Mataram for a night...

We had a lovely time in Bali - with Geoff getting a reasonable amount of surf & we both did a bit of snorkeling. It was unexpectedly really beautiful. I even saw a black and white stripy sea snake dig itself into the sand and disappear!!

We stayed at Susie & Made's Warung at the top of the hill above Bingin and Impossibles (where Geoff surfed). It was really really beautiful. Susie & them's place is right next to the very upmarket Temple Lodge where Geoff's acquaintance from his shop has set up his accommodation. We had the use of their facilities which was great - they have a really beautiful pool & a lovely restaurant.

I just LOVE banana pancakes. I tried to make them once at home but just couldn't get it right like the Thai & now the Indonesians.

Geoff and I arrived in Mataram, Lombok (Indonesia) this morning after a rather disturbing debacle over a horse cart driver that stole our bus ticket.... we fought it and managed not to have to pay for another ticket...went to the airport...couldn't change our ticket for today so we're leaving for Java tomorrow morning at 6am (got to be up at 4)

We have just spent 3 rather blissful days on the tropical island of Gili Meno - snorkeling with sea turtles & countless tropical fish and coral species. We met a man called Morris who runs a cafe 'on' the beach where we spent most of our time chilling... reading... relaxing... snorkeling... drinking Bintang and generally lazing the days away. Our accommodation was really nice > we stayed at Ko-Uchi's bungalows which are set back in a field of coconut trees & complete with cows and chickens (roosters have been driving me CRAZY waking me up at 4am since we arrived in Indo!)

We ended up having to spend a night in Gili Trawangan. Officially one of the most Cuckoo places I have ever experienced. The highlight was open air video spots right off the beach where you can lie, order food & drink & watch one of the 300+ options of DVD's they have available!! The atmosphere was amazing. Unfortunately we felt a bit ripped on accommodation.

We spoke with some unfortunate South Africans (brother and sister) who had their credit card stolen & then returned to them (after having been cancelled) in Kuta, Bali...The credit card company let them draw loads of Rupiah cash but would not switch their credit card back on.... and then their boat sank between Padang Bai and Gili Meno - Cameras, Ipod, Cell phones and a laptop don't work any more and the brother's bag was still to be recovered from the bottom of the sea. There were only a few life jackets on the boat & the emergency inflatable boat did not want to inflate so they had to tread water for 15+mins before the next boat came past & offered them help. At least the waters aren't shark infested!! The sister told me that all their Rupiah was littered all over their room like a money launderer to dry.

We fly to Surabaya, Java tomorrow...followed by a flight to Semarang later in the morning. We will hopefully be able to go and visit people that Geoff has imported products from (during the course of tomorrow / the next day) and then head to Yogyakarta for a few days whereafter we will travel to Jakarta.

Many mozzie bites & a fair amount of sunburn, but we're fit and fighting & enjoying researching China in preparation for getting there (1 September)

Being here is quite interesting cos Bali is Hindu and here its Muslim... and its Ramadan so one can't find a restaurant open during daylight hours!(people look at you funny when you eat during the day!) We did manage to find a nice bakery type restaurant open. Great coffee :)

For now, over and out!