sanur

Sanur

Amie's right the hotel is lovely, it's family run and one of the older Sanur hotels. Our room has stone carvings around the door and a little fountain opposite. The beach reminds me of Mozambique, white sands and a mix of local and tourist.  I forgot I travelled round Mozambique before Amie, and also the trek up through Pakistan into the Himalayas before that (time flies when you have kids!).

 Our first task was the money hunt....I (stupidly it turns out..) thought us dollar travellers cheques would be best....ur no.  Travellers cheques are so outdated they result in much hilarity amongst most banker tellers...you inglish...so funny.  Also, as far as Asia is concerned the US dollar is pants.. they are all about the pound out here...!!#

Anyway, found money changer..phew and hung out at local café.  Alex had a go on the bongos, the chef plays guitar and we did go back later for the band but it was off that night.  The kids have made all sorts of friends. A Russian girl at the hotel who speaks with the best US accent ever (international school!). Her family are also travelling around for a month.

The next night we got hold of some bikes. The man took one look at Alex and said no bikes for baby boys. Alex had the saddle down, flicked his leg onto a peddle and pushed off before the guy could blink - Jono would have been proud.  We cycled down the coast and through the local beach areas and lots of Junking boats.  They are painted with eyes and have wooden perpendicular supports. The kids loved it. We had pizza on the beach and alex was fascinated by a kite surfing competition.

White Water Rafting

I did so much research on where to go and what company. In the end it's the same river and the guides were the most important thing.  They were a little crazy but great, these guys have grown up with the river and were fantastic.  We were picked up at 8am and drive up into the foothills of mount Batur passed Ubud.  Alex didn't feel great - which was a bit tricky but we survived without any dramas.

We got our kit and walked down to the river through the rain (?) forest. The river was cold but the rafting great fun, lots of different nationalities doing it.  The Japanese all wore those bizarre plastic rain coats they give you at Wimbledon - there was even a Japanese granny cackling away over the rapids.. The children loved it - the forest was amazing - we went past tree walks with baskets the locals use to get over the river, Alex saw a massive lizard. No anacondas though, much to his disappointment.  Lunch was rice and noodles. Amie now likes satay and they are both eating curry....they did get stuck into noodles for breakfast in Malaysia but promptly spat them out - we hadn't realised they are supposed to be boiled in the water provided first !!

Cycling

Yesterday we were picked up again and travelled up higher - we met guides with mountain bikes and cycled down the local roads and off road through lots of farms. It was fantastic - pretty hard going, I have to admit I was a little wobbly along the really narrow treks between ride paddies - Alex had it all in hand off course!  The villages and farms were amazing.  It did feel a bit intrusive at times..... We stopped at a local cooperative farm and the kids learned about cocoa, sugar and coffee.  It was a coop of 25 farms - a lad formed the coop and had the bright idea of opening to tourists.

lessons learned

If you can't find what you are looking for in the first packed case don't bother........don't use travellers cheques and also think carefully about what you want from the trip.  Ask, ask again and plan....

off to Permuteran today - four hours drive up north