MOthers Day and Waterbom Park

MOthers Day I was awoken by both girls clambering to give me their little gifts made at school..bread biscuits and handbag cards - love these gifts more than anything else - told the girls that my Mothers Day pressie was the trip to Bali so didn't want anything (heh apart from a few Pandora charms but would get when I saw ones I liked and meant something to me).

A lazy day - lots of time spent by the pool and we all had a nanna nap in the arvo - I had a short one - awoke to find everyone asleep (can't remember the last time Jess had a day sleep lol!) so I filled the bath up with lots of hot water and bubbles, poured myself a glass of wine or two with our duty free bottle and enjoyed an hour of soaking in the bath with a mag before Gary awoke :) Just perfect!!

Most of the Forbes crew had another birthday gig on that night so only Tom (Bianca wasn't feeling well so stayed at the hotel) and Jason joined us at the Kuta Steakhouse - awesome steak but can't say much for the rest of it hehe!! Whilst there some locals popped their head over the front barrier asking if we wanted cd's - ok I said lets have a look - 31 cd's later for less than a $1.00 each and some fireworks as well it was time for them to leave and dinner was served! Not before they took this photo for us - I was ready to run after them if they took my camera!!




After dinner we walked back down Poppies 1 lane and I scored 3 Pandora charms - a monkey, a spacer and glass bead :) A quick swim once back at the hotel and then to bed as tomorrow was Waterbom Park!

Waterbom park was just down the road from us so we walked....Last time Gary and I went there it had just opened and only half the park had been completed - now it is an amazing array of slides and pools and stunning gardens!! Jess couldn't wait to go on the biggest and fastest slides with Gary (not for me - I wasn't even sure of the Maccaroni Tube - half of which was in complete darkness although Chionia loved it!)

The kids playground was awesome - at the top of it was a huge bucket which repeatedly filled itself with water which then spilt over everyone!!






We left around 3 to go back to the hotel and have a little quiet time before going out for dinner at Jimbaran Bay - a quick ride in the maxicab organised by Roy - boys were on their bemo's! I would love to have a restaurant here in Perth with a set up like this! Just loved having seafood dinner on the beach with the sand between your toes. The second bombing went off about 500m down from where we were eating. Makes you think....Beautiful dinner although my welcome cup of tea had a mouldy bottom.....Gary and I ordered the king prawns....YUMMMMMMMMM all whilst watching the planes land and the sunset.










More to follow :)
XX Mel

Part 2!!

lol I think there may be a few parts to our holiday!!

Straight back into busy routines now - Saturday morning Jess had Piano followed by Chionia starting her ballet on a saturday now instead of MOndays - we had a few issues with going on Monday arvo's for the last term - not quite sure why - I think there must be a new girl that she didn't like as I have since found out another couple of mums have had the same drama and have swapped days as well!! Anyway it worked and she had fun!!

Also discovered Chionia had brought something back from Bali quarantine didn't pick up - nits - grrr......so treated her even though I couldn't see any until I started to comb her hair with conditioner (best thing - immobilises any that aren't dead so you can get them!). All treated and 90 minutes later I then had to rush to get ready to drop them off to SIL's as we were off to a family wedding - my cousin Jo - who we use to take nightclubbing with us in our younger days!! Her boys are so grown up now - seems like yesterday she told us she was pregnant - As per usual with weddings you tend to catch up with long lost relatives - in this case all the cousins on dad's side of the family - all now are married with kids or kids on the way!! Jo looked absolutely stunning - the rain held out just in time for her garden wedding and a yummy yummy reception in Fremantle :) We left earlish as we also had our groomsman's 40th birthday!!

Back to Bali!!

Day 2 - started out with me intent on getting the girls hair plaited as I wasn't going to be doing their hair every time they went swimming etc!! Finally got them done and whilst waiting did our first bit of shopping - lots of clothes, bag (love my Louis Vuitton bag - it fitted everything I needed into it - hand cleaner, camera, purse, ninetendo x 2, mossie spray etc!) and some silver ware.





Back to the pool for a swim and catch up with everyone we missed the day before! Helen had arrived the night before so as her request we all met at our pool. Along came Maurs, Neil, Bob, Jas, Tom & Bianca and finally Shelby and Peta and Glenn!! The girls disappeared into the pool as soon as Shelby arrived and apart from the occasional drink or snack didn't see them! Bees were a drama so we moved closer to the beach and basically spent the afternoon drinking and enjoying Bali by the pool! Shelby bartered with the ladies on the beach to get the girls nails done for 40000rupiahs each so just over $5.00 each!! Then back to the hotel for a little quiet time before heading into Roys bar on the beach followed by dinner at Billies.....





