Day 3 UBUD

We are now on Bali time-----------------------------------Oh Yes! Hired a car to go to Ubud to look for accomadation and our driver was on Bali time. His name was Merta, a young Balinese boy who works at the hotel. He borrowed a relatives Van and showed up 1 1/2 hours late, Bali time. No such thing as being in a hurry in Bali.

Roads are narrow with no speed limits or laws and millions of scooters that fly around passing on either side of the roa wd ekkkkkkkkkkkk!

We arrived in Ubud many hours later and totally freaked out from the traffic.

On the way we stopped at a batik factory and the designs and fabric were amazing doing everything by hand with a tool filled with wax.

Ubud north of Kuta and cooler with terraced hills that are vibrant green with the rice paddies.

Merta got lost a few times but nothing seems to be a problem for the Balinese. After several stops at relatives and friends of Mertas we did find a house to rent for the rest of our stay. The house looks like a palace and we are the first to stay. It is in the middle of the rice fields and within walking distance to town . It comes with housekeeper and cook but the question is...will we ever go home???????

Desiree has plans for yoga classes twice a day and the girl next door is a meditation teacher so what more could we ask for. Lulu doing both of the above as well so should be in great shape mentally and physically by the end of the month. If we ever come home just hope my friends will recognize me!!!!

A trip that would normally take a few hours we arrived back at our hotel safe and sound, 9 hours later still alive.

We have met some Aussie friends, Cheryl and Ron who come here often and are teaching us all the tricks of travelling in Bali and bartering.

Food and gifts very cheap and we can have a great dinner for $6 US for both of us. Fresh fish and seafood is sooooooooooooooo good and we will be much wiser from all the brain food.

Tomorrow we are going to Turtle Island with Cheryl and Ron to see.....................you got it Turtles and snorkeling.

Day 2 Kuta

Day 2 in Kuta and it seems as though we have been here for weeks. We love our Green Garden hotel where the staff are quickly becoming our friends. Each morning we head downstairs for a buffet style breakfast that includes a variation on eggs, beans in tomato sauce, fried rice (always) and fruit. I've never had leechies so fresh. We headed to Seminyak for some shopping and found ourselves in a home decor district with swaths of batik fabrics and furnishings. Could I take a lifesize mannequin disco ball home with me? The heat of the day quickly became overwhelming and we jumped back in a cab. The driver took us on a twisted long route and it turned out to cost twice as much as the previous trip. We are slowly getting street wise. It is fun being a millionaire here.

Fresh pineapple juice, a nap and a swim later I almost felt normal. Mom seemingly had no jet lag (must be all that shift work) and the Bikram's hot yoga in Van has prepared me for the intense humidity and heat here. We have have made some great new friends- Merta, the young Balinese man who works at the hotel and the Aussie couple who have been here many times, are a wealth of information. Merta took us all to Uluwatu to see an amazing temple perched high on a cliff on the south eastern edge of the island. We were warned of the monkeys who were apparently very mischievous. This proved to be true- seemingly half rat, half raccoon, they would steal spectacles from atop unforseeing tourist's heads and would only return them in exchange for some food. We hid our Italian movie star sunglasses and held cameras tight. We then drove back down the hillside past the infamous Panang surfer- haven beach to sample some fresh fish and receive a Balinese dance performance at a local tourist hotspot on the ocean. Merta loves dancing and was trying hard to get me out to the night club but the jet lag was making for an early night for me. We all decide we'll check out the engine room the next night.

The Muslim culture is fascinating. So many ceremonies and rituals. We watched a cremation on the beach the first day we got here. No one cried or was grieving as they see death as the step towards the next life. Each day the women prepare little basket of offerings- flowers, crackers and money, that are left outside on the sidewalk.

Today we are off with Merta to Ubud to see the rice fields and find accommodation. Looks like I will be learning how to ride a scooter!

Day 2

Had a fabulous spa and we have decided to make a habit of it. Price is right and get totally pampered by the Balinese women, who really know how to rub hot rocks on our backs.
Detox is no choice and free with the high humidity lol.
Unfortunately to get to the beach we must go near a Mall where they have everything you would ever want and the price is right.
The Balinese people are soooooooo friendly and have a smile for everyone, beautiful culture.
It was a good thing I practiced at home in my flip flops as Dez had me walk a thousand miles yesterday but didn't miss a step..........We can walk faster than taking a cab as the streets are one lane but 2 lanes of traffic and motorbikes by the thousands. Bali boys constantly stopping to ask Dez if she wants a ride but no one has asked me yet????? Don't think that is fair.
Agenda for today is more detox and more walk. Too hot to eat so will be slim and trim by the time I get home ha.

Day 2 Kuta

Yesterday's trip to the spa was amazing. We were transported by Taxi to another hotel where we were greeted by Karina, a lovely Balinese woman with the big smile and quick wit that is so common with the locals. We were treated to a hot stone massage and then down to the hair salon for more pampering. It was so affordable we imagine this to be a regular occurance. A walk down Kuta beach lead us to a seaside restaurant where we lounged by the pool with a latte and mango margarita. With the modern/chic decor, pumping house music and girls with thong bikinis,it seemed like Kanye could appear at any moment. Further down the beach the local entrepreneurs were abound with wares and services. Each had their name written on their hat so that you could find them again. Local surfers, with boards upright in the sand, escaped from mid-day sun and muslim women and men gathered for lunch seperately along the board walk. The entrance to and from the beach conveniently requires a stroll through the mall where we pick through the plethora of brightly patterened sun dresses in hopes to find something that is cool. We are doing a detox whether we like it or not with this humidity and heat.

KUTA Day 1

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ after the 17 hour flight. Breakfast around the tropical.......leeches yummie.

Arrived in Kuta yesterday just in time for happy hour to realize Lulu forgot one piece of luggage at the airport. Another trip to the airport later and sweating in our Eskimo clothes, we returned to our Green Garden Hotel. We made it to the beach for sunset and raindrops (thank goodnes) and picked up some necessities at the mini mart. 4pm a day earlier, our usual time, we hit the hay. We are desperate for an electronics store to get converter for all our gadgets. One here is from 1000AD. First, the spa...