Last Week in Bali

I can't really believe that we're leaving Bali tonight! Although there have been some long days, looking back the time seems to have flown. We went back to Waterbom this week for our farewell visit, and again it didn't disappoint. The kids didn't go down the vertical-drop slide quite as many times this trip, but they did discover an amazing water playground that had looked too babyish on our previous visits. The highlight of the playground is a gigantic bucket that fills with water and then, when it's full, tips over. The water comes down over you like a tidal wave. This "simple" pleasure was exciting to 4-year olds and 18 year-olds, and if you sat just right it was like a high-pressure massage on your back -- so it worked for 43 year-olds, too!

We also went to see some traditional Balinese dancing in the most beautiful setting - an ampitheater next to a cliff-hugging temple (Ulawatu) overlooking the water at sunset. There was an amazing all-male chorus of very handsome men of all ages and the most beautifully costumed "stars." The highlight for the kids was when the monkey character had a circle of fire lit around him and then kicked the fire (burning hay) at his attackers. Not a trick to try at home.

Our last Bali activity was surfing lessons yesterday for the kids at Bali Learn to Surf School in Kuta (www.balilearntosurf.com). After some pool instruction they headed to the waves (with their very patient instructor) and started to surf. Sam was standing almost immediately and Jack started to get the hang of it after a while and managed to stand most of the way in a few times. Sam loved it and Jack liked it enough to want to go back today. As we have about 8 hours to fill after we check out of our villa, we are all going to have a surfing lesson today. My suspicion is that it will be much harder for me to stand than for the kids, but luckily for me there won't be anyone to take pictures....

I spoke to Philip last night and he is on his way back to Kathmandu. He sounded tired, hungry and ready for a shower. He said that the trek had been amazing but the food was inedible and he hadn't had a shower for 10 days. I wouldn't mind the food part, but no shower is probably a deal killer for me.
Next stop is Bangkok (with a one-night layover in Singapore) where we meet Henrietta and Zoe. We are all very excited to see them and can't wait to explore Thailand together.

Bali, Week 2

We've had a much busier second week in Bali! We visited the Bali Museum in Denpasar, which was an interesting museum but a hassle of an experience. We took a taxi from near our villa only to find out that that despite the hundreds of taxis in the beach resorts there are none in the capital city -- which meant we had to pay the taxi driver to stay with us while we were in Denpasar. The problem was less about the money and more about the loss of freedom to just wander around. Next some men at the temple next door to the museum told us the museum was closed so the only thing to do was visit the temple. After being charged 10x more than any other temple we've visited we found out that the musuem was indeed open. Once in the museum there were endless numbers of men trying to sell us souvenirs or act as our guide. We finally surrendered to one and did benefit from having someone to explain some of what we were seeing. Who knows if we got accurate information but we did get answers to our questions, and as always with Jack there were lots of questions!
We also spent a day visiting Ubud, the "arts" capital of Bali and home to the Monkey Forest Sanctuary - an old temple filled with monkeys. The kids had a great time feeding them bananas and the grounds, despite being overrun with monkeys, are pretty. We also visited two beautiful temples on the way home: Tanah Lot (dramatically set so that you can only access it at low tide) and the Royal Temple of Mengwi – Pura Taman Ayun (surrounded by a moat and filled with the most amazing sculptures). The highlight of the day, however, was stopping to visit the family of the man helped us organize our stay and our trips in Bali, Kayan. (We met him through Philip's uncle, Robin.) It was the kind of experience we were most excited for the kids to have - to see how other people live.
Our last outing of the week was to the Bali Botanical Garden and to Treetops Adventure Park. It's hard to explain what you do at Treetops, but it involves increasingly difficult climbing adventures combined with "zipping" and swinging through the trees. Sam was amazing and just took the challenges head on. Jack was very excited until on level 3, 30 feet in the air with a tight rope to walk across, he decided that he was too scared to move a foot. Alas once up it's hard to get down without completing the course so I carried him on my back across the tight rope! All in all quite an adventurous day and quite a workout.
I have been hearing from Philip regularly. At this moment he should be heading from Everest Base Camp to Camp 1, the next camp on the trek. The weather has been terrible and he isn't sure they will make it all the way to Advanced Base Camp as planned, but he is feeling strong and is very excited. It is amazing to me that he can call me on his cell phone from base camp -- even in below 0 weather with high winds!

Bali.....From Sam

well bali is so awsome but the 1 place i wanna be rite now is new york and d.c to see all my friends i can't wait to come back but ah...... sadly soon after we are back we'll be off to maine very, very unfortunitly

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ok in bali it is so fun we have a swimming pool but it is rather ah.......... SmAlL
we've already been to water bom and were going agin next friday i have been on the slide 54 times now! it is cool exept you do have to climb rather too many steps
i'll write another entry soon





- SaM