When we first booked our flights we decided to stay in Australia for 5,5 months. To be allowed for so long we had two choices: Either apply for a 12 extended month tourist visa, or leave the country after 3 months. Since the extended visa would have cost us 100 Euro each, we decided to spent this money on a flight instead. By booking a flight to Bali for a 9 days holiday we split our Australia time into two parts: 2 months Australia, 9 days Bali (Indonesia) and another 3 months Australia. After that our trip would end in September 19th.
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| View out of the living room |
The last few days in Australia we spent bouldering in Arapiles Mountains (30km west of Horsham). Katinka proofed her ability to climb hard as she climbed a problem called „Crankshaft Right“, V8. Since her pregnancy it’s her hardest climb, which means she is in the very best way back to or even past her old shape!
We did the 300km drive to Melbourne where we did a little bit of seightseeing. Early in the morning, last friday we went to the airport. After a 6 hour flight we arrived in Denpasar where Ketut was already waiting for us. He had been sent by Katinka’s friends Elke and Werner who are renting their villa to us for our time here. The bali climate is quiet different to the Australian winter climate. Temperatures are always around 30ºC and humitidy is pretty high as well. For other travellers interested, check out www.two-smiling-buddhas.com, the website of our friends place. The villas are well designed and come with a huge saltwaterpool for nice refreshment. It’s a big difference living in such an apartment, then living in our Australian campervan 70km away from civilisation.
Manu and Marie did join our little trip to Bali. Last week they decided to book a last minute flight from Adelaide, which makes it even more fun to explore the Island, culture and food with our two Scooters.
Day 1:
We went to a basar in Amlapura. Marie and Katinka successfully searched for airy pants to defy heat, while Axel was running from one food booth to the next one, trying all different specialities: Nasi Goreng, Tebs, …
In the evening we had a little walk in Ujung Water Palace.
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| balinese food |
Day 2:
For breakfast we eat a great mix of fruit and yogurt.
Afterwards we start to explore the island. We want to see Padangbai, a harbour village about 20km away. While trying to navigate around we get lost and suddenly we have a flat back tire. Non of the balinese people understands any english, but by the help of hands and feet we managed to find a garage and for the price of 50.000 Ruphiah (~3 Euros) we got a new tube build in.
Back on the Scooters, we continued up the mountains until we found back on our planned path, next to the coast. Since it was already getting late, we eat some delicious lunch in Candidasa and returned to our villa with the last light of the day.
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| Ujung Water Palace |
Day 3:
A Poolsession in the morning, afterwards fruity breakfast (Ananas, Orange, Mango, Papaya, Dragonfruit, Melon, Lemon, etc.). Finja takes a nap in the shade next to the pool.
In the afternoon we visit Tirtagangga’s famous Water Palace with loads of fish and tourists.
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| Fixing our flat |
Day 4:
For snorkling we drive 40km with our Scooters to Amed. Because i did the mistake to stop at a red light instead of following all the balinese people driving past the red light we get checked by the police. I drove 1m past the stopping line, so there was no way around some bribe money… 100.000 Ruphiah or 6 Euros later we are back on the road.
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| Breakfast (or Breakfeast?) |
In Amed we went straight for a delicious fruit shake before we explored the coral riffs next to the beach. It was like a huge aquarium with many colorful fish.
Afterwards we have some lunch in a restaurant nearby before we take the costal route back to our villa (another 40km on very small roads).
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| One of many rice terraces |
Now we have another 4 days, before flying back to Melbourne where our van is parked on the Airports Long Term Value Parkinglot. After to much heat we feel the psyche for touching rock again!
