Bike Bali Baik! An early morning call saw us sitting nervously in the lobby waiting for an 0700 pick-up to go biking. We joined an Aussie couple who had boarded near Kuta and then picked up a Dutch couple in Ubud before rattling off to Kintamani for breakfast. By the time we got to our bikes we had also picked up a great trio of Americans and another couple. Everyone managed to find a bike that fitted. All had brakes, some even had gears that changed :o) And so we headed off, gingerly at first, later hurtling recklessly downhill. Now at [View Full Entry]

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It’s the Barong way to do it I’m sitting on the balcony just after sunrise. Let me rephrase that … I’m sitting on the balcony beneath grey skies, assuming that the sun must have risen by now ;o) Beneath me I can hear people busily sweeping up the puddles from the early morning deluge. The Panzer division have already mustered an assault group and are even now securing bases all around the swimming pool and beach, capturing prime positions by laying down an impenetrable barrage of beach towels. Soon we will join battle on another front, fighting for positions in the [View Full Entry]

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Four bleeding and blistered feet escape Sanitary Beach After the 36-hour journey to Bali we slept deeply, emerging bleary-eyed and numb-brained just in time for a superb breakfast. Our Hotel, the Sanur Beach, is massive compared to the venues we normally choose. It’s located at the extreme south end of Sanur whereas last year we stayed at the furthest northern extremity. With umpteen wings and four floors it accommodates a small town of mixed nationalities …. very few of whom are Brits. The lobby is constantly full of suitcases as customers arrive or depart in a seemingly endle [View Full Entry]

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Singapore Girl A dull rumbling sound plays constantly above the hissing and crashing of the surf while flashes of light flicker among the clouds on the horizon. Suddenly the whole scene is rendered bright as day by a dazzling electric blue flash, accompanied by an instant earth-trembling crash. The ensuing rumble pounds the chest and briefly freezes all movement. Thor is providing a dazzling light show as we sit under an umbrella on the beach sipping Bintang and gorging on local fish. Despite the occasional ferocity of the storm no rain falls and a gentle balmy breeze caresses the palm [View Full Entry]

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After our exertions through the previous ten days we decided to spend the rest of our time in Bali simply resting on the beach and soaking up some rays. But, as always, fate stepped in to provide a spectacular finale. Saturday started with a late, late breakfast (Madam was a tad hung-over from all the cocktails she downed at ha-bi-tat) followed by a gentle stroll along the beach. As always Sanur Beach was virtually deserted, apart from a few dozen resignedly cheerful hawkers, manicurists and masseuse. We eventually flopped down on a pair of recliners for a couple of pre-swim [View Full Entry]

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Oh the sweet, delicious irony of it! We spent three idyllic days in beautiful Junjungan. Every morning we would be awoken by the raucous quacking kafuffle that signalled the ducks had been released into the rice paddies for the day. After breakfast we would sit on our balcony and chuckle at their antics: The lead duck would quack a command, an orderly line of ducks would form up and march in single file to the next paddy…. and then discipline would collapse as they broke ranks and rushed for the best spots with a fanfare of quacks and exuberant flapping and [View Full Entry]

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I’m sitting on the balcony of our hotel room, overlooking lush rice paddies and coconut palms which extend right up to the outer walls of the hotel. There is a loud and constant insect trilling sound, with an accompanying chorus of croaks and burps from the frogs in the paddies. The chorus started up as soon as the farmer had called “bedtime” to his troop of ducks - who promptly marched, single file, into their pen for the night. Fireflies are patrolling the paddies, flying swiftly to and fro while their bodies pulse with an eerie green glow. A formation of [View Full Entry]

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Today Serendipity played every Ace in the pack. What should have been a standard excursion was transformed into a succession of delights that left us smiling from beginning to end. But first: Yesterday Jan and I vowed to get an early night, knowing that we had an early start to come, and still smarting from oversleeping that morning. So the alarm was set, an early morning call ordered and we both settled down expecting a good night’s sleep. Hah! I switched off the bedside lamp, there was a loud “Phloc” and all the fuses blew. So we both had to get [View Full Entry]

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The day got off to an inauspicious start. Another night of fitful sleeplessness - largely prompted by the “Memory Card Melodrama”- came to a juddering halt when I woke with a start and realised the alarm had failed to go off…. A car was due to collect us in 45 minutes for the first highlight of our holiday: A Submarine Voyage. Jan stumped off to the bathroom, muttering under her breath, while I hovered anxiously awaiting my turn with the shower and toothbrush… Breakfast abandoned, we scuttled to the lobby to be met by our driver. An hour and a half [View Full Entry]

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It’s a balmy tropical evening. Lightening flickers silently in the clouds above the horizon, but the only thunder to be heard is the muted sound of waves crashing against the distant coral reef. Busy Bulbuls flit from tree to tree along the shoreline; gleefully snatching winged insects before cackling in triumph. Their cries are strangely in harmony with the voices of squealing children from the local village, frolicking in the sea beneath the setting sun. Jan and I sit and gaze in wonderment, struggling to believe that we are finally here, sipping cocktails and gently surrendering to n [View Full Entry]

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