Bali

Having done a week of busy surgical nights followed by four hours sleep, what better time to be leaving for Heathrow to jump on a plane bound for South Korea. After 10 hours 50 minutes I had a two hour stop before getting a second flight to Bali. Just over seven hours later I was walking into a very hot and sticky airport terminal. James met me at the airport and from there we made our way to Kuta, the hotel and the rest of the group already out there.

My first day was nice and relaxed. We had a wander around the market, sat by the pool and wandered down to the beach. A long strip of white sand dotted with sun umbrellas and surfers. We couldn’t walk very far without being pestered by the locals desperate to sell anything from ice cream to silver.

Day two James and I left the group and set off on a trip to Lovina in the north of the island. We stopped in several places on the way including a place where coffee was produced and a Buddhist temple. It’s there I discovered pineapples grow in shrubs. Don’t know why I always thought they grew on trees. We also stopped by the road side to see one of the volcanoes on the island.


We arrived in Lovina by mid-afternoon and booked into a hotel. It was lovely, a lot of the places in Bali seem to have little individual buildings that have a bedroom and bathroom plus the all important air conditioning. Whilst in Lovina we had a walk along their black volcanic sandy beach and ate some sea food at the local restaurants. It’s only a small place so there wasn’t a huge amount to do but we did wake bright and early the following morning to go and see the dolphins. Lots of people were doing the same. We got in a boat and motored out into the harbour. Eventually someone caught sight of the dolphins and all the boats motored off in that direction. There were lots of them including some babies but they were very quick and difficult to take photos of.

On the way back to Kuta we stopped in several places, a Buddhist temple on a lake which was pretty. I got stopped by some Malaysian tourists who wanted to take a picture of me because I was so pale and blond. We stopped at the tallest waterfall in Bali but had to go and see it with an umbrella because it was raining so hard. We also fed monkeys strawberries at the side of a road.


The next day in Kuta James, Stuart and I started our diving courses. We did a morning in the class room learning about safety and the equipment. We then spent the afternoon in the swimming pool. I was funny because the pool was at a posh hotel so all the richer tourists spend their afternoon watching us look silly in out scuba gear floating around in their pool.

The next day we made our way to Tulambon on the East coast. Our hotel backed onto the beach and in two days we did four dives from the beach. James did all of his around a ship wreck. Stuart and I did different ones. The first was directly in front of the hotel on a coral reef. The first dive was amazing. I didn’t have any difficulty equalizing my ears and breathing was easy. The coral was beautiful and there were so many bright fish to look at. The second and third dives about 50m left of the hotel and were around the wreck James was diving on. Once we saw him navigating down a rope into the wreck. The coral and fish had completely taken over the wreck so it was really interesting to look at. Our fourth dive was about 50m to the right of the hotel and was off an undersea wall. It was where the land falls away under water. It was a real test to get our buoyancy correct so we didn’t sink or float. Our instructor was very thorough. He kept making us practise clearing our masks, sharing our oxygen and emergency assents. He did look a little silly though wearing his Mickey Mouse ears and bow tie. At least we weren’t going to lose him.

From Tulambon we were dropped off in Ubud inland were we met up with the rest of the group. In Ubud we went to the monkey forest where a monkey decided to sit on my lap so it was easier to pick the beads off my bag. It was much cooler here and seemed to be a much area. There were lots of posh restaurants and bars to try.

From here we made our way to the most southern part of Bali and stopped in Uluwatu. It is where all the surfers go for the best waves. We stayed in a hotel with a beautiful infinity pool with a view of the sea and the lights of Kuta in the distance. We watched the sunset from a wooden platform off the edge of a cliff then went swimming in the pool in the dark because it was so hot. The next day we made for the beach at Padang Padang. Our last proper beach day as a group. It was a beautiful beach with white sand. I shade bathed the whole day as it was so hot but still managed to burn my ankles.


The next morning it was time to make a move back to Kuta. Stuart had decided to come home a day early and Amy was due to leave again for Australia so four of us made our way back. We had time for a day of shopping and a giant prawn dinner before catching a flight for the 21 hour trip home. We had flown from 38 degrees to 5 degrees in temperature and really noticed it.

To see more pictures click here.

New Car

Well here is the replacement:


Much prettier in red I think. Thought I would take a picture of this one early on....just in case.

