Managing a Difficult Balinese Macaques Relationship
Ubud has a monkey (specifically Balinese Macaques) forest. We had gotten different opinions on whether it was worth a visit. Eric, in Sydney, was of the view that there were no point: “dirty, nasty, vile creatures”; Bev from...
Today Begins with Dinner Last Night
Today starts early – it starts at dinner last night, to be precise. The mise-en-scene: We returned yesterday to Seminyak, to the hotel we stayed in last weekend when we arrived in Bali. Our hotel is just off Jalan Dhyana Pura,...
Swimming with Sharks in Padang Bai, Bali
This will be remembered as one of the best dives we have had so far and one of those special, easy-going days that make Bali what it is. We are up again at the crack of dawn to be picked up at 7:00 am by the dive bus. It is a...
#BloggersLife: Dealing with Slow Internet in Bali, Indonesia
A day for sleeping in! Hooray! We have a late start, and a wonderful breakfast compared to the rolls we’ve been grabbing as we head out for the long drives to dive sites. We spend most of the morning choosing pictures for...
Our Last Day in Bali: Mixed Emotions
Our last day in Bali is one of mixed emotion. We are sorry to be leaving but also happy to move on. The last 24 hours have been clouded with bad “taksi” rides and average restaurant service (see John’s review of La Luciolla) but...
A Travel Day: Tempers Left at Check In.
Gazillions of Italians, Germans, Swedes and Brits, each family with numerous squawking children, numerous over-sized bags, all starting their Easter vacations, all exhausted from their connecting flights from all over the world,...
A Day of Ghosts
We plan a quiet day of internet updating and beach. We wake up and have a wonderful breakfast at the hotel – all fresh fruit, fresh squeezed juice, and coffee made in an automatic machine. We head to the internet café we found...
Even in Paradise, There Are Bills to be Paid.
Breakfast by the pool at 8, to say goodbye to Tony and Graeme. Tony has stopped in Phuket on his way home from a business trip to Europe, and today he heads to Singapore for a couple more days R&R. Graeme will stay in Phuket...
41 Degrees in Chiang Mai, Thailand
It is the hot season here, which means it is the dry season. We saw in this morning’s newspaper that yesterday the temperature here in Chiang Mai reached 41 degrees. We head out early – me to book a trek for tomorrow,...
A Songkran Day With Elephants and Mahouts
This Songkran morning does not start auspiciously – the minibus that is to pick us up for our day in the country-side around Chiang Mai does not appear. Finally, we head out of town, and after about 45 minutes, we stop. Our guide...