Bali Oct 2012

Well blob-out we were looking for and blob-out we got- with little intermissions of island exploration. What a wonderful relaxing time had. The weather was great – though very hot, the sea breezes and views were beautiful and the people as always friendly and helpful. I had a great time with my new camera and enjoyed taking photos – lots of flowers, crabs and boats! Will have to get used to changing lenses but…. Our accommodation was roomy and clean, a little run down but otherwise fine – not at all as the photos on the web depicted it. For the first couple of days we had the pool to ourselves in the afternoons when we had come back from our wanderings which was wonderful.

The daily timetable didn’t change much. A cruisey start, low slow breakfast by the sea with 2 pots of Balinese coffee, lovely sea and boat views and major decisions about the day made. You can see the big concrete water barriers erected to stop the sea eroding the entire coast after they had removed the coral reef years ago. Back to the room to read or look through photos and cool down and then off down the road poking our noses in the odd shop and checking out places for lunches and tea. Criteria was usually beach front and shade though the odd place won out with their garden, a traditional legong dance or black rice pudding. After lunch we returned to our hotel for either a swim or shower and recuperate ready for a night stroll to tea somewhere. Pretty stressful routine wouldn’t you say!

Mixed it up a little with 2 trips out – one to Ubud and the kecak dance at the local village near where we stayed whenever there.

The other to the coast north of us where snorkeling and diving were key attractions. We visited the King’s palace which was beautifully terraced and gardened and the Water palace – another beautiful place with fountains and huge fish in the ponds.

So we saw a bit more of the island. We also stopped at a traditional village which was pretty outstanding. An amazing bunch of bananas growing!

All in all a great restful holiday where the sea lulls you into relax mode and the days main events and decisions are we are we going to eat and when are we going to do it.

So back home now and reviewing photos and washing. Oh well 7 ½ weeks till NZ for Christmas – can’t wait!