Christmas in Bali - where we were expecting clear blue skies, warm temperatures and basking by our private pool instead we got torrential downpours, thunderous skies and an influx of flying insects seeking shelter from the non-stop deluge. It's a battle of the elements and I think the elements are winning. The only upside is that it is still warm enough for flip-flops and shorts, so nothing gets too wet for very long. Or rather it stays damp forever. Shopping ...

Just spent a week in Lombok recovering from the trials and tribulations of Vietnam, it was remarkably blissed out despite our nightmare journey here.Wanting to experience 'local travel', we opted for the boat experience rather than the widely recommended air experience. The difference between the two is about 20 quid and 4 hours - plus if you're not clued up, a huge argument with the Balinese scallywags who carry your bags onto the boat and then try to claim the...