We Won

Charlie & I won 1^st Prize in the Easter Hat Parade thanks to Aunty EJ & her excellent hat making skills.

When I dressed Charlie in the morning I had no idea that the dress was going to match the hat perfectly, ‘What a fluke’!!!

Charlie was scared of the Easter Bunny; little did she know that under that suit was her Aunty EJ...... EJ tried whispering to Charlie but she couldn’t hear her

Before eating 1^st prize, One Very  BIG Chocy Easter egg that took us 2 days to eat.!!!

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.

Bali is frigin’ Awesome Part 2: Food & 'Poo' Coffee!

Curry served in a coconut & yummy Flying Fish


Outside Bubba Gumps & drinking Bintang


Drinking 'Poo' Coffee' & the animal that did it...!!!

The food was divine. If I were to live in Bali I would be a FAT lady. Curry served in a coconut, Yummy Chinese Duck Noodle, & mmm-mmmm the seafood. Pine –a-colada, not Pina colada is made with, yes pineapple & comes served in a pineapple with a hole cut for the straw...! Food & cocktails’ are so cheap & I drank freshly squeezed pineapple juice EVERYDAY!

We also ate at ‘Bubba Gumps’ (You know from the movie Forrest Gump) and before you ask, yes they sell shrimp! They have an awesome system at Bubba Gump’s with number plates on the table, one says ‘Run Forrest Run’, & then you flip it over when you want a waiter, to..... ‘Stop Forrest Stop’. They yell it across the room to each other “Stop Forrest Stop” “Stop Forrest Stop’’ & a waiter arrives at your table. If you order a cocktail they will sing & dance for you... soooo much FUN. We ate there a couple of times.

We also drank 'Poo' Coffee or Luwak Coffee by its real name. The "Luwak Scat" is the indigenous animal who plays an "active" role in the harvesting of the raw coffee cherries. The Luwak feasts on ripe, red coffee cherries seeking out the sweet taste of the cherry itself. Once the Luwak eats the cherry, the parchment covered coffee beans are passed out of the Luwak, with the parchment cover still protecting the green coffee beans. In other words it eats the cheery & shits out the coffee bean. It is then gathered up & the parchment shell is removed.

A rare, exotic & expensive ‘Poo’ coffee like no other!!!

Bali is frigin’ Awesome Part 1: Shopping

The Streets of Bali..


Kuta Markets & 'the Bracelet that Marty negotiated.

Shopping, shopping, shopping......

You will have to imagine a Balinese accent.......Just looking, what you want, yes – look in my shop, Boss you want sunglasses (Marty was reminded of working in the prison being called Boss again!),massage, you want massage, I have Billabong, what you want, sarong, dress........ you could have nightmares about being attacked by stall holders all trying their hardest to get you into their stall with some blocking your way in the street & others grabbing you by the arm. A firm NO stops them. Once there, you get to do some serious negotiating & the key is being able to walk away.

We stopped at one particular stall (they see the tourist coming, probably because we’re all wearing ‘Bintang’ singlets. Bintang is the local beer & not a bad drop!) & Marty is negotiating a bracelet for me (Again imagine the accent). (Marty) “How much” (Stall Holder) “$750,000” rupiah (M) “No too much” (SH) “How much you offer” (M) “$100,000” (SH) “No too low you give me more” (M) “Ok $120,000 that’s my final offer” & we walk away. Well the Balinese Stall Holder chases us down the street trying to get us to pay more, Marty tells him “NO $120,000 is my final offer”, we go into another shop, buy something, come out & he’s still there.....!!! (SH)” You pay more” (M) “NO $120,000” (SH) “Oh OK, OK $120,000” & we have to walk all the way back to his stall & the deal is done.By the way, that is about $13 Aussi Dollers. It’s one of my favourite pieces.

Marty was also offered other ‘treasures’ on the street........ "pssst I have drugs Magic Mushroom, Viagra, Cocaine!!! Hmmm & the penalty for drug trafficking is.......... death?!!!!

I came home with sooooo much stuff & even the lady at customs said I had a lot to declare, clothing, including Roxy & Paul Smith gear, leather handbags wooden & awesome sterling silver jewellery, plus dresses for Charlie & a Balinese Doll that is ‘anatomically correct’ much to Jo’s disgust.

And of course ‘Bintang’ singlets for the family.