and days in beautiful Bali! 3 nights Puri Raja in Legian, 3 nights Bayu Cottages in Lipah/Amed, 4 nights Puri Rai in Padang Bai, 5 nights Villa Rasa Sayang, Ubud, 2 nights Pacung Indah with the toilet with a view (thanks David and Moira, it was terrific, you are so lucky living in your special place in Bali) and 3 nights at Besakih, Sanur.
Will eventually get some JBR's happening after Easter ...
some highlights and memorables:
5 hour motorbike trip around East Bali (sore bum! and tropical rain - not fun)
Fantastic snorkelling at Banyuning/Amed and discovering the balinese atlantis at the bottom of Amuk Bay
Pig getting killed in preparation for Galungan at Padang Bai at 2 am
Ceremonial dance/drama performances including trances that start at 6 pm. and don't finish till 4 am!
Spectacular Ogah ogah at Bedulu on Nyepi Eve
Early morning markets at Kuta (and Kuta Cowboys) and Padang Bai - a live chook at Padang Bai costs 5,000 rp more than Kuta
Swimming at waterfalls around Ubud (good spectator fodder for rice farmers!)
Green snake on pathway (Monkey Forest) Black Snakes in Rice Paddies
Hitching rides on motorbikes when the bemos have stopped at Pacung
Visiting the Bali Aga village of Tenganan and lontar painting
Drinking Arak when duty free ran out!
Buying yet another gamelan instrument (metallophone) at the village of
Tihingan and managing not to get charged for overweight luggage by AP!
A great night out at S & S with Smokey, Carol, Sally & Blackey & KenB (sorry Tina and David UK - didn't get a chance to make it on the 17th though!)
The loompa oompas at the Bali Botanical Gardens
Being offered a 'bali boy' in Sanur
A rainy afternoon at Biastugal - white beach at Padang Bai
Snorkelling at Blue Lagoon
Sailing around Sanur/Turtle Island
Sitting next to the verge at a burial ceremony in Kuta (we arrived in style on the back of a truck curtesy of the locals right in the centre of the proceedings)
Mandi Luwar and Facial at Verona Spa in Ubud
A galungan ceremony at Sakte
and heaps of beautiful sunrise photos of Gunung Agung! (the digital camera worked a dream).
Happy to answer any questions you may have in the meantime.
Cheers, Anne