Bali

After spending few nights in the Mountains we headed for Bali. The first impressions were wow this is nothing like Java, people didn't seem to be as warm and friendly as Javanese. It was so different you almost think you came to a different country, different religion, culture and the buildings with their statues wearing a scarf of flowers.

We went to Sanur after all accommodation was full in Kuta but it was little too quite and more of a family orientated resort so after two days we decided to head for Kuta again. When checking out of hostel we had a little argument with the staff as they where trying to overcharge for some reason, I stormed off with anger and somehow my underwear managed to fall off my rucksack pocket, all the locals passing by stopped and stared (I don't think they had seen thongs before hahaha) It wasn't funny at the time but looking back I always laugh about it!

In Kuta we had brilliant time trying to catch surf waves and generally lazing in the beach. The town was busy full of the usual tourist type shops, cafe's and some pumping nightclubs, one of which had a deal every night......free drinks for few hours and free tapas. This was an offer too hard to miss so we went most nights to sink some of my favorite cocktail at the moment Mojito's :)

Whilst in Kuta we hired a bike to explore the area surrounding. We drove to the sea temple, a Hindu temple carved out of a rock in the sea. It was impressive, but not as impressive as the 14ft python we held and posed with on the way out!! We also explored a beach 20km down the coast, called dreamland. It was well worth the find. It was really small and quiet with enormous waves, the biggest we had ever seen! Later that day we checked out Bali's capital, Denpasar. There were some cool shopping centres but nothing else much.

We had heard good things about a little town called Ubud, so decided to get a bus and stay there for a few nights. Ubud was a really chilled out little town 2hrs in land on the Island. People say it is the cultural home of Bali and you can see why. Streets lined with Art Galleries, local crafts shops and all things traditional to the Balinese people. It was hard to resist not buying a painting which costs us a bomb posting it back home oops!

In the evening we went to see traditional Balinese Kecak fire dance. It was held in an open aired theater and told the story of a princess finding love I think....there was no instruments, all the sound was made by mouth by a circle of about 50 men sat around some fire.

After a restless night in our jungle hut, due to a family of cockerels we went to the monkey temple. As soon as you walk in to the entrance of the forest there is absolutely loads of monkeys of all shapes and sizes. We bought some bananas and started feeding them or at least trying to. Some just come up to you and pull the banana away. The best moments were when one monkey stole a whole bunch of a lady and then hid behind Al. Another time Al had a monkey on his shoulder, but then it got interested in our bag, and so was straight in there and stole our camera case. We got to the temple but there was a religious ceremony taking place. It was to do with celebrating their town, a once in a generation celebration, so we were lucky to see this. There was a procession of the whole town, and everyone carrying offerings and playing drums.