Bali

This diary, chronologically speaking, is going to be all over the place. This is because I'm not consistent about updating it and also because it takes about the same time to go on a short break as it does for me to upload a photo. I went to Bali on xmas eve and returned on the 4th of January. It was really nice and also really subsidised (by J's mom).

First off, the longest flight on a budget airline in my life: five and a half hours and nothing free. It was the beginning of an expensive holiday! We stayed in a lovely villa with proportions fit for a giant. The ceilings were probably twelve foot high. It had a swimming pool and a beautiful little garden.

The Villa was on the south side of the island in a place called Seminyak. This is in the heart of the tourist region of Bali and, not surprisingly, the most congested and dirty part of the island.

Our holiday comprised mostly of lounging about, going out for meals and riding scooters about. We did go out a few times, including NY eve, but it wasn't particularly memorable. I wasn't very impressed by the southern part of the island actually. Far too much like a westerners' playground for my liking - never ending clothes shops, bars and European restaurants. Still, for a holiday "comprised mostly of lounging about" I really can't complain.

J's brother, T, and I went for a long ride north into the mountains one day and I am still irritated that I didn't take my camera. It was really beautiful in the central districts with rice paddies and hill-top villages dotted around everywhere. The traffic was unrelentling and it took us hours longer than we expected. On the way back, on a hugely busy 'motorway', I went into the back of the scooter in front of me and T went into the back of me and I was sent careering into on-coming traffic. On-coming traffic happened to be a huge lorry which, and I still see my life flashing before me until this day, fortunately ground to a halt on my account. Shaking like a leaf I completed the journey without taking many chances.

Map - red bits being our bike ride

J's mom K hired a little jeep and took us on other little journeys too. We went to see Tanah Lot with is a temple right beside the sea.

Tanah lot

In the bizarre next to Tanah Lot, designed quite effectively to catch tourists, we came across this little fella:

Fox-like bat

He didn't seem to have a problem hanging around, most likely because everyone was feeding him paw paw. Whenever he ate he would cover his mouth with his wings. Our trips were not without incident, but probably would have been if it weren't for the siblings who, by the end of the trip, needed to be separated lest they killed each other.

I tried surfing for the first time too. I haven't tried since so I suppose it is the only time. I didn't get up. It was good though, even on my belly.

Beach I went surfing - note the volcanic black sand

Same place. Pretty dreary day.

All in all it was a lovely little holiday. If I go again I would hire a scooter (great value at around 5 US a day) and travel all the way around the island and stay at a different place every night.

A pretty temple in Seminyak, on the way to the beach

It must have been close to elections in Bali because there were flags flying everywhere. This party, whatever it may be, seemed to be the dominant one.

Peoples' Front of Bali