BALI

We’ve made it to Bali!  This time the experience is much different.  Rob and I are prepared!!  We find a good price on a Taksi (taxi) and no one tried to take our bags! :-P  As we make our way into Seminyak (at midnight)… There’s no real system to driving, the mopeds wiz by, everyone is driving wherever-- there are no real traffic lanes.  The person that cuts you off has the right of way—try to figure that one!!  We stop at a light and children are out on the street asking people in cars for money or food, let me remind you that it is 12:30am…  They sit on crates at the light and as soon as the traffic stops, they run up to as many cars as they can.  It’s quite sad, yet I’m grateful to have been made aware of this truly tough situation these children/people are in. (much more to talk about this when we return) We continue to drive through the city which is filled with poverty, dogs and cats amongst the people running through the streets just looking for somewhere to go; something to eat.  Aside from these observations, the city is truly beautiful.  The night life is alive and before you know it we arrive at our hotel.  In our Lonely Planet book, it says that any “good” hotel will have security…ours does and has to search underneath the car before entering.  Everything is serene inside our hotel area; we are whisked away on a golf cart to the concierge desk and deep into this beautiful area with fantastic greenery and a pool.  Our room is lovely; the “bell man” is smiling and extremely helpful showing us everything that we need to know.  Rob and I quickly get situated and head to bed.

The next morning we wake around 9am to grab some breakfast and begin the relaxation!!!  We grab a couple of poolside chairs and begin reading our books and relaxing in and out of the pool. J  It’s so hot and humid, but such a nice way to begin the day.  Around noon we hit the streets of Seminyak and I start some shopping!!  We make our way up to Ku De Ta and watch some people surf.  It gets cloudy around 4pm—we haven’t experienced a sunset yet…  So we enjoy some appetizers and BinTang on the beach!  It’s a fantastic way to end our first day!!

Tuesday morning starts the same way J  and around noon(again) we grab a hotel taxi to Kuta and once we’re dropped off we walk to the beach(along the beach) and then quickly get lost.  We brought a map with us, but if you’ve ever been to Bali, the streets are not really marked sufficiently.  We probably walked about 6 or 8 miles(most likely in a circle that we were unaware of) before Rob accidentally fell into a gross alleyway sewer pit…YUCK!  (Lord only knows what was in that…) In his defense, he was trying to avoid a moped and lost his footing, but needless to say that ended our adventure of finding Kuta Square and STARBUCKS!  We grabbed a cab and headed back to the hotel so that Rob could clean himself off.  Later in the afternoon, we decide to hire a driver from our hotel for half of the day to be able to get to Ulu Watu.  It takes about an hour, so we’re glad that we were not on a taxi meter! J  It’s SO worth the drive though.  We enjoy (a small, cloudy) sunset at the temple of Ulu Watu and watch a beautiful traditional dance.  On our way back we stop off at New Moon restaurant on Jimbaran Bay.  We sit right on the beach and enjoy the seafood right from the Indian Ocean!!!  It’s a fantastic way to end our busy day!

Tomorrow we’re off to Ubud!  More to write soon… hope everyone is well!  Love you!! XOXO

hanging out at the hotel pool

Hanging out at the hotel pool (with my cappuccino) :)

Drinks at Ku De Ta on the lounge chairs--behind me(taking the pic) is the Ocean...so imagine that beautiful view from our loungers...ahhhh

The monkeys were so funny at the temple in Ulu Watu!

We had to wear these sarongs when entering the temple. (Rob too!)

Waiting for the traditional dance performance to begin!

Beautiful, cloudy sunset.

Yep, there they were...we had to pick 'em, then they'd cook 'em!

BINTANG!

Our dinner on Jimbaran Bay!