Billies is an awesome restaurant - Very aussie themed! THe waiters love playing tricks on you and the kids just thought it was the bees knees!! Meet up with all of Neil and MAureens group that night too so we had about 30 people in all - we popped the kids in the front Cabana which they loved!! Street kids were happy to chat away and "play" although had to stop one of them from dragging out Jess to the street - will give him the benefit of the doubt! Helen went for a ride on Billies Harley... lots of cocktails (I fell in love with Billies 69 cocktail - gin, midori, contreau, lemon syrup and lime I think!). Girls loved the band and getting up to dance and play - no hard restaurant rules to sit and behave here!!! We went back to Billies several times - once Jess even got up and sang Mumma Mia with the band - must loearn how to load a phone video onto you tube - can anyone enlighten me???









Mothers day to follow!

What an experience!!

I had forgotten how much I love Bali - yes I was one of the people who have hesitated about going since the bombs went off nearly 7 years ago. So much so I had such an upset stomach a few days before we left wondering if I was doing the right thing taking my family there....

But I shouldn't have worried....We had an absolute ball and would do it again in a heartbeat if money allowed!!!

Noone found out - not even the girls knew - I picked them up from school on the Thursday afternoon with the promise in the morning that we would do something special after school if they had their rooms and lounge room tidy before they went....Go banana's was their choice!!!

So they walked into the kitchen and Gary asks where they would like to go (bear in mind they are standing right next to 3 suitcases and hand luggage without even noticing it!!). "Go Banana's" was the answer so we point out the suitcases and Jess screams QUEENSLAND!!! and promptly does a silly dance around the room - Chionia joins in on the act and they very quickly get dressed for the plane etc very excited!!



Once at the airport we discover the plane had been delayed - poop..... in fact it was nearly 2 hours late and by 9.30pm the girls were very tired of hanging around the airport and were over it - as was I!! Chionia was so funny - after checking our bags in we told them were we were really going and why we had kept it a secret.. Jess was excited as she would be catching up with one of her best friends Shelby but Chionia insisted she was going to Queensland and not Bali!!

Plane flight was good - once the girls finally fell asleep they had abut 90 minutes - Chionia slept through the landing and Gary had to carry her so Jess and I had all the bags lol!! First thing we noticed nearly all the airport staff were wearing masks due to the Swine flu!! Bit of a panic there - trying to rack my brain if Swine flu had hit Bali yet.... All ok and once we were out of the airport noone was wearing masks!

Finally got to the hotel and while Gary took the girls on a quick tour of the pool at 2am I unpacked pj's etc so we were ready to go in the morning. Our next surprise - the rest of the Forbes Clan. :)



Breakfast we had at the hotel Ramada Bintang every morning and omg what a selection of food!!! You hand in your coupons each day for the 4 of us and then pick what you like - Chionia settled on pancakes from the pancake station with strawberry jam on top and bacon with a glass of water, Jess - fried rice and cucumber and carrot with a glass of chocolate milk! Gary and I a mixture of bacon omelettes, eggs sunny side up croisants, fresh fruit and coffee - it was so nice not to have to go outside the hotel for brekkie.

A quick swim in the pool



then it was time to go surprise the Forbes........Neil, Maureen, Jason, Tom & Bianca, Bob (Maureens brother) and the Ings were all in Bali and none of them knew we were!! I organised with Peta (who had guessed way back on Chionia's birthday what we were up to) to meet everyone at the Barong Pool bar on the Friday lunchtime where Gary was going to do a big bombie and say Hi!!

Well things go in Bali time in Bali and it wasn't quite to be!! After discovering there was a back pool we snuck around the corner but there was noone..... Went back found out N & M room number which noone answered when loudly knocking... However there was a lady sunbathing at the edge of the pool (about 10m away!) who from behind looked like Maurs!!! Jess walked in front of her and she woke up a bit dazed and wondering if she was in Perth or Bali!!! It was Maurs hehe



But everyone else was out!!! Peta mixed up the days whoops!! Anyway they slowly filtered back to the Barong - Jason was first and then Neil - Jason then went and grabbed Tom and BIanca saying Maurs had a tattoo done! Bianca kind of guessed the day before but noone thought any more of it until we were there..


Some shopping followed at Rani's and then back to Bianca's pool as the boys had headed down to Roy's bar on the beach. Cocktails are a thing of Bali - wine too expensive omg!!! Girls soon used to eating french fries with tomato sauce most days lol!





Back home to the hotel for another swim (for me who didn't have her bathers on during our excursion to Kuta!) and then wait for everyone to come to the hotel before going out to dinner which didn't eventuate and we had room service instead - a bit of a let down on the first night but we were all very tired as well so perhaps a good thing.... Ready for our next full day!

More to follow - don't want to bore you all in one post lol!!