Leaving Gili T

Hot hot hot morning waiting for the boat. We set off 45mins late in the end but one of the first names called out so we got a seat in front of the fan. And then we both slept the entire journey! Wasn't worried about sinking anymore coz that boat had been a three dayer so probably got some late afternoon waves, not lunchtime ones. Don't want to leave the Gilis!

Got in a minibus to Kuta and slept through that journey too. Got chucked out at the centre and walked to the first hotel we could find. 75,000 each for the night. So cheap!! It's really pretty disgusting but I'm not bothered by mould anymore. Hot shower too.

We missed a good sunny day travelling. Wish we'd had a few more days in Bali to spend on Gili Air or Meno for sun and relaxation. Walked down through Kuta looking at shops until somewhere to eat. Then went to have a massage. Full body this time, none of that other rubbish from Sanur. Aromatherapy with frangipani scent. Was very nice and then we said we'd try the Hopi ear candle thing. Which was an odd experience with a burning orange flame coming from your ear. It was to clean out the wax and man there was a hell of a lot come out!!! I feel lighter. £4massage £2candle. Spent the next few hours showering after getting so sweaty and trying to book a room in KL for when we land. 

Bike ride around Gili T

Had banana pancakes delivered to us on our decking by the hostel owner before going to meet the Australian boys for a bike ride. You can ride round the whole island apparently in like an hour or two. Met them having their breakfast and then went for a swim in their hotel 'resort' pool. They had Brendan with them today who had gone to bed last night. Then onto find some bikes. 40,000 for three hours which would be enough for them to get back for their dive at 2. Only rode for 5 minutes and we got to a bar that had treehouses that definitely called for a beer in that! Although it didn't go down well, feeling hungover. Cool treehouse though. 

Back on the bikes. And the path got difficult from now on because it got sandy in places unless you went at it with speed your bike came to sudden halt. Absolutely sweating by the time we stopped next for lunch. They wanted pizza so asked a waiter if they did it and he said yes so parked up, looked at the menu and they didn't! Had a pool to jump in though wich was the main thing!! Needed to be cool so bad. Carried on riding and I fell off after hitting some sand into a fence. A few more wounds to add to the collection! Three nice bruises. Got back up though and struggled through the rest. They really need to clear the way had to walk a lot of it which was double difficult pushing a bike through sand. Beautiful island though. Got back just in time for their dive and while they went we sat by the pool and dosed and swam and sunbathed. Finally caught some sun! 

Ordered a load of pizzas for tea and then went to find the boat office and get out of wet bikinis. Met up again at 8 at a shisha bar. Couple of jugs and they had managed to rack up a bill of 1mill before we got there! Said bye and Bed at half ten. We felt sad saying bye coz they were so nice and we really enjoyed our time here with them. Weird to meet people and spend that much time with them and then say goodbye forever! Finger crossed for the boat in the morning, it's pretty windy out there. 

Ubud tour

First stop today when Yun de our driver picked us up was a dance show called Barong Jambe budaya. Was odd but very traditional, horrible scary monkey and lion masks. Before we went in we got a photo taken with a lady and when we left they had the photo on a plate for us to buy!! Of course had to get that! Also they had toilet pans here. Where there is real toilets you can tell that women still squat coz the toilet seat is up. First noticed it on the plane here!

Next up was a Batik and weaving place. Very tourist orientated but cool to see ladies doing the designs and ikat weaving. The shop was very expensive but amazing fabrics but you couldn't take photos.

Another stop before Ubud is a coffee plantation just outside of Denpasar but already very jungly. Apparently this little place is there specially for tourists because they actually grow the coffee in the lava fuelled land around the volcano but tourists don't get up there so much. So the famous coffee is called luwak and the berries have actually been eaten and then shat out by this animal called a civet and then they roast and crush it! I bought some as presents anyway. I didn't actually try it but we got to test all the other teas and coffees and chocolate they grow. 

We passed a big colourful funeral which was making lots of traffic. After someone dies they leave them to rot? On the land for 4 years and then have this cremation for their bones. Can this be real?! If they are wealthy then they only leave the bodies for 4 days. 

Onto Ubud, the driver was going to take us to a few hotels until we chose one. Stuck at the first, £10 a night including breakfast. Pretty nasty in the rooms but this must be the standard of a good room. The hotels are very outside, not confined to one building. Very pretty though. The architecture is so ornate and grand although also run down. After we checked in and said goodbye to Yun de, who's picking us up again in the morning, we went to the monkey forest. Wow! 30,000 rupiahs to be surrounded by monkeys. They were hilarious, having sex and fighting and jumping on people trying to get it their bags. I thought they were funny although if they came near me maybe I'd be the same as Laura - terrified! People were buying bananas to feed them. 

Now we went to Ubud market. Shopping chance, although I didn't do great. There's a lot of tat at the markets the shops look better. Bought a hold all that might not last too long but help with all this extra luggage. You could barter then down to like half of what they asked. Laura got good at it but as soon as I looked at something and they came over it just put me off. I don't want it!!! My eyes just looked at it! We're talking a couple of quid for most things. Had an Indonesian meal for £3 and I also got some cigarettes that turned out to be clove and menthol ones. So strange but sweet!! And crackly. Like a sparkler. Money goes a long way out here, I love it! 

First day in Bali

15/08/14

Didn't think we'd wake up this morning but with half hour left of breakfast we made it. And instead of going back to bed we went to sleep on the beach which is just outside our hotel. The hotel is lovely and such luxury to us! It's called Diwangkara. 

Clouds came over as we laid down. Why do they follow us?! They still let sun through And it was still really warm still. Sweaty warm. Slept for two hours! Then went to ask about booking our week and what to do at the tour desk. A day trip to ubud tomorrow stopping at different places and then the return boat to Gili T. All for 1,400,000! Which was still probably a rip off. He took us to the cashpoint to get money out and the most you could get out is 1,500,000 = £80. After we walked along the beach front stalls looking at clothes. Trousers for £2! But I'm gonna wait til Ubud market.  Laid back on the beach for a bit until the sun went down and then decided to go to the spa. He said it was the best spa but we were very disappointed! Manicure and pedicure were terrible and the back massage for about five mins. We both tried to take pictures and the flash went off, oo sorry!