2011-10-02 Bali: Day 6 - Lovina, Hot Springs, Temple

Busy day today!

Daddy had a headache in his right eye, and struggled to enjoy the dolphin watching from the boat at 5.40am - so many boats there too, which was a shame. Managed to survive to see a few pods, and it was getting hotter and hotter. The number of boats was a third of high season, so very different from when we came last time 12 years ago when there were only a few boats.

Came back, and Daddy slept while girls went to pool and breakfast.

Felt okay to go to hot springs at 10.30 - Kemang drove us - nice man. We were all a  bit nervous about going in, as it was pretty slimy and muddy, but once in it was a nice experience. Me and Benny raced across the slimy floor, with Aiysha winning. We sat under fountains, and watched people. Some people use the showers as their main wash there.

The temple was amazing - some great pictures, and really peaceful.

Went home to pool and explored the beach for hermit crabs. Kemang collected us to go to town for dinner at Le Madre - the most amazing place - Me and Paish had grilled fish, Claire had marinara and Clog had pizza - nicest food yet!

Didn't know how to get home, so we all just stood on a dodgy corner, and before we knew it, some guy picked us up and took us home!

Finished lovely mango. What a day!

2011-10-01 Bali: Day 5 - Lovina, Hair, Pancakes

Lazy day today!

Slept in. Nami came to do hair braids on the Wigley girls - such a nice lady. Amazing coconut oil she made herself, so I bought some. She also came to give Claire a massage later which lasted over an hour! Amazing! The girls ended up with lovely hair!

Waited ages for a Bemo (local minibus) to take us into town - a rickety old van picked us up, and we went for an 'okay' lunch in Lovina with smelly cups. We played pit - Clog kept on winning, but we left 'Pit Corner' on the table - silly us, losing everything everywhere we go!

Went to a new age Cafe 'Pkor' for lovely pancakes and waffles and ice cream.

Went back to Cleopatra, and me and Roxy ventured out to the shallows, and we got caught by some hawkers - Claire bought some sarongs and necklaces. Some local Indo TV cartoons, the Pit at dinner - Aiysha won, but she said Clara won to make her happy - so sweet! (Until she reads this :-))

2011-09-30 Bali: Day 4 - Lovina, Elephants, Volcano

Packed up and had breakfast, but Roxy did not like her powder with mango today, and she's gone off mangos - what a shame.

Left at 9am to Taro Elephant Sanctuary where elephants were enclosed, and looked after, but still chained up when they were not being taken around. A little sad, but the girls enjoyed the ride. One trainer per elephant for their whole lives which is a pretty amazing relationship. There was a show where the elephants performed some tricks. Aiysha saw  something underneath the elephant, and she had no idea what it was - was a bit embarrassed when I told her :-)

Set off for Lovina, and stopped off at  Lake Butu and Volcano - Mt. Butu - Maddy said he was taking some clients up there tomorrow - looked like a long trek!

Stopped for lunch overlooking the volcano - buffet where Roxy kept on dropping things on the floor, then another 2 hours to Lovina. Arrived at 4.40 at Cleopatra. Maddy said goodbye to us all, and was a bit sad leaving us. Nice place though, with a pool all to ourselves! Right on the beach front where we did some gymnastics and exercise, and walked out when it was shall. We also went hermit crab hunting which was great fun.

http://cleopatrabeach.wordpress.com/

Kept on hitting my head on mangos hanging from a big mango tree. We realised that Aiysha lost her nighty too. Me and Roxy were TV buddies before bed watching some local indonesian TV and putting on voices - really funny! Played mastermind, and finished some mangos for pudding.

Dinner: Gado Gado, Mie Goreng, Spag bol, Satay.

Another great day!

2011-09-29 Bali: Day 3 - Ubud, Waterbom

Huge breakfast as we had to finish the girls breakfast too. Lovely french toast! Set off for the market to bargain for a few presents and fruit. Bought loads for all our friends back in Oz!

Set off with Maddy to Waterbom park in Kuta - took ages because of traffic, not sure what to expect, but when we got there it was amazing - the best rides ever! Boomerang, Superbowl, Lazy River, Euro Bungy, race track, speed slides, raft river, macaroni, and loads of smaller slides. We had such a laugh, and even got our picture taken. Had some lovely chips and noodles there, and then back on the rides! Saved the Boomerang till last - it was pretty scary stuff!

Maddy dropped us at Jimbaran where we chose our own seafood to eat on the beach at sunset while Aiysha and Clara did gymnastics. Crab, grilled fish, vege and rice. Amazing! Even had a band who played some 60's songs. Aiysha gave them some money, and one liked Aiysha very much - funny! Got back at 8pm to our new room where we could all sleep together, but small bed too small for girls as Roxy moves round a lot, so we had to do sardine style.

Another great day!

2011-09-28 Bali: Day 2 - Ubud, Dolphins

Our hut is in such a beautiful setting,  surrounded by padi fields with banana plants and buddhas all around! So peaceful we can't even hear the crazy road!

Breakfast and met other travellers - Ivy borrowed our lonely planet and worked for a charity back in Australia. She liked Yoga. Round 2 with the Fruit Woman - no sale!

Set off on our dolphin trip - crazy driving here, so crazy we cancelled our hire car! Dolphins were amazing - met Triton the dolphin - so friendly, and did a few tricks for us. We all loved getting to know him, and hoped one day he could go free. Amazing to be able to interact with a dolphin though. Walked along the beach and collected shells, and bought a couple of small dolphins after another marathon bargaining session. Chips, noodles and satay for lunch, and Aiysha managed to find a trampoline and do some tricks. Everywhere she went she did some sort of gymnastics!

