Bali Gandia

... sat by the fan for a while. Much appreciated after all the sweat we had pouring down our bodies !! Today was definately the hottest yet,I am guessing past 35 degrees. I had to keep wiping my legs on my bag, as it was all running into my shoes!

There was the sweetest little girl in the kitchen, the staff were passing her around while they served,and were certainly putting on a show for us! They were all trying hard to get the little girl to do cute faces etc....she was such ...

... you dont require bandages!
He explained everything he was doing and even painted Khailana...for $300,400 rp he saw us for an hour! and handed out treatments for Khailanas burn, Richs hand and foot rash( he thinks Richard has an allergy) and antibiotics and panadol for Escher.We went to pay and he came out and showed us step by step how to apply the dressings, when and how to give medicines. The part that I was most impressed with, was that the ...

... is adhered to. As an American, the caste system is foreign to me and makes me feel uncomfortable.

One morning Keith and I went with Dina the elementary school teacher to the local market in Amlapura. This was an educational experience to say the least. My ideas regarding sanitation and hygiene and what my human body can ingest without issues were challenged as I realized this is the food source for the Ashram's meals ...

... water dropping about 3 meters down so that you get a psuedo massage from the hot water dropping on you.
Our next stop was Brahma Vihara Arama, the only Buddhist monastery on the island. The monastery sits up in the hills and provides a stunning view down to the ocean. We had dinner at the town's Thai restaurant called Jasmine Kitchen. The meal was excellent and completed out Thai themed day.

... I couldn't stand the cold on top of that volcano. I had to wait only another 15 minutes for the sun to rise and get warmer but those 15 minutes seemed to last forever. That's what Southeast Asia does to a Westerner - it spoils him/her with warm temperatures and cheap prices. I shook like a leaf but my misery vanished when the clouds began to disperse and show the first rays of the sun.

Watching this sunrise was absolutely beautiful and is something which I am ...

... having to see the white dogs, and just ran a couple loops around my favorite stretch of road, where no dogs roamed. If anyone knows me, they know I'm not the person to be afraid of a dog. I'm the girl who walks up and pets any animal, any time, without hesitation. But it's a different world here. While coming back from my run, the black and white dog started barking and coming closer to me. I slowed to a walk, trying to be as inconspicuous as the local people roaming the streets, but ...

... this home-stay, which was adequate but had a very poor bathroom (squat toilet & a bucket, no shower or mirror). The woman showing us the room explained that she had nicer rooms upstairs at the same price, but they were full until 15:00. We decided that we could spend at least one night, even in the downstairs room, so we left our bags and wandered out to explore the town. Being noon already, our first stop was Papa John's Café, where Lisa ordered a bacon ...

... by, to where I don't know, there is NO space up there. My Toronto life is gradually starting to come together. It looks like I'll be coaching at both Toronto Synchro and the U of T Varsity team. Hurrah! I get an AC membership out of the varsity coaching :). I sincerely hope that I can find a job that can accomodate coaching 2 teams AND teacher's college. Doesn't that sound busy already? Sweeet. I'm very nervous about choreographing ...

... It is heartbreaking and also reminds us, once more, how lucky we are. We stop in Ujung at the Taman Soekasada, another water palace. We pay 1$ and guess it is free for locals since it is used for fitness! Running and exercises. Not bad. The sun goes down already when we leave the palace: 17h30. We tank at a 'normal' station. Most tank station in Bali are ... bottles of fuel, standing in front of a hut. Time to go home. Yes, this is recommendable. We paid 60$ for the car ...

... ai la cage thoracique compressée, ma bonbonne d'air se vide à vue d'oeil, un nuage de bulles m'entoure. Nous remontons. Soulagement. L'instructeur nous annonce les termes de la prochaine plongée, panique à bord...je dois réussir le test du masque immergé. Ma seule issue : négocier avec l'instructeur, faire l'exercice dès la descente à une profondeur me permettant de remonter à la surface ...