Brave in Bali

Hi, it's Beth. Really, the only reason I write is to publish the pictures the kids won't. For example, I know they'll only publish the pictures of them with the python but a certain Mrs. Sahota needs to see me with that thing around my neck. And by the way, Alia really wanted to hold the python (even though gnats send her into a tailspin!) but nobody would hold it with her so I volunteered. It was my turn since Azim did the Smashdown slide with Jamil...once. So, after I said c'mon to Alia. Samir joined in and yes, I ran for the middle spot and Samir got to hold the head. What Samir and Alia didn't tell you is that the python eats 5 ducks every two weeks-I couldn't order duck for dinner after that because I could imagine it being swallowed whole! Do you know how heavy it was (Par)? We were told 30 kilograms but it felt like 60. Yes, it was a highlight of that day, but we also got to hold beautiful birds and walk through the tropics at the Bali Bird Park.
I wrote a postcard to a friend saying that we had a hotel with a pool only for collateral. We have to make deals with the kids-"Come for a walk in the morning and then you can swim"..."Come see the Kechak dance tonight and tomorrow you can swim..." The thing is, the three of them really enjoy these other things once they've agreed to go but it doesn't matter how many times we point that out to them. We've also tried the "What would you write about in the blog if all you did was swim?"... line, but they'd probably just tell you about the pool game they made up. But we all like the pool and we are finding Indonesia more relaxing than India was--Japan doesn't count because we were staying with friends and had it easy. It could just be that Bali has that laidback atmosphere, but we could stay here doing nothing for awhile. Well, nothing if by nothing you take into account all the great restaurants we've been to. Our food budget has gone into the red...
So, we are using the pool to practise snorkeling since we are headed to Lombok and the Gilli Islands in a couple days. Our main objective is to snorkle and ride motor bikes but I'm sure we'll find a restaurant or two...Then we are off to Sumatra the beginning of May and hoping to be able to publish pictures of the orangutans we will be looking for. More later!

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