Hello. How about that ride in, I guess that’s why they call it Sin City... ha ha.

So I have returned from two wonderful, glorious weeks in Bali. I had such a lovely time. SUCH fun times.

Seeing my bestest girlfriends for a truly luxurious week of blissed out spa treatments, (the people at Chill Reflexology knew us all by name by the end of the week!) lazing by the pool, great food, lots of gossip, plenty of Bintang, excessive quoting of The Hangover and tons of laughs (fingered?!?! Ew.) Awesome. A great way to celebrate several decades of friendship.

And the chance to see my crazy family. Dad was great, in such good spirits all week such that even the sweet Balinese reception lady commented “Mr Mark – he so happy and positive”. It’s been a long time between holiday drinks for Dad. Susan and Tessa shopped up a storm and Tess is such a teenager now and so grown up it’s frightening. And Claire-my-sister – damn I love that girl; she makes me laugh so so much. Hilarious. And I had so many massages and treatments, I should look like Jennifer Hawkins. Sadly, non.

I didn’t actually take that many photos – too busy? Nah, too lazy! and I’m not that pleased with what I do have as they don’t really capture – say – the gorgeousity that was our villa (The Kunja, couldn’t recommend more highly!) and also our camera is kind of cracking the shits at the mo, so ... yeah. Sorry about the quality. Also – photos in bathers don’t really need to be for public consumption, hence there are none from the day we spent at the "Waterbomb" waterslide park. No-one needs to see that. Even though there was one cracker of a photo of Tessa and I on the (legitimately terrifying) ride “The Boomerang” where she seems to be screaming in excitement – while I have genuine fear in my eyes. I thought I was going to have a heart attack. And die.

Anyways, here we go:

Oh hi! Just chillin. Poolside. Where we spent about 84% of our time.
Best. Pool. Ever. (Until I dived in with my glasses on. Then I hated it a little bit.)

The gorgeousness that is Sarah Jane.

Cocktails at Ku de ta. Oh yeah.

Where Kate and I shacked up for the week.

Cus' bedroom. Not too shabby really.

Room service Pizza + Booze = Good times

Our day trip to Lembongan island. Quite a nice place to spend the day really!

Hard life.

Our villa all decorated for our special Indonesian BBQ dinner, cooked in-house by our own team of chefs!
Delicious.

This photo cracks me up as I think it captures just how excited Kate and Jaime were to watch the - very touristy and honestly kind of crap - Balinese Theatre performance we went to.

Tiger or Monkey Cus?? hehe

These girls were the highlight of the performance that went for over an hour.

At the Goa Gajah temple

Ubud rice fields

Dinner at La Lucciola with my family, watching the sunset. Lovely

Nasi Goreng for lunch- every day pretty much! Yum-o.

Villa number 2 with family. So nice.

Everyone in the pool!

Seminyak street.
I think I must have got the only moment when it wasn't crazy busy with traffic.

On Turtle Island. Turtles = cool and interesting.
The rest of the reptiles? (giant snakes) = Less cool. *shudder*

Feeding the turtles. There were two that were over 70 years old and they were humongous!

Frozen strawberry margaritas at Ultimo.

At the Champagne lounge. A Family of boozers we are.

Dinner on the beach at Jimbaran Bay.

Seafood deliciousness. Best prawns ever.

Back to Ku de ta for more cocktail-goodness. Claire is .... lounging?? IDK.

The cool entrance to Ku de ta.

As nice as it is to be home and have M the hiker home early (a lovely surprise - he wasn't due back from his hike in Spain until tonight, so showing up at the door with flowers and pastries - too cute) and to not be on a plane or in transit - I would go back to Bali in a heartbeat.
A fantastic holiday. I'm such a lucky duck.

xx

PS - Best line of the 2nd week goes to me:
At lunch in Cafe Moka, randomly discussing Dad's two nicknames 'Fat' and 'The Pink Pig'.
Dad: (defensively) "Quite a few people have asked me why everyone calls me Fat"
Me: "were they on the phone??"
Susan, Tessa, Claire and Me: wetting our pants with laughter as Dad leaves us in the cafe.


Love to my crazy, hilarious family and wonderful friends - you are my wolf pack.

Miss you all already.