Bali and the Gilis

Greetings from Singapore - just got back from a lovely mid term break.  Simon is continuing the fabulous 50 birthday year and he planned the whole week and some surprises within, all in secret.  All I was told was to "pack tropical".  It wasn't until we were at the airport to check in that I saw the destination was Bali!  It had been 20 years since we had traveled through there on our "big summer trip of '92".

We avoided the now super commercialized Kuta area and stayed at Sanur Beach.  It is the older section with embassies and huge villas.  Not too crowded though and the swaying palm trees and lush gardens were very relaxing after the hectic start to the school year.

The next surprise was a boat trip to the Gili islands.  Given our luck with boats, that wasn't as easy as it looked.  Simon deliberately chose Sanur beach as that is where the boats now take off from (back in the day you had to ferry to Lombok and then get a fisherman to take you to Gili Trawangen to his "friend's" four bungalows.  No electricity, bathroom up the jungle path etc.  It has changed!)  This is Simon waiting while 7 Indonesian guys all stand around looking at a boat engine scratching their heads.

We finally got moving and it was quite a rough ride. The captain was looking nervous as we headed out to open sea and the mates were all running around listening to engines and tapping things We got to the first island stop and guess what?  The engine covers came off again and there was lots of standing around...

Not a bad place to be stranded - clear turquoise water, and bungalows on the hill.

But we got going finally and arrived at Gili Trawangen - so much had changed (it has been 20 years!) but there are still no cars on the island, just horse and cart and bicycles.  The touts were trying to give us  "cheap" accommodation but we sprung for expensive and had a lovely bungalow with a/c, a pool and great banana pancakes.  

We went diving in the warm, clear water.  We swam with turtles (amazing - they were huge and just swam right along next to you not scared or fussed at all).  We had many cocktails and sunsets. Simon ran around the island every morning - PB 36 minutes.  But best of all was the snorkeling - there is a wall right off the beach in front of our bungalows.  There is a current that pulls you gently along the coral parallel to the beach so you float along with a drop off on your left, the beach on your right and it is as if you are swimming in an aquarium - there are so many fish, big and small, rainbow and all.  The turtles swim along next to you and after about 15 minutes you get out and walk back up the beach to your chair (stopping for a cold beverage along the way).  Chill out, read a bit and do it all over again!  Paradise!

Now we are back to work - counting the days until Christmas break (that's what teachers do you know!) 

Still an open invitation to Singapore - just had some friends over from China and the UK. Great fun was had by all with lots of eating, drinking and F1 racing.  Come stay with us and then continue on to the Gili Isles - check out the links about the Gilis for more info!

All the best, 

Marilu and Simon