- BALI -

(Bren with local dancers on Legian Street.)

We’ve just returned from an amazing 8 days in Bali! We stayed at the White Rose Hotel, Legian, just behind the Bali Bombing Memorial. (Which by the way, is beautiful and a very popular place for both tourists and locals).

(Bali Bombing Memorial)

We jumped into the market/shopping scene and learnt our bartering skills VERY quickly… with keen locals trying to sell you anything and everything @ “special morning prices”. We slipped fairly easy into the Bali atmosphere, with cheap amazing food and Bintang!

On the third day, we headed out to Waterbom Park to see if our inner child was still game enough to face massive waterslides! One, called the Boomerang, sends you in pairs down a steep tube to increase your speed, then down a chute… just when you think its all over it sends you hurtling towards the sky at 45 degree angle… only so you can FREE FALL backwards into the pool below! Smashdown was another good one. Where you climb 8 storeys of stairs and brace yourself for the 60 degree straight down slide…. You’d probably reach a top speed of 70km per hour… not to mention the major wedgee at the bottom. It was an awesome day out!

(Bren coming down the "SMASHDOWN" Slide at Waterbom park)

We also took a trip out to the Bali Safari Park, which was amazing!! We went on a half hour safari trip to see tigers, hippos, zebras etc. Then watched an Elephant Show, Bren had photo’s taken with a Baby Orang-utan and I got to hug a huge Lioness!!!

( ...Say Cheese!!)

The next day we took a tour, complete with our own guide & driver out to see more of the country side & Culture of Bali. First up we watch the traditional Barong Dance. Then we visited woodcarvers, painters, silversmiths and a Batik/weaving factory, learning from the artist how they create their masterpieces. We also visited a waterfall, visited the sacred Elephant Temple ,rice terraces and The Sacred Monkey Forrest in Ubud. We also visited a coffee plantation and spice farm, where we tried different coffee’s and fruits etc. And just when we thought it couldn’t get any better we had a Buffet lunch on the rim of a volcano (well almost)!! It was an unforgettable day out and not bad for only $36!!

(Rice Terraces)

We had an amazing time, especially Brendon as it was his first time overseas! Now back in Darwin, we are now preparing for our next Adventure… KAKADU!

(Bren & I enjoying our last dinner in Bali in our own private bungalow!)