For dinner we had chilli crab and fresh fish in a restaurant set above a big valley. Got ripped of with more mangos - 4 for 25000rp. Hmmmm, we will get this bargaining game one day...

I think we blew our budget again.....

2011-09-27 Bali: Day 1 - Ubud

Arrived  at Denpasar Airport, and got mobbed by baggage men! They carried all our bags for about 10m, then asked for money. No sale! Bad traffic to Ubud with our driver Nora, and met Maddy at Nirwa Homestay. Lovely walk to the home stay next to a small stream where we played poo sticks each time we walked along it - funny!

For lunch had chips, mee goreng, satay and spag bol sitting in a small hut on top of a bridge. So nice and hot. On way back passed a mango lady who tried to rip us off - no sale!

We all then slept apart from Aiysha who read Order of the Pheonix! Bought some mango, mangusteen, but not so keen on jack fruit. Saw some monkeys in the monkey forest, but stayed clear. We took all our food precautions, but Roxy had trouble swallowing the medicine, and eventually went off mangos when we tried to mix it in - what a shame.

Walked down Ubud high street looking at temples, eventually stopping at Cafe Lotus where we stayed for dinner and the daily 7.30 cultural show, which was pretty special setting in amongst a pond of lillies. Lasagne, fish, shrimp and spinach, and ended with fried banana and ice cream. We even had a cocktail and coffee! Oops, blew our budget. Ah well.

Walked back with our torch along the stream and saw loads of spiders. Played Happy Families, and watched the geckos on the ceiling.

Amazing start to our holiday, and great feeling to be back in Asia again!

http://www.nirwahomestay.com/ - our view is on the home page - we stayed in that room!

2011-09-26 First Bike Ride & Tennis Lesson!

Aiysha: Now that all my major competitions are over, I can relax a little, although we still have the interschool sports carnival to go.

On Saturday morning, Daddy took Clog and I to play tennis. I had some rally's with Daddy and I really enjoyed it!
I am almost finished Harry Potter and Goblet of Fire - it is over 400 pages and the biggest book I have ever read! We actually watched it, which was fun.

On Sunday, after doing loads of packing in the morning, we cycled to Neil Hawkins Park - Roxy's first bike ride on her own on two wheels!  She did amazing! While we were there, Roxy practiced her handstands and cartwheels, and Daddy chose gym sequences for me to follow, including back flips, back walkovers, front walkovers, and handsprings.

I am a little nervous about our holiday - it will be strange being away from home and visiting so many different places.

I got my laminated carnival day runner-up  best girl! So proud!

Clara: I had my first tennis lesson at Emerald Park with soft balls - really liked poison ball at the en. Daddy said I was hitting the ball really well! I also went on my first bike ride to Neil Hawkins Park - wow, it was far, but I managed to get all the way there! I was so proud of myself!

Can't wait to go on holiday!

C: Getting organised for our holiday takes ages!

S: Lamb roast, mmmmmm...

2011-09-22 Carnival & State Champs!

Aiysha: On Wednesday we had the first part to our sports carnival. Now that we are in year 4, we have so many events to do, it is great! We had the 400m and I came third 3rd (I overtook Kiera in the last 50m), won long throw, 2nd long jump (just!) - I was really proud of myself, and Mummy recorded it on the video. I'm glad Mummy was there to watch, as she was not able to make it on Friday.

On Friday it was pretty bad weather, so the flat races were changed and Daddy was not able to see it. I came in 2nd but I slipped. In the year 4 relay we came 3rd, and I ran in the grand relay, and we came 3rd. It was a really fun day, and Yasmin and Kiera came back to our place for a play. We did singing and dancing with our routines.

On Saturday, I had my State Champs at gymnastics! I was pretty nervous, but excited too! We had bars first, then beam, then floor, then vault. I thought I had done okay in all of them, and Daddy didn't think they were the best that I had done. Even so, at the end, I came 1st in vault, 2nd in bars, 2nd in floor, 2nd in beam, so I came second overall! I couldn't believe it! We also looked at the team scores, and we actually beat the other HighFlyers team in the other session! I was so proud!

I have now started reading Harry potter and goblet of fire - I love it! I'm getting through them pretty quickly, and Charlie can't keep up!

What a week - it was really fun, and I love doing all these different sports! They are so much fun!

Clara: I can do a cartwheel and handstand! Daddy and Mummy and Aiysha have been watching me, and I keep improving as I listen to them giving me advice.

I also have a new toy - Lilly the dog - I love her, and she sleeps with me every night. Daddy asks me why all my pets are called 'Lilly' - I just tell him to be quiet.

I went to watch Aiysha's carnival, and it was really fun - we had a bit of a gang going on top of the climbing frame with Harry, Claire Bossert and Emily. I was the boss though :-)

Claire: I love our new bedroom! So much room, and the wooden floors were just put down and they look lovely! Just waiting for blinds now...

Steve: Australia lost to Ireland - great game, and makes things a lot more interesting...

2011-09-12 Renovations!

Aiysha: I am now on Harry Potter Book 3 - The Prisoner of Azkaban. Shouldn't take me long, they are great! I can't wait to watch the films!

More training with Joe, which was fun. I am in throwing and long jump for carnival - can't wait!

Sunday - spent day with Charlie doing more training for the carnival.


Clara: I practices my handstands and swingball, and on Sunday I spent afternoon with Ella Pasta. I really enjoyed that!


C: I love our new room! Can't wait to put floors down and maybe some shutters! Really exciting!


S: Floor looking good...