Scuba, cycling, dancing, trekking - action kids

Hey, hey, hey!

Another attempt at uploading photos onto Facebook, another blog. Works beautifully.
Alors, been In Indonesia for 2 weeks now and we LOVE IT! Arrived at Sanur (South-East coast of Bali), to catch the notorious boat across to the little island of Nusa Lambongan. Alas, we had missed the early morning public boat so we thought we would sit tight in Sanur for a day in the sun...and it so happened to be a massive public holiday! Hundreds upon hundreds of Balinese descended upon the beach. Oblivious whilst armed with iPod and novels, we slowing began to realise we were in fact the only white ladies on the beach amongst a sea of locals. COMEDY! Must admit, we were the subject of a few gazes! So, highly conspicuous, we nabbed ourselves some local delicacies, including grilled corn on the cob, spring rolls with peanut sauce and a strange bowl of chicken balls and noodle soup. Interesting to say the least.

Early the next morn, we set sail on the public boat to Nusa Lambongan, scuba diving and er....well, not much else. The blinking place didn't even have an ATM so we had to make our Rupiah last! Pineapple for brekkie?? And the diving was SPECTACULAR. Despite the fact our dive instructor was a bit miserable, we had fun....although Klo and Sami weren't instilled with massive amounts of confidence before sitting their PADI Openwater test...at least there were cute puppies to keep them entertained. I am now apparently 'Advanced'. Ha. Hmm. Did an amazing 27/8m dive (anything more than 18m down is classed as a deep dive)...and we saw a turtle. Elegant and graceful. Brilliant. But that is not to undermine the magical, underwater world, laced with traffic of thousands of fish. Scribbled filefish, Crosshatch triggerfish, Blacktipped soldierfish, Imperial Angelfish, to name but a minute few. The corals were rich and varied, and on the last couple of dives we went down a 'wall'. Basically, like a mountain side, but that drops down deep into the ocean and is composed of corals, big and small, red and pink and orange, all interlaced with rainbows of fish and marine life. Also did a 'drift dive' along this stretch - a dive which you basically let the current pull you along - and we ended up 1.5km from where we started in 30mins!! Crazzzeee.

I also took myself on a little bicycle ride around the island as the other beauties lay asleep in our hut. Observed the seaweed farmers, women weaving palm leaves for the offerings that are made everyday, the bamboo catamarans that line the shore and the intricate architecture of the temples. Tired after though - blinkin' hilly!

After all this hard work and with a distinct lack of cash...we ventured out with our new friends, Jack, Celena and Co. and got on the Bintang beer. Well, we had 1 and 1/2 between us. But, wait...2 truely bogan Ozzie boys came to save the day and subsequently shouted all our Bintangs and we were away! I think Sami even got a free egg toastie. FREE STUFF! hahahahahaha
Didn't make the boat journey any the better at 8 the next morn (which, of course, we nearly missed). The make home to Kuta, then land of party and plenty. And I hibernated in preparatino for the night. All day in fact. A bought of Bali Belly, no less. Shh. Didn't happen to me. The on the lash that night (again) with money (a bit) and met with our Lambongan buddies...and threw ourselves in the pool at the club as the local cool kids looked on. Soggy, soggy, soggy! And filled up with Arak Attack (the local spirit...yummy).

Then up again. Early. Hungover.

And in a bus to Ubud - the cultural capital of Bali. And home to some rather striking jewellery too!! As we pottered around the market, a rather attractive looking Australian chap came over to us and asked how long we had been in Bali, and if we would like to appear on an Ozzie holiday program. Ha - sweaty, just about escaping the clutches of hangover and dazed by the sparkly things before us, I managed to blag that we possessed some form of knowledge about Bali and about bartering. Think it work. Emma and Laura - keep an eye out for our TV debut (well not mine. But enough said about that). Markets, shops, art galleries, wood carvings, chilling out, walking long walks around Ubud and the surrounding villages (well, for me. It rained and no-one else wanted to come), seeing the Elephant caves, eating really good Nasi Gerang and generally having a lovely time. Said good-bye to our chums, Harry and Rach (who we shall be reunited with in Singapore) and off to Java were we.

Arrived in Bondowoso yesterday and set off at 5am this very morning to hike up Kawah Ijen. An active volcano with a sulphur lake in its cone which glowed turquoise in the sunlight...when the clouds of sulphur were blown away from us. Cough Cough. That is, once we finally got to the top...a member of our party claimed to have Bali belly, but maybe she was just slower than the rest of us....I blame the apple. It was so crazy watching miners carrying 70kg (mum - that is over 3times the weight of my backpack) of solidified sulphur up out of the volcano crater and then all the 3km down the side of the mountain. Phew. We were tired just carrying ourselves! Amazing thing to see though - not so great to inhale. The our lovely guide decided to take us to the local University. Hmm. A bit like a run-down comprehensive with about a total of 50 books in the library. But what they lacked in equipment, the teenagers made-up for in staring and giggling. Hmm. Think Sam the Guide felt quite the pimp. At least he bought our dinner.