Photos from Ubud and Candidasa

More Photos and also an apology - the first comment prize goes to Jackie - no photos was such the norm we missed it - sorry Mr G. Tony!!

 Tree Tops climbing in jungle, Bedougal (part of botanical gardens) - serious grown up climbing .....!

Temple on the way to Tree Tops, Lake Bratan.  We were supposed to go back to the lakes and do a jungle trek.  It meant crossing Lake Tambligan in a dug out canoe, but the children were so tired in Ubud I cancelled it.  Amie had had grit in her eye for three days and had a sore leg (Alex drag her along paving by a pool....for goodness sake...).  They were exhausted the night before so I just thought a break would be good.

Typically they woke up raring to go and were absolutely furious ....I was the worst mummy ever.....!!! They seem over it now and are very, very excited about our volcano trek.  In two days we take the ferry to Lombok, where we are met by a guide and taken to Senaru. We are spending a night in a local guest house and then four days treking up mount Rinjani (three nights camping).  I found a lady guide. She was the first lady guide on the mountain and has set up her own company. She was the only honest one..  All the rest said - kids would be no problem and we could do it in one night two days. She said no - that would be ridiculous.  Hence the four days - fingers crossed we will all cope....I now have an infected toe......!!
 In Candidasa, we got hold  of local bikes (there were three outside a shop - we think they belonged to the lady's kids and she was up for some cash!). We cycled up to Tenganan (a traditional Balinese Village).  Alex nearly ran over a baby pig,....ahhhh! His chain went on the way down so I ended up pulling him which was a tad scary..!.

 Having tea in Ubud by a rice paddy

 Jungle trek on elephant at rescue place in Taro near Ubud. The kids made friends with their mahout - the mahouts all have one elephant each to take care of and form strong bonds. We found  a taxi driver on the street who took us up there, waited two hours and brought us back..great fun. The elephants have been rescued from Summatra - although it's quite a going business for rides now.

 Doing the washing in Ubud.  We 'walked' a suitcase of washing to a local dhobi - Amie pushed it down all the local roads and through traffic. It was hilarious. We got there and he didn't do washing by the kilo but by item. Amie and I sat on the floor of the washing shop (in the street) counting out ...6 pants (man), 6 socks (lady)....they were such a nice family.  They work 10 hours a day and the kids basically live at the shop.  We went and collected the washing that night (same trip with case but in the dark..!) and gave the kids London postcards.  We also made of point of buying peanuts from this old lady street vendor everytime we passed, she was ill and slept on a bed behind her stall.

 Ubud monkey forest - more mad monkeys.

We are now in Candidasa  the hotel is reached from a quiet lane lined with houses and a few shops/warangs.  We have been hanging out at one warang and the kids have made friends with the family. Putu took them snorkelling yesterday morning and the mum did satay specially for us.  The local beach was teeming last night (sunday) with locals having a great time.

The guides (Wayans) house at Tenangan Village - the wives all weave local cotton - it takes two weeks to make a sarong. 

the children with Wayan at his house in Tenangan