Some pics

The photos at the bottom are of Alam Indah.

Home safe

We made it back to Legian, via the Monkey Forest in Ubud and the Bali Zoo... and I got to have a hornbill sit on my arm.. wohoo my favourite, although it was not the largest Rhino version. Their beaks arch right over and it was looking into my glasses and it felt very strange. Probably a similar beak to a toucan.

The girls walked the beach, we did more shopping and ate more food including Poco Loco for Mexican food. The girls had a few braids done, but not keen on full head after having it done in Thailand...

Thinking back about Alam Indah and how lovely it was...aggghhh

We had commissioned an Ubud artist to paint some pictures of our girls and we got the delivery yesterday afternoon.... lovely paintings with Balinese background.. the painter did a wonderful job.

Adventure park

The big girls had a ball doing all sorts of high wire scary stuff at the adventure park.. walking along logs dangling, flying foxes etc.

Glad to be alive today

OUr experience at Munduk was well.. not what we expected.. we ended up doing an 8.30pm drive out of their back to Ubud arriving near 11pm and finding any cheap hotel out of there.

The thunder and lighting was unbelievable.. and it seemed we were staying on a ridge of a volcano where the warm air from the sea meets the colder mountain air.. the view looked great in between rain clouds and we saw the biggest volcano (drove along edge of it for long way up the top) and the crate lake was unbelievably massive - on a clear day would look fantastic.

The accommodation was OK - hut overlooking rice terraces being worked etc, but they had insisted on giving us extra bed which left little room, and of course we didn't use.. we had early dinner because of threat rain/thunder and played cards iwth girls on bed to get their minds off thunderstorm...but when we went to bed it got worse,, much much much worse to the point of no power for a least an hour and Charlotte and I were shaking to the bone in fear.. and I was thinking.. this is it on my birthday.

Had to weigh up chance of getting killed driving out of there vs. chance of getting fried literally.

I think the lightning had hit the rice water paddies right next to our hut.. when we packed up to go it seemed other huts had power but not us. But we were too fearful and thunder/lightning was not going away.

now in Ubud arranged painting to be sent to Legian tomorrow and need to sort out driver we had arranged for tomorrow today instead and go back to stay same place friends... really scared last night .. seems we have left bag of shopping in van that brought us back but our lives and safety more important.

The girls saw local kids doing dancing, but they had dried blood here and there on floor which I couldn't get Lotus out of at times ...

Glad to be in civilisation with bigger roof.

Off to Munduk today

Every morning I wake before dawn and go out onto the porch where a day bed with mosquito net is all around and lay on cushions and listen to roosters and cicadas etc over the tropical garden and jungle outlook into a valley. Amazing.

We have a driver arranged to pick us up in 1 hour to head off to Bendaluk?? where the adventure park with climbing ropes in trees are and a lake with floating temple etc.. sounds good. Then our friends will head back to Legian while we move on to Munduk..

Only 2 more nights before flight home.. not looking to overnight flight as everyone looks snackered waiting for our flight to arrive so they could fly home.

Dancing in Denpassar

The girls had private tuition in making an offering and doing Balinese dancing.. both big girls looked like total princesses.. while the little princess pulled her costume off a bit. The lady was married to a New Zealander and they are very heavily trying to help preserve and understand the Balinese culture.

Big girls want pool again and I might take Lotus up to shops to buy teachers a few gifts - although with carry on luggage it will have to be very small.. everytime we get near the market we are too pooped or have the stroller and won't fit.

More on Ubud

The hotel has a tropical jungle outlook overlooking almost the Monkey Forest area and pretty trees, ponds etc.

We ate last night at Cafe Lotus which overlooks a big lotus pond and temple area. We are going to the palace tonight to see another dancing show and eat at Casa Luna which is owned by a westerner apparently.

Rain continues and until it is done the humidity keeps up high.

Lotus bitten by many mossies and trying to manage her scratching.

This is the most relaxing and peaceful hotel EVER.... if only we could lose Lotus for a few days it would be 100% peaceful....