We arrived at Ubud to very crowded streets - traffic and people. We had a short walk with all our gear to our hotel - The Swan Inn.
It was so good to Kara (our daughter) again. She was already staying at the hotel.
We checked in to a large room on the second floor with good views over the roof tops of Ubud.
We had lunch and chatted. The rest of the afternoon was at the hotel chatting and resting until dinner.
Dinner was good. I had the best beef rendang ever. e listened to live music and had a few drinks.
25 AUGUST 2018
I woke early and walked the now not so crowded streets of Ubud and visited the traditional market. It as fun walking through the market crowds and gazing at the happening from various vantage points.
Back to the hotel and Kara and I were off for a guided bird hike (520 000R pp) around Ubud. It was great. Su, the guide was very knowledgeable and entertaining, The other people on the tour were nice and friendly and we saw lots of birds. An excellent morning.
A bit weary and hot from the walk so we had an easy afternoon and night.
26 AUGUST 2018
It rained early in the morning.
A lazy day - massage, pool, take away pizza, checked out a few shops.
Not feeling the best - sort of on/off virus and one eye keeps weeping.
27 AUGUST 2018
We booked tickets online for the Bali Bird Park. Nyoman picked up/drop off return for 300 000R. It was a great day - many birds, bird shows, cute birds, ugly birds, birds with character and all in a setting of nice gardens and avairies.
28 AUGUST 2018
Jacinta and I had a walk through the traditional markets then coffee at a nice cafe.
Back to the hotel to pack. Nyoman pick us up at 12:30 for our journey to Legian - 350 000R.
Ubud had changed somewhat since our last visit - the crowds of tourists were larger, some people were aggressive on the narrow footpaths, the traffic was very congested and the air was hard to breath at times. On the plus, there was good and tasty food.
Nyoman picked us up at 11am for our drive to Balian. We stopped along the ay for donuts and the apotek (chemist).
We arrived at Gubug Bungalows, Balian, checked in, had a bite to eaat and then I was in the water for a surf.
The waves were good with nice walls, good size and a few surfers out.
Later me had coffee, dinner and I fell asleep very early.
We met Dan (from last year) and his friend Chad and Lea.
Also met Andy and Mick and caught up with Al and Jane from SA.
18 AUGUST 2018
Up for an early surf. . A fun surf in the morning that was better than it looked. A little bumpy but still some size and some fun waves were to be had
Paddling out to the waves, I met Neil who was a friend of Nic and Cliff (NZers).
Back in for breakfast then out again. The second surf wasn't as defined. I had
a few okay waves. Still. it was fun.
My shoulder was getting sore so it was time to strap it up again.
Lunch at Tom's.
The wind increased onshore in the afternoon so no surf
playtime.
It rained off and on throughout the day. The sun made a
brief on/off appearance in the late afternoon.
We had a beer overlooking the beach, then wandered down the
beach for the sunset. Most afternoons have been cloudy so a regular event was a
rare event this year.
A tasty dinner at Tekor and back to the ranch.
19 AUGUST 2018
Early surf on the outside lefts and rights after watching the sunrise. Only a few other
surfers. Heaps of waves.
Back in for breakfast then back out. The rights starting getting
better and better and then, bam, they stopped.
Back in for lunch at Dekis and down the road coffee.
The afternoon was spent around the pool and I wandered next
door for a chat with Givan.
We had sunset drinks at Harmony Warung and met Lis and Stewart who live in Balian and Stewart and Natalie from the Sunshine Coast, Qld. We met up for dinner with Stewart and Natalie at Tom's Cafe. A fun chatted night.
20 AUGUST 2018
I took videos of the morning surf and had breakfast with Jacinta. After breakfast, I had a surf.
Nice rights from out the back and some lefts. I took a big right on the edge, wobbled everywhere and then got hammered by the next lot of sets and just got out the back and was caught by the second lot of sets. I walloped my knee sometime during this pounding and decided to end the session.
Back at the hotel, we met Mandy, who I met in Sri Lanka in the early 80's. We had a nice catch-up chat. She told me that Mark, her partner was recovering from a scorpion sting! Earlier in the year, he was bitten by a snake!
I had a massage with Ayu which was okay then Jacinta and I had a sushi lunch.
I spent the afternoon resting my injuries.
Jacinta woke me from an afternoon nap. Wal and Desty were here. We sat in the cabana and drank beers and chatted and then off to dinner at Tekor.
21 AUGUST 2018
I woke to a small surf and a fast increasing crowd in the surf. I decided to wait and see what later provides.
Wal and Desty Headed off for a Java trip and Nic and Louise
arrived from Medewie.
I had a late surf with some okay waves but a little crumbly
at times.
Jacinta and I had late afternoon beers watching the sunset.
Nic, Louise, Jacinta and I had a chatty dinner at Tekor. At
dinner, we met up with Phil and Joe (from Sydney), who I met briefly earlier in
the trip.
22 AUGUST 2018
A pretty sunrise and a very small surf this morning. Time for a layday from the surf.
Long-haired Mick from Victoria headed off today to Nusa Lembongan.
