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!!