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Sunday, 23 February 2014

Last day in Bali! For those of you who are wondering why I am no longer sending sms' s, , I ran out of credit 2 days ago and haven't purchased more as it's too expensive. So... lesson to all, don't bother with global sim or similar,  it's costly, , take your phone and buy a local pre paid sim, it's cheaper and better rates!
So we've checked out of our room and paid $10 to hang in the departure lounge where we're doing it tough!

We have lounges tv coffee and tea or water a gym (as if!) And showers.....oh it is so hard a life......
So we are now all checked in at the airport waiting for our boarding call.... we had our last meal in Bali and it was awesome
This is a pizza. Apparently it's an American idea, roll up your pizza! Delicious tho.... We worked out that we ate about 14 flash meals here for a cost of $425. Thats mains, drinks and even a couple of deserts. So cheap and so yummy!!! 
And so all that is left is the return flight and drive home..... hope you've enjoyed our trip to Bali.



Saturday, 22 February 2014

The taxi drivers/tour guides we've had this week have been interesting people all round. Very curious about the cost of things in Australia compared to Indonesia. And pretty much all with a decent sense of humour too which has made the time consuming short trips by road a little more bearable. Having the air conditioner turned up would have been nice but the poor chaps are used to the sticky heat and keep it low, making us feel warm.... Blah to high humidity I say!!
Pretty much all of the road rules and exemptions posted earlier in the week we have witnessed first hand!! Out taxi today even drove about 50M up the sidewalk to get past stopped traffic so he could run the red light!! He also was comparing population densities between Indonesia and Australia stating "246 million in Indonesia, small country, 23 million in Australia, large country, Indonesians much more jiggy jiggy...giggle".
So, if you're planning a trip to Bali the taxi is an easy cheap way to get around but if you are uptight or squeamish about traffic in close quarters, get a taxi, shut your eyes and don't open them until you arrive! Ignore the odours everywhere. After the first day saying no thank you is less tedious and ignoring people becomes easier.
For Johnno............

Purchased at 
So it must be the genuine article.... Although the attendant did tell me it's not water proof when I left!! We'll see how long it works for! Below, inside the Bagus Watch shop.
 This one's for Jess..........
: )

All over the place there are these 'petrol stations'. This is because there are few actual petrol stations to be found. Ready made molitov coctails.......just saying!!
This is a restaurant still under construction.... If you booked a table when they said to start booking, you'd be hungry by now!!

The daily offerings put out by people to bring them luck for the day.

I suspect a statement about the following vehicles driving..... not likely a business name, but you never know in Bali!

Another couple of cool statues guarding the gates of some place somewhere in Bali!

Now THAT'S a sub!!!!!
DINNER, Lukes pizza
My steak and veges.....

Tonight we splurged and had desserts........


All that plus 2 smoothies all for $50.
Once again the service is exemplary, Oz shop keepers could certainly learn a bit from the Balinese who are actually happy to be employed and customer oriented. 
One day to go, only 3 or 5 more meals...............





Friday, 21 February 2014

Today we met Jacob, Hope, Ross and Jenny and all piled in a mini van for a tour of South Kuta beginning with a trip in a glass bottomed boat from Nusa Dua around to 
The turtle park

Which is on a tiny spit of sand in Benoa Harbour.
Here we got up close with a green iguana


Sea turtles. Apparently they stay here for 3 months and are then returned to the ocean and replaced with a fresh batch of captives.


They also assist with the survival of the sea turtle by keeping them in a clean safe environment for 3 months, these chaps are 3 months old....

Some are 3 years old....

Including some 3 year old albinos....



Then we were given the opportunity to play "I'm a tree" for the toucan to sit on....

Hope didn't want to play anymore once the bird began eating her hair bun!!!


Me the tree.... the bird also likes chewing on your ears....

Ross' turn.... mmmmm another ear.....

Jacob and his snake.

Jacob and his father in law bonding.......with a snake wrap!

My turn... they are very hard to hold onto,


 Look....John Howard! (for those who don't know, look it up)
We found the inspiration for angry birds!!!

Then off to a nice beach for a swim in the ocean...

Just don't cross the line in the sand, there was even a security guard on the other side!! HA.... we swam across the line..... the water was actually better  : )
Next it was off to Uluwatu to the monkey temple there. This place is built on the west facing cliff face with incredible views, you could see the tip of Java from here.



 Some mug tourist always spoils the view.....
 Monkeys in the shrine area....We were all warned to remove hats and glasses... but no one told us they are expert ear ring thieves. One set upon Hope as we wandered in, jumped onto her shoulder and proceeded to remove the clasp and ear ring from each ear quicker than even she could have done and then ran off. 2 others jumped onto Jenny and one made off with her glasses which she had pushed up on her head. At this point an attendant appeared and pursued the monkey returning the glasses to a very grateful Jenny some time later.... Incredible thieves!!
Then we gave some of the nicer ones some fruit, Until this one bared it's fangs at Ross, we figured it was because he was smiling and the monkey thought his teeth were an act of aggression....time to go!!




There were some stone masons re-finishing a wall. They took one stone at a time and chipped it away with a hammer until it fit into the slot, each stone they spent approx 5 minutes on....

Lunch on Jimbaran beach which apparently is usually quite a nice beach but today it was a garbage dump with the close in water full if floating rubbish.... so we skipped the swim there and made our way back to a much needed shower!!! SO hot today!!!!!!!!!