Carols by Candle light

Wow what a busy weekend! From a work Christmas party, to a day spa, celebratatory outings, to a birthday, beach with friends, a BBQ, a fun, spontaneous Sunday roast lunch, cricket in kings park, then a quick swim, finished off with carols by candle light in the park & coffee at greens & co. I love summer! :)

Baliiiiii

Destination: Bali, Indonesia. Leaving from Perth, Australia at 20:00 on the 26th November

Now I think the only real way to prepare for a visit to this beautiful island is to do what I did - stand in your laundry with the door shut after the dryer as been on for a good 30 minutes......accidental finding but totally invaluable coz that's sorta close to the climate we were about to enter, now just imagine it 10x hotter haha!!
we arrived in the middle of the night, much to mum and dad's delight lol and after a good half and hour (maybe, prob more) joined the mile long taxi queue (this is where I came in - continually insisting to my parents that catching a taxi was muuuuch more cost effective than organising for a resort shuttle bus) but eventually all good things come to an end and in the early hours of the morning we finally arrived at our destination, the Aston Bali Beach Resort & Spa :)))))
Welcome to blissssssssssssss........
At check in we received complimentary guava juice and a refreshing ice cold facewasher to clear our heads and were promptly shown to our rooms. Welcome to my ah-mazzzing and oh so luxious room :)) ahhh this is gonna be a good holiday...

The next morning we enjoyed the yummiest of buffet breakfasts at the resort restaurant and checked out the hotel. This is just a glimpse of what the pool looked like. situated in between the beach (where all the infamous Nusa Dua water sports happen) and the actual hotel this place was about to come our Bali weather survival sanctuary, and the place that I would come to get my worst sunburn in history eekkkk! :(

Mum & I getting totally pampered - manicures & pedicures in between Balinese massages
ahhhh it's a good life :P

Mmmm roasted duck - hungry anyone?

Dad showing the Balinese chefs how it's done. Cooking up a seafood storm in the Jimbaran Bay kitchen ...well, pretending to anyways lol

The coconut milk is to disguise the taste of the beer ;P

This place is sooo beautiful! you.must.go.to.jimbaran.bay.

I clearly didn't get the memo about the pray hands :S

Hahaha this guy was hilarious. You are looking out over Kuta's main street and this taxi driver would not leave us alone! To the point where he actually memorized our names and called our hotel telling them we had booked him to take us up north! Must say, this man is very dedicated to his job... willing to work hard (if anyone's looking for a new employee...)

Scene of the harassment... we had to sit here while we waited for the resort's shuttle bus.
Clearly we were thrilled.

B.A.N.A.N.A.S.

Yes, my Balinese husband, Foo Yoo, is still eagerly awaiting my return

Rice Patties



Omigosh this is us arriving (finallllly) at the entrance of one of the many Hindu temples on the island. Our

taxi driver (Putu) dropped us off at one of the many 'temple must-sees' but didn't tell us it was like a 5km walk! Climbing over 400 steps at 39C & 98% humidity, it only took us an hour to get here!!!!



As you can see I was very much 'over' wearing my super long, super respectful and totally compulsory blue sarong :(

coffee, café, Kahva, Kafe, KO!fi, Kofje, Kopi

mangOOO... this photo was mostly taken just to make Oralee jealous :P

my dream holiday house.... one day..... i will own my own personal tropical island retreat

A CLASSIC moment in the life of a westerner in Bali.

Mum & Dad trying to escape the people trying to sell  them stuff as we leave the coffee/fruit plantation

Weehoo we made it to Mount Batur Volcano! we had a beautiful buffet lunch here at this restuarant, overlooking the mountain and it's crater. Poor Mum is clinging on for near life as that railing is the only thing between us and a huge drop-off! Clearly not a fan of heights.

Take a touristy picture for me, take a touristy picturrrrre

Aw, the little monkeys. Way too cute!!

Day 6: Day off. Consisting of nothing more then relaxing by the pool, sunbaking and swimming up to the pool bar. Day 6 (pm): Severe sunstroke sets in, 2nd degree sunburn (well, almost) chronic shivering, nauseas, can hardly move...

Day 7: Cancel all plans to go to Water Bomb Park. Plan B: Secure the shaded bed hut thingy for 7-8 hours, apply copious amounts of aloe vera, read book & factor in a short nap.

Our last dinner in Nusa Dua, Bali :(

Here we are eating at our fav restaurant... oh how i miss eating with live music and love songs playing every night haha. This night I also got a chance to practising my rusty French on our new found Quebec friends at the table next door. Ah good times.

Twenny Twooooo

"Go, go, go, go, go, go
Go, shorty
It's your birthday
We gon' party like it's your birthday"

....aaaaaand yes, we did!! On the 17th October I turned 22! eekkk! Did this happen overnight or what!? So on Saturday night, the 16th, I arrived with 32 of my closest & coolest friends at Ouzo's Greek Restaurant to celebrate it in style, babyyyy! I'd kindly invited Johnny to be included in this fabulous dinner parrrtaaay - as we share the 17th ...along with Seaton, who had ditched us to cruise round the US - but wotevaaaa, we’re not jealous at all hehe!
The night was amazing and brought lotsa memories, full of dancing, clapping, laughing, smashing plates and yelling to be heard over the DJ and his rocking Greek music! hahah.

Thanks to all my beautiful friends who came, put up with/totally enjoyed the loud music and made me feel extra special & loved on yet another birthday! Also, a big thanks to my gorgeous little sister, who had to race around last minute to pick up my super delicious strawberry glazed cheesecake... mmm soo worth it, I’ll love you forever!