Bali Days 7 & 8

DAY 7 - Ubud

We found a taxi driver to take us on a tour up to Ubud. We stopped at a Silver and Gold Jewellery maker place first.. then to a Balinese dance/show. The costumes and music were just amazing. So much beautiful detail. 

We got chatting with our taxi driver, he was a lovely man. He told us that he works 8am to 9pm, 7 days a week. He has a wife and 2 teenage sons. He said he works so that he can pay for his sons to go to college to get better jobs when they are older. I must have looked so sad about how much he had to work... as he put his hand on my arm and said "It's okay... that's life". Not in a self-pitying way... but in a content, peaceful way.   I'm still trying to wrap my head around it... the contrast between cultures. The Balinese people are so family oriented, they work hard, they just get on with it, they do what they have to... and they are so happy and friendly all the while. I could learn so much from them.

Can you spot the little boy who doesn't like sitting still in a chair? He likes to be front, centre and up close to the action!

Afterwards we stopped at a restaurant overlooking a rice field.

Our boys were very popular.. with the staff and also some Japanese tourists wanting photos. As you can see, Jacob didn't seem to mind!

Delicious delicious delicious vege dish with a peanut sauce and soy sauce.

Next stop - the Monkey Jungle!

Another thing about the Balinese culture... they help each other. Wherever we went.... the water park, out for dinner, shopping, out with our taxi driver... they would help us with our boys. One night at dinner, the waitress walked Jacob around in the stroller to help him go to sleep, so we could all eat. Our driver held Sam's hand through the monkey forest and held Jacob whenever he could, the ladies at the restaurant picked up Jacob and took Sam on a walk when they got restless.... so quick to help and accepting of children.

Later that night, Lewy and the boys stayed in for a relaxing early night... while Mum and I headed into Kuta for more shopping and dinner. We shopped, had pedicures and manicures ($10!), went to an Italian restaurant, sat top level and enjoyed watching fire dancers while we ate pizza and drank some wine :)

DAY 8 - Nusa Dua


While Jacob had fun at Kids Club, me Lewy and Sam headed to Nusa Dua. We loved it here. The relaxing vibe, the beaches, the water sports available... this is our kind of location!

We stopped at hotel bar for a drink and ice cream and to soak in the view... while here a guide came up to offer us a ride on a glass bottom boat ride.. so off we went! Love how easy it is to go on an adventure here! No stress.. just picked up our bag, walked a few steps to the beach and the boat came to pick us up right there. Easy!

While we were on the boat, Lewy decided last minute he wanted to get a tattoo.... so off we head to a tattoo parlour that had been recommended to us by a friend in Perth.

He already had a Japanese symbol on his ankle meaning ' Soul/Spirit'... so he opted for two more symbols... meaning 'Happiness' and 'Long Life'... the new symbols are actually in Chinese but we figured it didn't matter too much!

Back to the hotel to wait for our flight.... it was a long day/night. Our flight was delayed by 1.5 hours so we didn't leave until 11.40pm ... the boys slept the whole flight home which was great. It was so good getting into our car at the airport and it's so so nice to be home!

Overall, a wonderful holiday. Bali is gorgeous, the culture and the people are beautiful... we loved it and we will definitely be going back! It is a bit tricky travelling overseas (or anywhere for that matter!) with young kiddies but as they get older it will get easier... the boys adapted really well and loved all the attention they got.

Now to settle back home, unpack and get back to reality..... and start planning for our next big holiday next year... which I'll write about soon! (Very excited about this one! Stay tuned!)

Good to be back! xxx

Goodbye Bali!