Bali

We were off.. for a week of togetherness and sunshine and exploring and snorkelling and r e l a x ing.

We took an evening flight from Singapore and finally ended up at the incredible villa we had booked (check out thevillas.net) at around 10pm. We walked in and our jaws dropped. When you book something on the internet you never expect it to be quite as good as it looks do you? But this exceeded all expectations:

Private pool in a private compound with an open kitchen and dining table, massive bathroom and huge comfy bed in a optionally airconned bedroom.. for one week.. is this paradise? I think so.

we got explored the local streets and beaches for the first couple of days courtesy of The Red Tiger, then upgraded to The Blue Beast  which was The Red Beast for a while but due to a tyre explosion she got substituted:

We took surfing lessons and attempted to stand up. I was successful a couple of times,  then retired to my sun lounger as a new fashion magazine was calling me. K was more successful and perservering.

The beach was a little crowded in some spots, but not too bad. The beach hawkers were pretty easy going compared to the relentless sales pitches of the Goan hawkers that we are used to.

We went on a road trip to Ahmed one day, the famed snorkelling spot, and wove through small roads, past beaches and green valleys:

 

  We passed Mount Agung, the last eruption of 1963 decimated the surrounding area and left a cloud of black ash over the entire north east side of the island:

 

We got so excited about the great snorkelling and yum seafood lunch in Ahmed we fogot to take photos. But trust me it was GOOD. Gorgeous coral reef only metres away from shore and extending about 50m out to sea. We saw all kinds of colourful tropical fish, starfish, seaweeds and then just as I was admiring the weeny little cute jelly fish that were floating round me one stung me right on the inner thigh. ouch. little bastard.

We found the most superb cafe in the world on Jalan Laksmana that will get its own post later today, and we had a night out dancing after drinking a bottle of champagne in our private pool under the stars. We got sunburnt, had massages, ate and ate and ate lots of good food – Indonesian, italian and even found an excellent Greek restaurant, we surfed some more, shopped and siesta-ed. On the final night we went the Oberoi Hotel in Seminyak for a last drink at sunset… what a beautful spot:

and then.. just like that.. we were on the plane, speeding down the runway, and flying over the lights of Jimbaran Bay. We had a day in Singapore where I picked up a shiny new laptop (!) about which I am super excited.. more news to follow about the exciting plans that it is to be used for!

My tan is starting to fade already and my bag is sore from my first day back in the office sitting at the computer for 9 hours again.. oh holidays! how wonderful, yet how fleeting you are….

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