Nic and Louise moved into Gubug Bungalows.
Jacinta and I spent the day chatting, sitting around the pool and eating.
Later, we had sunset beers and dinner at Pitaya.
23 AUGUST 2018
I woke to bigger waves. Yahoo. Paddled out for a fun session of lefts and rights on the outside peak. A little crowded but heaps of waves. Back in for breakfast and back out again for another fun surf of lefts and rights with a smaller crowd.
Rest time around the pool. Met Mel from Newcastle. We repaired a big sea ulcer on Nic's knee using plastic skin. Then we cut the toe section of a pair of socks so that he could cover his knee to stop it scraping on his board. Nic being versatile used the end of the socks as a fashion accessory and to warm his ears.
We walked to Secret Bay for dinner. Yummy grilled whole fish.
25 AUGUST 2018
Last day in Balian.
I woke to bigger waves but it was looking a bit all over the place. I andered the beach to take some photos then eventually had a surf. i paddled out with low expectations but ended up having one of my best waves so far on the trip and lots of other fun waves.
Back in for breakfast and I was tired. We packed, said our goodbyes and Nyoman arrived to take us to Ubud (450 000R).
We drove from Balian to Candidasa (700 000R) and Kara went
to Lovina (500 000R). I fell asleep most of the car ride.
We arrived at Anom Beach Hotel on Mendiri Beach. It costed 2
153 250R for five nights in a superior one bedroom apartment (+62 812 3828 287).
The reception wasn't very friendly on our arrival but things
soon sorted themselves out and we settled into our nice room.
The hotel was nice with a pretty gardens with flowers, trees
and water features. There was also a small white sand beach in front of the
hotel.
We had a walk and a coffee.
Dinner was at the hotel across the road from our hotel. the
food was good and fast and there was gambiling music playing.
13 AUGUST 2018
The air con was very cold last night so I woke a number of
times.
We hired a motorbike after breakfast (70 000R per day). The
guy handed me one of the helmets and it slipped and hit the ground and cracked
in two. He reckoned it was new and I owed him a new helmet. Haha! no chance of
that happening. I sent him off to get another helmet. He wasn't happy!
We drove the bike to Padanbai and Bias Tugal Beach. We
parked and walked the path to the beach. Nearly at the beach, I slipped down the steep track and
scrapped my arm and elbow. I so dislike cuts in the tropics!
The beach had a rough small surf breaking and a lot of
people and well established warungs. We hired a couple of beach chairs and
umbrella and settled in for the day.
We spent our time walking the beach, swimming, chatting and
lazing around. The beach became very crowded by the afternoon. When e first
came here there was only a couple of warungs and a few western tourists.
Back at Candidasa, I had a very pretty shallow water snorkel
at sunset. later, we had a great dinner at Amarta Beach Cottages.
14 AUGUST 2018
A beautiful morning. I walked through the gardens and down
onto the beach. There was no wind this morning so the water was very glassy. I
did my morning exercises on the beach then had a swim in the clear waters. I spotted
a stingray.
Jacinta was awake so we had breakfast and planned the day.
We drove the bike to Tirta Gangga in the mountains. The ride
itself was an adventure - traffic, steep bends and traffic lights.
At Tirta Gangga, we visited the Water Palace. It was crowded
but still pretty. It was fun stepping on the stones in the first pool and
walking around the gardens.
We drove back to Candidasa and I had a snorkel. Once again
the water as so clear.
We spent the last part of the afternoon. having
a coffee overlooking the ocean and later still, a few beers. 15 AUGUST 2018 I started the day with exercises/stretches on the beach then two drift swims in the ocean.
Breakfast at the hotel but we both were not feeling too well. We kept getting hot flushes and a bit of a temperature.
We hung around the hotel resting and later, I felt better than Jacinta, I had a massage at downtown Candidasa. It was a very relaxing massage in a nice spa. Lunch as across the road at Amarta Cottages. We had a long talk with Ari, the main waitress and Tri and Nopi, who were training in hospitality. No pay for training but they do feed you. We had the best dinner at the small restaurant along the road leading to the main road - very tasty. 16 AUGUST 2018 I was up early for exercise and stretches on the beach followed by a few drift swims.
After breakfast, I had a snorkel but the visibility wasn't too good due to an incoming tide and small waves. We sat in the deck chairs and drank tea.
I had a chat with the French couple next door, whose ancestry was Algerian. Koman, the main reception lady, had a selfie photo with me and a long chat on the difficulties of her job.
We had a great lunch at a huge ceiling restaurant. It was so cool under the roof but hot outside it.
Another massage downtown and a motorbike ride around the area. Some great views! We booked a table at Amarta Cottages for the Balinese dancing and set menu feast. The meal was great and the traditional dancing fun. On the last dance they invited people to dance with one of the performers. I had a dance and enjoyed twinkling the toes. !7 AUGUST 2018 Last day in Candidasa. I had early exercise and stretches on the beach followed by a swim. Breakfasted, packed, coffee next door and before long Nyoman arrived to drive us to Balian.
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