I've got the house to myself and here are some solo adventures I've been having ..... with myself. Yes most people know that I come from a very spoilt culinary er... situation but that doesn't mean I rough it when I'm left to my own devices. Yes I've had the odd pizza or two, but I do work a rather full full time job. Pacific oysters have been my little treat of late and I buy half a dozen and slip them down as I cook. Oysters are not just an amazing flavour of the sea but a kind of experience. [View Full Entry]

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I actually found out that Dad had been admitted to hospital on the day after I arrived in Bali. I almost packed my bags immediately and headed back to Australia but held on a while in the hope that it would be just a short acute episode. Well it wasn't ..... and Dad was in ICU care for 14 days. During this time he was mostly consciously intubated, and communicated in writing. I may as well have been on a different planet, but after a week of ICU I was getting quite familiar with my new environs. In fact air travel [View Full Entry]

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the work begins................. I originally met Carol in India, when we both attending the 90th Birthday celebrations of BKS Iyengar. She is one of the few senior Iyengar yoga teachers in Australia and a really lovely person. She runs the Darwin Yoga Space and when I heard she was leading a retreat in Bali I jumped at the chance. Typical yoga day 6.15 -7.15 Pranayama/Meditation 7.30- 10.00 Asana 10.30 - 11.30 Brunch Free Time 4.15 - 6.00 Asana 6.30 - 7.45 Dinner 8.00 - 8.30 Medit [View Full Entry]

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It's not just Bali..... I notice this as soon as I reached Indonesia. People just respond with a smile. I am told that in Bali there is a smile for every emotion. Everyone just smiles - it could be the guard that checks the front seat and boot (this is done religiously now since the bombings) as you enter the carpark or some random person riding by on their bike who happens to catch your eye. And here in smile central, as I sit at the front of this little cafe having dinner I get this beautiful passing parade of men [View Full Entry]

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I have definitely less photos of Jakarta but that doesn't mean I'm having any less fun here. I've replaced eating with shopping as my new obsession!!!!!! Well maybe I have them both running concurrently but Jakarta is definitely the place to indulge the latter. I love SHOPPING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i love it I love it I love it!!!!!! Jakarta is such a blast! I didn't realise how modern and vibrant it is. The people are really nice .... like really; as in opposite to fake, faking it, pretending to be nice, not being nice at all, not giving a damn. The service [View Full Entry]

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After playing Indiana Jones till 1am last night we woke up a little hung over from too much screen staring and clambered sleepily to our Xbox consoles..... yes this is very sad. At midday hunger forces me and Kerri out to forage in a food hall somewhere. Felina has long since left the house to have lunch with some other friends. Kerri not quite the consummate host like Felina leaves me to my devices to order, and it is then that I discover my Hokkien after many years of remission. Kerri and I move through the back alleys of............... near our [View Full Entry]

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So sad to leave Penang. I've done so much. I've eaten soooo much. I think if I really want to laze about doing nothing I wither need to plan at least 3 weeks in the same spot or just have a home vacation. But staying with family who have given me a lovely place to stay and taken me to the best places to eat and shop has hardly been a stress. I feel thoroughly spoilt and yes THAT was the objective of my holiday! 4 years has been much too long and I plan to come back here more often [View Full Entry]

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Had breakfast at the local market with Flea then off to Gurney Plaza to watch Monsters Vs Aliens in 3D with Paige. Me and Kerri have been sucked into a weird vortex of computer game mania where we need to play computer games every single moment that we are not specifically required to interact with society. Somewhere in between level 4 and 5 Ah Khoo took us out to an amazing seaside restaurant where we had crocodile tales and mantis prawns. Today has definitely been a day of monsters and aliens..... [View Full Entry]

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Morning Practice 6:30am - 8:30am My final day with the dentist. I have seen her every day since I arrived and shall miss her as a part of my daily routine. My teeth are looking great! Our mission today is to hunt down the best PAN MEE on the island AND buy Chinese Herbs for Mum and some special dietary supplement powder stuff for my Bro. Later Ah Khoo takes us out to dinner of frogs and eels.....the best I have tasted yet too. enjoy..... [View Full Entry]

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It all started with a mammoth 2 our yoga practice at 5:30 looking out to sea as a storm slowly approached from the horizon and arrived just as I was getting into my final savasana. 8:30 b'fast atthe Market wtih Felina 10:30 sort out Felina's phone credit in town - bump into Chris who owns a beauty salon 12:00 Dental appointment the drilling begins! 1:30 Wonton Noodles in the Kopi tiam (coffee shop) near the Dentist 2:00 manicure and Pedicure at Chris's 4:30 Ah Kim's place to pick up Paige 5pm: back to Felina's for a swim in her pool Kerri [View Full Entry]

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