BALI, BALIAN - SURFING - 26 JULY 2017

25 July 2017

An early surf. It started a bit small but got better the longer I was out. Back in for breakfast, then out for a short second surf. Once again the wind turned onshore so i was only out an hour.

A late morning pot of coffee, pie and ice cream at Tom's Garden.

Late afternoon was cocktails at Gubug Bar and then down to Tekor for dinner.

26 July 2017

A light rain this morning with lots of clouds. It kept the weather cool.

A fun glassy morning surf then back in for breakfast. I had a second surf in better waves and Jacinta took some photos of me surfing. While I was out there I met Trevor, who recognized me from you-tube videos. He owns a rock climbing centre in Sweden where he has been living the about the last twenty years.

The rest of the day was lunch and chilling in a light rain.

We were sitting in Tom's garden having coffee and pie, when Jeff the postie walked by with Col (Col is  a surveyor from WA). They joined us and we chatted away. We met Jeff at the beginning of the trip.

We had a cocktails and a nice dinner at Gubug Café.

BALI, BALIAN - SURF, SUSHI AND SUNSET - 24 JULY 2017

20 JULY 2017

At Balian the surf was smallish with a bit of cross shore. I paddled out and had a fun surf for about 2 hours.

We caught up with Nic and Louise and chatted about their holiday in Lombok or should I say experience.

The rest of the day was pool, eating and relaxing.

21 JULY 2017

I woke early and was out for a surf. I had two good waves when I first paddled out and then I kept being in the wrong position. 

Back in for breakfast and then out again for a second surf. I went much better this time and had a number of good waves. 

I organized laundry and then walked up the street to buy a few small items. 

After a short rest, Jacinta and I had coffee and pie at Tom's Garden restaurant. The gardens were lush and pretty making the place a good chill out venue.

Wal and Desty arrived. We all had a relaxing afternoon. I had a bit too much sun so I had a nap.

Kara had a massage and then we all went for a late dinner at Tekor.

Malaria tablets night., the last dose.

22 JULY 2017

The surf was big and messy all day. Mark had a surf and broke his board in two on the first wave.

We spent the day eating, chatting, hanging at the pool and reading.

An awesome sunset.

23 JULY 2017

The surf was good today. I had an early surf in well over head height solid waves. The second surf was better and I had a real fun time.

Wal and Desty left to drive back to Legian.

Later, Nic and Louise also left for Legian.

Kara had a two person massage and Jacinta and I had coffee at Sushi Surf Cafe.

24 JULY 2017

The surf was smaller. I paddled out predawn and had a fun time on head height waves with just a few other surfers out.

Back in for breakfast, Then another fun surf. The wind switched to on shore so I only had a short surf.

The rest of the afternoon was eating, chatting, and chillin'

BALI, LEGIAN - HELLOS AND GOODBYES - 18 JULY 2017

18 JULY 2017

We woke at 5am, finished packing, checked out, paid the bill and boarded a car for the airport.

We flew from Manado to Denpasar on Garuda on flight GA625 at 07:55 to 10:15 with 20kg. The flight was great. Garuda provided food, drink and entertainment. Heaps better than Lion Air

We arrived at the domestic airport in Bali. Nyoman was waiting and drove us to the Grand Kumala Hotel, Legian for 170 000R. We checked in, settled in our room and wander out for lunch.

Later, in the afternoon Kara and John returned from the Bali Bird Park. We chatted for ages about our side trips over the past two weeks.

In the late afternoon, we went down to Legian Beach for beers and sunset watching. Wal and Desty joined us there and after a time, we moved to the Seaside Restaurant for dinner. A fun night.

19 JULY 2017

I woke early and had a walk down and long the beach. Bali hikes are good in the morning when it is heaps cooler.

Back to the hotel for breakfast and then it was time to buy and do a few things - cash money for Balian, buy snack supplies and some clothes. I bought a new selfie stick as well.

The rest of the day was relaxing at the pool.

I had a massage at Sicilian Spa. It was clean and good. There was a fountain in the room where I was having the massage - 1 hour for 100 000R 

We had dinner and then it was time to take John to the International airport for his flight back to Australia. After that it was sleep time.

20 JULY 2017

I woke and had another hike along the streets and down to the beach.

Back at the hotel, Jacinta, Kara and I had breakfast, then we packed, paid our bill and were on our way to Balian.

SULAWESI, MANADO - BOAT, MALL AND POOL - 17 JULY 2017

We woke, packed a bit, had breakfast, paid the bill ( which took 1/2hour), finished packing, got on the boat, motored to Manado in pretty wild seas, landed at first harbour inside the river, walked a short distance, hailed a taxi and checked into 4 points hotel in Manado... how easy can it get.

At reception, we organized an early check in, transport to the airport tomorrow and a takeaway breakfast.

We showered and I washed my hair (salt water showers in Bunaken). We wandered down to Manado Town Mall which was beside our hotel. We looked at the shops and had lunch and coffee.

Back at the hotel and we hit the roof top infinity pool and bar and enjoyed a few beers until the rain came.

The rest of the afternoon was spent enjoying the room aircon and reading.

In the evening, we wandered back to the mall for dinner. We were going to go for a street wander but it was too wet to walk outside.

SULAWESI, BUNAKEN - BIG HIKE, MORAY EEL, CLOWN FISH - 16 JULY 2017

Not the best sleep as the locals pounded out the music to well after midnight. :)

We decided on an early walk to the next village. We were told it was a 20 minute walk. Well, we got carried away and after the village which was very rural with a beautiful and imposing church we kept going and followed a bricked road that turned into a dirt track that turned into a muddy slippery goat track (there were goats) that turned into numerous goat tracks that eventually crisscrossed the island until we ended up at the far end of the island at the other village. It took nearly 3 hours. We were hot, sweaty, muddy and thirsty. I loved it and Jacinta well, I decided not to ask.

Back at the resort for breakfast, rest, lunch and a snorkel off the beach. The snorkel was shallow and there were lots of small colourful fish. The highlights were the brightly coloured clown fish and a moray eel. The eel was such a cool animal to find and watch. It bobbed its head in and out of a hole in the coral.

Back at the hotel, we organize boat transport to Manado and had dinner.

SULAWESI, BUNAKEN ISLAND - SNORKEL AND CELEBRATION - 15 JULY 2017

After breakfast, Jacinta and I boarded the boat for snorkeling. All the others onboard were divers. We stopped at two places and drifted with the currents. There was a lot of fish, and we saw two turtles and coral along the wall. The water was crystal clear. Strangely enough, the coral isn't really very colourful and in some spots non existent. 

The snorkeling has been nice but I am a little disappointed overall with the coral and fish size as this place had a massive rave on being the one of the best in the world. I have snorkel in more awesome places in Nusa Penida, Flores and Rote. One of the people on the boat was Rob who had lived in this area for 15 years and had been doing a variety of environmental studies and surveys. He told me that the marine park was only recent and the lack of coral and larger fish has been caused by bleaching, dynamite fishing, cyanide fishing and boats dragging their anchors across the coral.

Later, that afternoon we walked to one of the villages. There was a celebration at one end of the village. People were doing very loud karaoke and climbing tall poles to win prizes. Most people appeared happy, friendly and smiling. It was very nice.



After the that, Jacinta and I settled into a small restaurant over looking the ocean near the main pier. We watched the locals relax and wandered around slowly while we enjoyed a cold beer.

There was a party at the resort in the evening for the owner who was moving residence to Sanur. They had a little competition and the local guys played some music.