A Jump Over The Pond

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Our first week in Darwin was a relaxed catchup week. We were tied due to our dog sitting responsibilities – but it was great to feel like we had a dog again, even if only a claytons one. We needed the catch up anyway.

My plan to fly out to Bali the day the Willies got back had been squashed due to my infection – it was postponed indefinitely, and we were stuck in Darwin for the meantime. I became familiar with the nurses who would be repacking my wound (Still OUCH!), but I did manage to round up some work which was wonderful.

The Smiths caught up with us while the Willies were still OS – it was good to see them again, and we did a tour of Darwin. Once the Willies got back we all did some more touring together, taking in the gorgeous Litchfield National Park also. It really was everything everyone had raved about – Beautiful swimming holes and majestic waterfalls. I was still a little sore, and definitely not allowed to swim yet, but I dangled my feet and took lots of pics instead. The kids had a ball.

We also did Mindel Markets together. As a walked around I recognized many of the faces and stalls from Woodford Folk Festival … now I know where everyone hide over the winter! Mick from Mick’s Whips gives an amazing whip cracking demonstration then offers everyone a go. All the kids had a try which was fantastic, most of them managed to crack it quite well, but again, the little runt of my family was the most outstanding performer – hand on hip and an amazing crack!

Both the Smiths and the Williams’ would be leaving in the next few days. It was sad to say goodbye – it had been a great few months!

The days in Darwin turned into weeks, and I was beginning to think that the hole would never heal! On the day the nurse said it should only be another week or so, I booked our flights to Bali without delay! Some gorgeous friends we’d met in Broome were going to be there at the same time, so Shay would get to see her best friend from the road also. When we flew my wound was very shallow but still not waterproof, so I dressed it myself and didn’t swim until it had waterproofed itself. Little did I know that it would still be another three weeks!!!

I worked nearly everyday, then all of a sudden our Bali adventure had arrived … we were very excited! Our trip was 26 nights long so almost 4 weeks, and just so very relaxing!

Despite the fact that we’d been to Bali three years ago, it was all new and fresh and exciting for us all! We spent the first week hanging out with the Kenworthy’s from Broome – they are the nicest people ever! Shay and Matilda were inseparable, and Kal and Clancy were great friends too! The kids did surfing lessons together (Kal was the Blitz!), and Tammy, Shay, Matilda and I had a girlie shopping day.

We also caught up with a special old friend from Shellharbour – Jeni had been a friend since the early eighties, Mum’s first then mine. Without any arranging we had booked flights within a day of each other and stayed right near each other also. It was great to hang out and catch up!

One of the highlights of Bali was the opportunity to release twenty baby turtles into the wild – Jeni’s idea, we tagged along and it was such a special and spiritual time! We also went to the Monkey Forest together, which was something I wasn’t really keen on – it was fun but scary at the same time. The monkeys are REALLY cheeky and naughty. One of them bit Kalahni! Considering Bali has rabies, it concerned me quite a bit!!! He hasn’t been sick or developed any symptoms yet, so I s’pose that’s a good sign though!

Mostly Bali was about treating ourselves, and chilling out! Our trip around Oz has been absolutely fantastic, but to be honest, it has also been hard work! Many of our fellow travelers have amazing setups, complete with 12 V power, bathroom facilities, and the ability to carry on heaps of water. Not to mention there are always 2 parents sharing the work (so far I am the ONLY single parent I have met on this trip!), which is just no comparison really. So I made the most of a great time! Eating out every day, relaxing on the beach, no cooking or cleaning, no packing up or setting up … Just BLISS.

Dakota borrowed a board from Sam ( Jeni’s son who lives in Bali), and went out surfing by himself every day, it was a big achievement for my homebody boy! The kids also competed in a surfing comp held by Sam for the Balinese kids which was quite an experience – they all came home with a prize!

While Dakota was out on one of his adventures he saw some funny sights. One of which was a street seller trying to sell a taser gun to some boys. When the boys asked if the taser worked or not, the guys tasered HIMSELF!!! Apparently the boys were so scared they took off in a hurry, while the street seller was jumping around on the ground!!! Bali is an interesting place!!!

Our mode of transport was a small motorbike which all of us rode on together – it was dangerous and probably stupid, but exhilarating! The first day I hired it I saw quite a nasty motorbike accident between a small boy (Kalahni’s size – maybe 8 years old or so) riding a bike and a man wearing thongs … his foot copped the brunt of the bike while the kids rode off! There were toes all over the place but no-one seemed to care – he rang himself a lift and was picked up a few minutes later to be taken to who-knows-where. So after that I was extremely cautious.

We met up with an old high school friend and her family while we were there, and met heaps of new people. Church in Denpassar was a cool experience – half in English and half in Indonesian. The kid’s Indonesian language skills were quite good when we left to go back to Darwin, hopefully they will retain some of it for next time.

Back in Darwin, I had a week’s more work then it was time to move on. By that stage the wet had kind of started but it was still stinking hot! I’m sure we were the ONLY people in Darwin without aircon. The temp and humidity doesn’t get any better at night either – just hot and sticky and more hot and sticky! I would be glad to see the end of it, but also sad to say goodbye to our friends that we’d grown close to during our time there – hopefully we will catch some of them down the track …

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