Bali, Indonesia

We are so fortunate to take advantage of living on this side of world and be able to travel. I have actually started to enjoy being in a tropical location for Christmas. There is just something about being in a different country that puts everything in perspective. We didn't have any stress of the holiday season or unmet expectations of the holiday, it was just the four of us and in Bali, it really was just another day. We did find a hotel that offered a Christmas Day lunch geared to westerners, which was really nice and included a visit from Santa. I'm sure once we get back to the states and the kids get older we will be back into the hustle and bustle, but I really enjoyed playing Christmas songs while swimming in the pool!

A successful flight must include snacks!

View as we descend

Pool of the villa we rented

Koi pond

Our job was to feed the fish twice a day.

Entrance to Villa Vishnu

Outdoor sitting area

View from second floor

View from rooftop

Cows in the field

Bar on roof

Massages on roof

Breakfast on the beach

Sanur Beach

Zach loves the pool

Lilly does too!

Time to relax

An afternoon at the beach



Tour of a traditional home. Lilly and Zach made themselves comfortable

So this coffee is made by the above animal. They eat the coffee beans and then what gets pooped out is collected and turned into "the best" coffee.

"The Animal"

Coffee and tea tasting with Yuda our guide.

Bali loves babies

Ramon trying "the best" coffee, for $5.00 a cup, not so remarkable.
 

Before visiting a temple we must wear sarongs.

Visiting local artist shops. I guess Lilly was feeling a little warm.

 

 

                                     


We were in Bali during one of their major festivals, Galungan. They welcome gods and ancestors back to Bali for 10 days and celebrate with offerings (small squares made from bamboo that contain food, money, flowers and incesence). Penjor's are tall bamboo poles, decorated with flowers and various items and placed in front of the house. 

Penjor's line the street

Stopped for lunch where the girls immediately took Lilly and Zach.

Lunch with a view of the rice fields

Bali has the best fresh fruit juices!

Rice fields

Ramon standing in front of the penjor in front of our Villa.

On one of the hottest days we decided to walk from the beach to a local supermarket, about a mile. Lilly crashed while Ramon was carrying her so we made a Starbucks stop to cool off.

Christmas Day lunch at a local hotel

What a plate full!

Yes, that is Santa with his human reindeer

 

 

Lilly helping put sunscreen on daddy.

 

One afternoon, we decided to take the bikes from the Villa and head to the beach.
 

Our make shift seat for Lilly. She did well except when she got sleepy and her foot wandered into the spokes on the tire.

Path along the beach.

Our way home, Lilly asleep and looking like she may fall over.

Ceremony passed on our route

Lilly's favorite activity in the pool, along with jumping in and playing "shark".

Heading to Ubud to meet Soonim and Terry.

 

Walking to Monkey Forest. It poured the entire walk, stopped for ponchos.

 

Trying to stay dry

It continued to rain the entire time in the forest

Our view for lunch

The girls warming up with hot chocolate

The guys warming up with the local beer

Back at the Villa

The hand made play pen, turned jail for unruly children

Our other house guest
 

I forgot to take pictures of the rooms before we cluttered them with our stuff, but here is one as we were packing to leave.

Our indoor/outdoor shower.

It would have been easier if we could just pack them in the bags!

We had a midnight flight out and Lilly was passed out waiting at the gate.