The Asian Swansong (aka Hopefully Australian Computers are faster than Asian ones)

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**The map decided to relocate 2 of my points from Chengdu and Sapa to somewhere in Africa. It took me over an hour to draw and it won't let me edit. (Goddam you google). Please excuse these errors. I hope to update in the future**

So this is it. The final blog from Asia. I am sat in Kuta waiting to fly out of Asia into a whole new continent. Australia. Land of kangaroo's, digeridoo's, surfing and sunblock.

But that is all in the future. For the last few days we have been travelling around Nothern Bali having got the ferry back from Lombok. The first stop was Ubud in the central mountains.

Ubud is known for the arts and crafts produced in the area. It is not particularly touristy but pleasant enough. We only had 2 days before heading up to Tulanben.

Tulanben is the unofficial diving capital of Bali. the USAT Liberty was torpedoed by the Japanese during the second world war and was towed to Bali with the intention of salvaging the vessel. Unfortunately the ship was too badly damaged and sank at Tulanben. A volcano eruption in 1963 pushed the wreck below the surface and it now rests about 15m below the surface, about 50m from the shore. This makes it one of the most accessible wrecks in the world, and justifies Tulanben as the diving mecca. Unfortunately there is nothing else around. No bars, no restaurents, no clubs, no shops, no Internet, no nothing. We dived: it was good, we got out.

Further along the coast to the west is Lovina. We spent 3 days here relaxing by the pool. We also got up at 5.30am to watch some dolphins. Then we got the bus back to Kuta to spend the last 24 hours, and whatever Rupiah left, waiting for the flight to Sydney. The footy season starts at about 7pm, so I will be watching Sunderland v Spurs followed by a selection of Premiership action. It has been a long boring summer waiting for the footy to return!

As we are leaving Asia behind, here are some stats:
Days: 160
Miles: 10,025 (about the same as I drove to work over the same time, only this was much more rewarding)
No. of Countries: 9 (10 if you count Hong Kong as separate, which I don't)
No. of times scammed: 2 (Thank you very much Tourist Authority of Thailand)
No. of Internal flights since touchdown in Honkers: 7
No. of train journeys: 6
No. of bus journeys: 18
No. of ferry journeys: 7
No. of books exchanged: 12
No. of days lost to uncontrollable pooing: 2
No. of colds: 1 (caught only 2 days ago)
No. of cd's filled with photos: 13 - at 150 (average) per disc: you do the maths baby!
No. of hours lost to slow internet: uncountable

Adios amigos. Cant wait to throw some shrimps on a barbie and buy one of those hats with corks on. Bring on the Aussies!


*But dont mention the Rugby or the cricket*

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Comments

[Dad]

Asia
Well, that went quick. I am relieved you managed to recapture your blogs, how did Sam go on?. I have really enjoyed reading of your adventures in Asia, as you well know it has set me wriggling to try it for myself. I am glad you have enjoyed it up to now. Now let those Aussies Know how real Poms are, but don't forget it's the Twenty20 world cup and the RU world cup pretty close on the horizon. Dad

[Craig]

"It has been a long boring summer waiting for the footy to return!" ........ In the words of Monty Python and others..... "there's no pleasing some people". :-) It's been a long, boring summer at work watching the rain run down the windows, care to trade? :-)

[Mr Mike]

care to trade?
gee let me think............................................