Car Accident

Well I did promise I would put up some pictures of my new car. I didn't realise how little time I would have to take them. Just two months after I bought it I have written it off.

Whilst travelling to Emsworth from London, I was within five minutes from home when someone pulled out of a side road in front of me. I was unable to stop. Having initially hit the brakes slowing me down from 50mph to about 35-40mph I hit him in the side in the area of his rear wheel arch.

I remember thinking "Oh no my new car", the next thought was "oh air bags". I forgot I had them. They all went off, my bonnet crumpled and my windscreen cracked. When I had batted down the air bags I thought the other driver had driven off. He hadn't, just moved his car to the side of the road and then helped me pull open my car door so I could get out the car.

We called the police who had to get their pick up truck to move my car from the road. Then the insurance nightmare began. The accident was not my fault and a minibus with witnesses stopped to tell this to the police.

More Photos

My only injuries were burns from the airbags and a sore shoulder. My car was the biggest injury it was pretty mangled whilst the one I hit had some minor scratches. Moral of the story if you want to walk away from a crash drive a Seat Leon. If you want to crash in style hit a Rolls Royce!

Family Weekend

We have started a new tradition. Every six months or so Charlotte, Gayle and I get together for a weekend to have a catch up. An attempt to make up for not seeing so much of each other since Charlotte and I moved away from Stevenage twelve years ago. Around this time last year Gayle and I went to visit Charlotte in Colchester. Earlier this year we stayed in Stevenage with Gayle and now finally it was my turn. They both came to stay with me in Emsworth. We started with a quick lunch then made our way out onto the water, the best way to see the real Emsworth.

Kayaking

James was kind enough to take us out on his families tin dingy, Tinnie. The tide was high in the early afternoon so we launched Tinnie from the end of James' old road. Charlotte and I started off in the Kayaks whilst Gayle and James motored to Fowley island. The island is a doughnut shape with a center containing calm and wind shielded water good for first Kayak attempts. Charlotte swapped with Gayle and James also had a go before Gayle and I pirouetted back to the shore.



Later on that evening we made our way to Portsmouth for dinner and drinks where we continued to exercise our voices. I woke the next morning croaky from all the talking... not like me at all. After a lazy afternoon wandering around the village and watching a DVD the weekend was over. Its Charlottes turn next time.

Susie and Ed's Wedding

Congratulations to Susie and Ed who got married on 27th June at a lovely picturesque church in Cuckfield Sussex. They were lucky enough to choose one of the only hot sunny days we have had this year, perfect for the pictures outside the church. It was good to see friends who haven't been seen since around the time of our graduation. Whilst the families of the newly weds ate their wedding breakfast we made for a local pub for a good catch up before making our way to a party in a marquee for the evening.

For more pictures click here.

A great band made the night with lively music that ensured everyone was up and dancing the night away. There were also hot dogs to be washed down with glasses of Pimms whilst we watched a huge firework display behind the marquee.

New Home

Lots of new things are happening at the moment. A new car, a new home and soon a new job. I have been lucky enough to take all of my holiday for my current job in July. Along with compensatory leave after nights and days in Leu from bank holidays worked I am only working a total of nine days in july. Perfect opportunity to move out of the grotty hospital accommodation a month early and move into a bright and spaceous, three storey town house in the center of Emsworth with James.

Its great to have spare space to have people come and visit. It is also in a great location. Less than 20 seconds from the nearest shops and local pub, its also about 100m from the sea and the same from the mill pond. When showing Mum around one evening she said 'I feel I'm on holiday'. A great contrast from living in the city of London for eight years. I'm loving it already. No more comuting, Yeah.

New Car

After surviving years of living in the east end of London and being broken into on several occasions, my nine year old Punto was nearing the twilight of its life. The final straw, after months of threatening it with a replacement, was when the brakes started to fail on the way home from London. I had already booked test drives for the following morning but didn't realise I would also be buying the same weekend.

I test drove four cars to make my decision but settled on a one year old Seat Leon 1.4 sport. Larger than my last car but still small enough to park. It is far more fun to drive than my last car and even accelerates when going up hill, and with passengers in the back seat. No more leaning forward to help when overaking. Very exciting.

There does appear to be a trend starting with my cars though. My first had four gears, my Punto had five. This has six. Will they make a car with seven for my next upgrade?