10th to the 13th of May
Bali
We stayed at a fantastic beach location, remote, and perfect for some rest and recuperation as well as for catching up with domestic chores.
The weather was mixed. We encountered lively storms and sunshine, sleeping to the sound of crashing waves. But it was always hot. We braved the sea, walked along the empty black beach, sometimes frequented by dog- walkers and bridal photo shoots. The volcanic sand was firm enough to accommodate quad bikes, motor bikes and the odd car.
Fine black volcanic sand Walking the dogs We’re getting married Nice
We swam in the hotel’s infinity pool, and enjoyed an aromatherapy massage. Lynne managed both yoga and gym sessions on the terrace of our cabin. We were entertained by a class of schoolgirls learning Indonesian dance and a photo shoot for yoga classes at the hotel.
Stretch for the sky Home from home Hearty Breakfast More spice please Breakfast Dinner
We spent a lot of the time researching plans for our trip ahead, getting anxious that accommodation and travel would get booked up, because of summer holidays. We came away having decided our outline route in July through Costa Rica and Panama, before returning to Atlanta, our gateway to New Orleans, and the East Coast of the States. Peter booked countless hotels and some train journeys, and one flight.
Bali merits another visit. The vibe is different, being mostly Hindu, with countless temples dotted everywhere. On the way to the airport, heading for our next destination, we passed along narrow busy roads, with hundreds of motorbikes and small shops. Up and down steep roads, until the shock of Denpasar city, a metropolis with huge buildings, big brands and a chock-a-block freeway.
Our flight departure for Seoul, South Korea, was at 1am, so we arrived at the airport for dinner with hours to spare. We had a shopping list for duty free, to replenish and replace worn out stuff. We decided we’d rather wait at the airport than hang around at the hotel.
Farewell Indonesia
We had spent three weeks in Indonesia, a late amendment to our route to Japan, and were feeling very at home there, slightly trepeditious about adjusting to another different culture.
We arrived in Indonesia with few expectations. The country is home to wonderful natural attractions. We loved Mount Bromo, the volcanic crater at Ijen and the day in the jungle, scouting for orang-outans and tubing down the river. We enjoyed the markets, the history and the agriculture – palm oil, rubber, coffee plantations, fruit and vegetables, rice paddies. The food was fresh and excellent, though Peter had to ask the restaurants not to cook as if we were westerners. Everybody in Indonesia were anxious not to serve westerners ‘spicy’ food, ending up far too bland for our tastes. Our accommodation was very good.
We were pleasantly surprised by people’s houses, usually with flowering plants out front and pretty glazed windows and colourful tiles on their terraces. Water and sanitation is a problem which even our guides didn’t recognise. We were asked to be photographed everywhere, with some surreptitious photos, too, as there were so few westerners at any of the places we visited.
As pedestrians, we found the traffic constant and intimidating. The very early daily morning cacophony from the minarets was intrusive. Everywhere, except high up in the mountains, the heat and humidity was oppressive. We were shocked by the numbers of smokers, especially working men.
We were delighted to have had the opportunity to visit this fascinating and varied country.
