Alila Ubud

... set out for the botanical gardens (disappointing) and a walk along the main drag of Ubud, where every other storefront is a gallery. Lots of great dresses on offer, but not much room in the backpack these days after a successful trip to the tailor in Yangon. We ended up at the Dirty Duck for a dinner of crispy fried duck and palm wine overlooking the paddy fields.
We headed out early the next morning to explore inland Bali. Jatilwah’s stunning valleys are ...

... when we returned I
instantly booked us a spot to hike Gunung Batur to see the sunrise –
we will not be defeated!!

At the end of the tour we enjoyed a
delicious meal (buffet style—and yes it was delicious) including
roast chicken, roast duck, and sate. We enjoyed chatting with the
other western tourists from various parts of Europe and hearing about
all the vacation time they get (6 weeks for some).

... Mr. Liyer's home, it occurs to me that I was so interested in meeting this person face-to-face, I haven't spent much time pondering exactly what I want to say to him (or whether there is a pressing issue/question I might need his help answering). After a short attempt to make ourselves presentable after all our huffing-and-puffing up and down the hills around Ubud, Ari and I walk under a plain, stone archway into Mr. Liyer's courtyard. There are chickens ...

... 8221;
It most certainly was! Just nestled in with the rice lay the pigs bum hole winking at us. The off cuts and crackling the woman had given us was all the offal of the pig, there was also part of the intestine mixed in as well. Making sure we didn’t inadvertently scoff down Anus flavoured crisps we ate all the meaty parts and rice in a bid to save face. When all that was left was poo pipe we kindly made our excuses and left the table buying water on the way ...

... it's not a problem, but how we all laughed at my poor Mum. Behind her back of course, she's a scary women and you don't want to annoy her. Saying that, the Urinals themselves were minging, so much in fact I took a photo and sent it to my mates back home, in the process costing a fortune in phone bills. Worst thing was none of them were impressed.

Our next tour stop was Mt Batur, a one of the highest mountains in Bali, and still a very active Volcano ...

... josh a very fetching tye-dye sarong to wear with pride as a reminder of all the fun. Then some shopping on the way home to try out Jess's 40 technique which works every time. In the evening we just went for some dinner as Josh and Anna had to be up at the fin time of 6am. Once they had left Jess and I spent the day in limbo really. it felt really odd to be in Bali in the same hotel but just the two of us again. It was like we were waiting for something or someone ...

... out that no one else was signed up for tomorrow morning to dive at Lovina Reef and they wouldn't let me do it alone with the dive master, probably for economic reasons. And I couldn't go out to the big trip to the Manajacan Island tomorrow because it got back at 4, while we were leaving here at 2 to visit a waterfall. Shoot! As people were coming back from their day today, I realized I had missed the best day of diving out at Manajacan Island, what one experienced man ...

... y todo el segundo piso de la construcción principal simplemente desapareció. Al cabo de 1 hora llegaron dos camiones de bomberos y media hora mas tarde decidimos volvernos a nuestra habitación y a la contigua, ya que la habitación de los chicos estaba llena de humo y buscar otra vez el descanso de un día mas completo todavía. Enough activity for 11 months of holidays, reason which take us to decide we need a rest near to the beach, the spot chosen Amed, I use the opportunity to dive ...

... is also recognized that some people can't control their grief as well as others...no judgment is made...it is understood that everybody will be trying their best. After the prayers, the fire under the bamboo structure with the mans body inside of it is lit with gas torches....the fire rises up under the body...it is time for us to leave so that the immediate family can be alone and together with each other ...after the burning, they will gather the ashes and ...

This beach is so gorgeous. It's a small little town, with just a few shops and even fewer restaurants. And I thought Ubud was small. All eight "beach sellers" knew me by name after day 1. And I was only on the beach in the evenings after SCUBA. Great town for doing nothing at all. Or maybe getting your SCUBA certification!