BALI 2009/10

Our trip to Bali did not start off so good. I left our passport wallet at the check-in counter,no ID in them so had to get checked out of the system to go back and oh ,how lucky was I they were there.? They had most of our cash in them!!!!Check in again and off we go.Arrive at hotel, get cases from car. No Trev, that is not our case! Frantic call to Raceng,who sends a driver. Back to airport , case at lost & found. Other one we have to deliver to owner. OK then holiday starts. Hotel Griya Santrian much better than expected and Vicki, Trav & Caitlyn , 5 mins walk, right next door in the Basaki.We had not been to Bali for 12 years and I list the new improved Bali. Sanur, quiet but good. Toilets at most restaurants,clean & flushing Hotel great Restaurants,good Food, variety & good Shopping, diversity Cars ,new & aircon Iced coffees(try Mona Lisa's ) Bakery items available Supermarkets with good range Safari Park, excellent Spice Gardens , interesting Bali Collection, Nusa Dua, still good Markets, shops,variety Prices,still 1/2 or 1/3 Traffic, organised chaos but never felt threatened as drivers are patient. Cars & driver, about $60-$70 a day and very obliging. (YES WE HAVE PHONE & EMAIL NUMBERS.) What with apologies to a lovely country and a lovely people; I DON"T like?????????????????????, Garuda service (the cabin stewardess had the cheek to ask for the Garuda pen back ...we travelled business!!!!!!!!!!!) Filthy toilets in airport and I believe Marta Hari too. Garuda lounge at Denpassar airport,lousy food, dirty toilet,had to tell the boy to clean the dirty coffee machine. The American who spoke loudly on his mobile while guide at Safari park was giving us information. He then had the cheek to tell Trev that he was rude for chastising him! Busy Kuta,best avoided. Bali dogs. Still a lot of dirt and unsanitary rubbish collections. Bali Belly, despite preventitive efforts. Fortunately not as bad as usual. Merry Xmas Trev Beautiful little dancers to entertain us for Xmas Dinner at the Bali Beach shack

Sunrise over pool at Griya santrian, Sanur, Bali

Lights on

Huge carving

Inside room

Outside of room

Caitlyn walking with elephant (not real)

Monkey hugs

Caitlyn feeding elephants

Safari Park, monkey helping with tree planting.

Safari park had 2 shows , with environmental themes. This elephant pretended it was shot.

Yes , the animals were this close

Yes,kissed by an elephant

Caitlyn with serviette hat in Ubud restaurant

Seeking blessings at holy spring

Bali farm worker

Rice terraces

We MUST market

Pool at Pondok Bambu, Candi Dasa

Coffee roasting

Coffee fruit at Spice Gardens

My satays at the Mona Lisa (Also have the best iced coffee in Bali) A tranquil corner at Griya Santrian

Ginger plant

High Tea at Seminyak

Something sweet at the Wicked Parrot. Bali Galleria

Raceng,Putri and family

An Early Family Christmas

My goodness, two posts in as many days! Well we had another family get together, barbecue at Vicki and Travis's because they and Trev and I, will miss Christmas Eve, for the first time in years, and celebrate Xmas in Bali instead.(They leave Tuesday, we on Wednesday.) Thus we had our gift giving, just from us .Lovely things appeared from parcels, Esky, special wines and preserves, delicate brooches, lively plants that cannot die, Miniature lemon tree, perfume, soap, chocolates, football radio, dollies, rainbow ponies and some great vouchers and wonderful books. Father Christmas did not mind being early, saves him some time on Xmas Eve and morning.Ofcourse , the others here will still celebrate on Christmas Eve, as normal. I think we were all thrilled, pleased and surprised by the gift each family got from Vicki, Travis and Caitlyn...a book containing images of our lovely family holiday in Thailand, last year.

Cushions everywhere. Started last year but lost in storage, I have now finished them, 11 in all and a couple half way which I might finish for the kids when they have their market stall.

Concerts for my Dancing Queens

We went to the girls dancing concerts, 3 weeks in a row and they all did so very well again. Zoe's was held at the John Curtin performing arts theatre, the school where I was one of the original graduating students,a great many years ago. Zoe took Ballet for the first time and it was good to see she did quite well. Was also nice to have Denise there to watch the show. Would have brought back many memories for Denise who was quite a star in her days. Zoe , the hippy, ready for the finale.

Zoe, so grown up, waiting for her next dance.

Zoe and friends, Chinese ballet.

The youngest, Caitlyn, starred in her concert in Kwinana. She told her Mummy she had tried sooo hard all year and indeed she had. She won the overall trophy for pre schoolers Jazz and Tap. Her Mummy & Daddy were so proud and Oma thought she was pretty good too. Was nice to have my eldest granddaughter Zoe, accompany me to this concert.

The last concert was that of Bella and Sarah, held in the Kalamunda Performing arts centre.Simple but well done,they did not miss a beat.

Small gifts for all. They deserved them.

Bella dancing the EgyptianThe Egyptian girl.

Tuesday I attended the Presentation assembly at Zoe & Riley's school.It was very efficiently run and you could see it had been well practised.

Sarah 's class and the other little ones had a special concert assembly, last week. They all performed their favourite Xmas songs and plays. Was well done and the kids seemed to really enjoy it.

A job well done. SARAH SAYS HER PIECE

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL FROM THE CUBBYHOUSE

The Christmas Tree, symbol of Joy and Peace and Love and Family. Just ask any of our kids. Sorry I won't be there with you all but we'll think of you for sure. The call to a Christmas overseas was too strong so Bali, here we come. (in 19 more days.) Celebrating Life. The little boy had a visit in the big paddock , near the big horses.

Mah Jong Club dinner setting,by Kathleen, was lovely and the company was great.Riner, the village Cafe Chef really did his best and the meal was very good.

Just a few lights on the cubbyhouse, next year it will be ablaze with lights, this year we're in Bali for Christmas.