundled all the notes together and Dave handed me each bundle of 20 notes. The banker pointing to the counter indicating to put down but I said "no, no, it's ok." ALWAYS BE THE LAST ONE TO TOUCH THE MONEY. When we got to the end we were short 3 notes. He made up some garbage about ringing "the boss" to check serial numbers of our Australian notes and then wouldn't go through with the deal - Gotcha! We then went to an authorised dealer. This is what it looks like when it's a reputable dealer, large notes!

We had lunch down on the beach in a beaut little cafe with a fantastic breeze.

A tad more shopping. Jayden was especially happy with his purchase. Yet again, another massage for each of us and a manicure for me before heading home for "dress-up's" in traditional Balinese costumes. More photos can be seen here.

KUTA - Good and Not So Good.

Kuta - Good

We decided to go into Kuta today to get some waves at the beach. Sanur beach is dead flat as it sits inside a reef. The kids had a great time in the waves and building sandcastles on the beach. They even had flagged areas with the Kuta SLSC having surf lifesavers on the beach (even they try to flog you stuff - "you want boogey boards?")

You get to appreciate beaches in Australia as the water had quite a bit of rubbish floating around. Even so it was bloody hot and the water was cool and refreshing.

With Shelley's ongoing allergy to sand she sat in the shade of the trees and was immediately swamped by the local ladies - massage? pedicure? t-shirts? coconut juice? - you get the idea. She ended up with a massage (photo here), pedicure and toenails painted and another shirt for Sofie, I got a green coconut drink (photo here).

Kuta - Not So Good

We had decided to change some money at Kuta and were suspicious as I thought we had already been shortchanged once before. Changed $100 at one of the alley "banks" for R820,000 and we both watched carefully while the cash was counted out, never taking our eyes off the bloke. As I walked away I thought to myself that the fellow had handed it to me - Rule Number 1: always be the last to hold and count the money. Sure enough got around the corner and counted the money - R640,000. I don't know how they do it. We carefully watched him all the time count out the full amount. Would hate to play them at cards. At this stage Shelley was a little tired so stormed back to him and fronted him with "you have ripped us off mate!" He took one look at her and gave our $100 back for his R640,000.

Spent the afternoon back at the hotel swimming and sunbaking around the pool, kids in the Kids Club.

MCDONALDS IN SANUR

by Sofie

Today we were reunited with McDonalds (even though we hardly ever went there in Australia). This Maccas was a 2 story, 24 hour and no breakfast fast food restaurant (Jayden was devastated that he couldn't have McDonalds pancakes for brekkie one day). As usual, Jayden had a cheeseburger happy meal, I had a cheeseburger meal and Jayden had a sundae (which he hated), me a McFlurry and Dad had a Big Mac meal costing 95,200 rupiah ($11.50) altogether which is pretty good for a family of 3 compared to Australia. Mum didn't have anything as she doesn't do McDonalds.

Just a few pictures to see here.