A milestone celebrated in the Hunter Valley.

I did not phone my father on his Birthday for fear of giving the surprise away. I could feel the back pains & mimic my Dad word for word, rotten little b*#@h, didn’t even phone me for my birthday, no e-mail, nothin’, rats#*t....... blah, blah, blah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Anyway, how surprised was he when Marty & I walked out the front door upon his arrival at my step brother’s home in the Hunter Valley!!!?

For the girls I think?

'Wrong' Joker!!!

So it was a couple of  drinks out on the back patio before the bus came to collect us “Bus what bus” say’s Dad-  everybody just ignored him......... you’re not meant to know what is going on, on your birthday, are you?..... & then we met up with others in Newcastle for a live show at The Kavon Theme Restaurant. (Vampires, demons and ghouls). The Kavon puts on an extreme show (& dinner) where you are swept into a trance of comedy, music and indulgence, so crude & soooo funny!

The 'One' who picked on my step bro

The Chef...disturbing!!!

My step brother got picked on by one of the female entertainers that kept calling him ‘Puppy’, a nickname that will now stick FOREVER hahaha! And of course the birthday boy got dragged up on stage for some form of crude torture!

Lots of audience participation & disturbed feelings when you see what has cooked your dinner!!!

Many thanks to ‘Puppy’ & his ‘awesome’ wife for organising an fantastic night.

Bali is frigin’ Awesome Part 5: Wildlife & a Wild Night

Endangered Species!!!?

Bali Wildlife Safari Marine Park is home to hundreds of amazing animals some rare and endangered. Combining Balinese cultural ambience with African Savannah. Featuring Sumatran elephant, Sumatran tiger, white tiger, leopard, komodo dragon and cheetah. They are devoted to conservation & education And there is plenty of opportunity for hands on Animal Encounters at a fraction of the cost we would pay back home.

Me & a couple of

Mischief Makers?

A Bengal tiger was born in Bali Safari and Marine Park on May 19, 2010.At the time of our visit she was 9 months old. Oooooooow the excitement for a mere $8 Australian we could give her a pat & have our photo taken with her. We took the same opportunity with an Orangutan, sooooo FUN, so cute! 

We were entertained with a live show put on with the elephants. A safari ride through the animal enclosures. And we had a different dining experience overlooking the Tsavo lions in a very close encounter. The restaurant has huge glass windows & you get to dine with the Lions right there just on the other side of the glass..... AWESOME...!!!

Hard Rockin'....!!!

This park is designed so that you have an unforgettable visit & has been named Indonesia’s Leading Amusement Park in Indonesia Travel and Tourism Awards 2010/2011. It was as a fantastic day out.

As for the wild night......... It all started at the Hard Rock Hotel, Flaming Lamborghinis & then...... we found a Reggae Bar...!!!

BALI IS FRIGIN AWESOME & it is on the ‘Bucket’ list to go back.....I can’t wait.......

Bali is frigin’ Awesome Part 4: Bali Culture & Cheeky Monkey’s

Sitting on the Bedroom Porch at a Bali Home

Hindu Temple

Marty & I were rather spoilt as we were the only ones going on the tour this day, so it was that we had our own personal tour guides. The tour started by visiting Balinese businesses. The Balinese are very cleaver at making things by hand. It was explained to us that you are born into a trade i.e. if your family are wood carvers then you will be a wood carver etc. We visited a Batik Clothier & Weaver, Silver Jewellery Makers, & Wood Carvers & Art    Painters. Their trades were demonstrated to us & then of course you are invited to purchase! And yes as expected a purchase was made at the Jewellery Makers, a cuff bracelet that has been admired by many since our return home to Oz.

There's a Monkey on my back...!!!

The day continued with a tour through a Hindu Temple & a visit to a Balinese home. The home is made up of many different buildings in a compound and consists of separate sleeping rooms, a family temple, kitchen, etc. In the family home we visited they are tea & coffee makers, this is also the place we tried ‘Poo’ (Luwak) coffee as mentioned in my previous blog.

At the end of the tour & the end of Monkey Forest Road is the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, home to about 200 monkeys.  It is far safer to avoid feeding the cute little monkey’s  as they can become quite aggressive once they know you have food!!! However, still soooo very cute & if you’re lucky as I was one may climb up onto your knee or jump up on your back & start preening your hair!!! Just delightful, totally made my day!

Bali is frigin’ Awesome Part 3: JIMMY

Greeted at the airport, flowers put around our neck & we are now looking like the ultimate tourist...... Taken to our hotel & arranged in the morning is a meeting to plan our activities for a FUN holiday, I had no idea that there  was soooooo much to do, & I thought I was going to relax by the pool, go to the beach, & shop my socks off....... Well we all know that shopping my socks off is mandatory!!!

So we decided to give the beach activities a miss as we had done that not so long ago at Airlie Beach First activity, we went Elephant Riding....... ooooooooh LOVE Elephants, ours was named Jimmy. We travelled on a teak chair on Jimmy’s back through rice fields & a village, stopping for a fresh coconut drink along the way before being taken in the water for a photo. We got to feed Jimmy after our ride & visit with some younger elephants that are in training.