The Itchy and Scratchy Show - So it feels like the tour has really begun now. We've left Bali behind with well over 400 mosquito bites between us as not so little souvenirs (the photo shows the extent of some of the damage as well as records the progress of the facial and mane growth).

Kuta in Bali, where we stayed, was a strange kinda place. Massively developed and spoilt and catering for both the Aussie package tourist (Perth is only 3 hours away and so it's their Ibiza) and the Euro and Yanky 'traveller'. To be fair, judging Bali on the basis of Kuta is like describing a night out in England based on a cheeky 2am finish in Infernos (google it if you've never been - and then go) and so we'll be returning in about 4 weeks on the way to Singapore in an attempt to do it some justice.

A sweaty 3 hour bus trip yesterday via the central mountains led us to Padangbai, the eastern port town in Bali and the route to Lombok. Bintang drinking, nasi gorang eating, a happy birthday phone call to the ever youthful Mrs C on the only phone in town and stories of life inside an Indian jail from a old drunk kiwi polished off the quiet night.

This morning's commute was tough:

- 7am alarm (notice we had one too many Bintangs last night talking to aforementioned old drunk kiwi)

- 830am on the platform at Padangbai's small jetty

- 9am boat arrives

- 930am boat leaves with NCo and JLa neatly positioned on the roof

The direct service made only two stops before reaching Gili Trawangan, the largest of the Gili Islands north of Lombok. Gili T is known as the 'party island' (read: full of skinny 18 year old Gap Year blondes). Our home for the next three nights, there's a lot to fit in: a fancy dress Pirate Party tonight (James is annoyed that we didn't pack The Emu), Full Moon Party tomorrow (Crawfords, Peppers, will think of you), loads of cycling, snorkelling and diving. So plenty to take our minds off the mozzie bites... although we will mostly be wearing Eau de Deet this week and the Itchy and Scratchy Show definitely continues for now.