Bali Day One

We were awake early due to the time difference, but also perhaps to enjoy our first day in Bali.

Breakfast came as part of our deal. The EggMan cooked a perfect omelette with ham, cheese and onion, while the bacon and sausages were plentiful. Given we had already decided that lunch would not be needed on this trip, it was even more obvious once I'd finished eating.

Having walked up to the supermarket and gotten some provisions for the couple of days we are here, we caught a taxi into Kuta, where Mum took Helen to some of her favourite upper market haunts, including Mata Hari. After tagging along for awhile (Dad told me he believed the first hour is for/with the girls, and after that it's time to find a place to sit) Dad and I went to one of dad's favourite haunts, the bar next to Mata Hari's. Sitting here in Kuta was reminiscent of George Street in Sydney with the buildings and the traffic, but the beer was at its advertised coldness so everything worked out fine.

Where the second Bali bomb went off in 2003

We got dropped off back in Legian and then combed the streets. Helen began her search for paintings and canvasses. Dad and I found a GWS guernsey for Josh, which will be a little big for him but he'll grow into it. Dad and I headed for the Y Sports bar which Angela and Tony frequent on their trips to Bali.
On our way back to the hotel we stopped off at Sammy's for a light lunch.

My first satay of the trip. :)

Helen has Tom Yum Goong

From here we headed back to the hotel and went for a swim in the pool, which was at a perfect temperature. Helen was very excited about checking out the pool bar and ordered her first (but not her last) cocktail for the holiday.

Mum and Dad relax by the pool

 We then went for a walk back along the beach road, taking a whole swag of kids clothes for "Wally the Ice Cream Guy", where Louise and Murray and the kids had played on their recent trip. They had promised to send over some clothes when they could, and guess who the suckers were who had to bring them? However, we had a beer or two on the beach at Bruno's Bar, and Mum and Helen had their nails done by Sonya, until Wally turned up, and they could sort the clothes between them. They were very appreciative, and we had a great spot to watch the sunset.

 Walking back in the darkness, we went for dinner at the Blue Ocean just nearby the hotel. I had the Chicken Massaman, which unlike mine didn't have potato and onion but had greenery and zucchini - and was still a great flavour. We then retired to the balcony of Mum and Dad's adjoining room and had two or three gin & tonics before heading for bed and a good book.