Bali

So many aussies go there, and keep going back over and over again. I had to see what the fuss was about. Our villa was magnificent, private pool, large open spaces with Balinese architectural features, huge bedrooms and ensuites. Total relaxation. Until you leave the confines of the villas.

'Offerings' (Balinese leave these little baskets out the front of their homes, shops, temples etc to appease their Gods and bring prosperity and good health). Note, pics of the villa don't do it justice!

I spent my five days lounging, blogging, catching up on sleep, drinking cocktails during 'happy hours' (thanks to very attentive room service), overeating, shopping at the market stalls and the more expensive shops of Seminyak, took a day trip around some of the other areas of Bali, learnt about the temples/religious beliefs, went to the beach, splashed out on a fab dinner at one of the exclusive beachfront restaurants, checked out one of the big clubs (Potato Head), had a few massages and a pedicure (was very apologetic towards the poor guy doing my feet - he did not seem pleased at having to tackle my black runner's toenails and blisters). I didn't run a step. Partly because there was nowhere amenable to running, partly because I had hit 'sloth' mode.

I'm going to sound like a spoilt middle class white girl now, but to be honest, while many aspects of Bali were enjoyable, I found it a little bit of hard work dealing with the not-so-enjoyable aspects. I've travelled throughout countries that are much harder work, but that was 11 years ago. 11 years and 3 kids on, I have much less patience and energy for it. And I guess the main purpose of this leg of the trip was to reeeeelaxxxxx.

Of course the culture is interesting and many of the people are lovely, but I guess our experience was tainted a little in the last 36 hours by a couple of aggressive shopkeepers, who, we discovered later, had pickpocketed from Vin's purse; a slight overdose of exposure to the poverty of some of the children; a slight sense of uneasiness brought about by the ever-present security around hotels, restaurants and the beach (though on the flip side it was kind of reassuring); and poor Vin suffering from Bali belly not long before we had to leave for the airport. And as I discovered about a week after getting home, the aftermath of the mozzies (that's another story).

I have concluded that the attraction for many aussies is that it's a cheap holiday, and especially so for West Australians who are only a 3-4 hour flight away. It's more expensive to fly from Perth to the east coast of Australia than to fly from Perth to Bali. So I reckon Bali is the west coast version of Fiji, which seems to be the family holiday of the moment for many east coast aussies.

Bali nightlife would undoubtably be more fun in your early 20s. We're probably spoilt by the beaches here in Oz, Bali's beach isn't bad, but I'm going to sound like a prat and say I've seen better. But you have to pay for it in Australia, which brings me back to what I assume is the attraction to Bali for many.

And it is kind of a bogan paradise, judging by the number of Bintang beer singlets and hair-braids returning back to Australia on our flight (I haggled for a $3 singlet for Mick for a potential future dress-up party). We were joined at the airport by such characters as Stifler's mom and her family (plus fake Louis Vuitton handbag), Hugh Hefner and his family (who pushed in front of us in the airport line), and numerous Corby family look-a-likes.

This provided some amusement while waiting for our red-eye flight back home. Remind me never to take a flight that commences at 11pm and ends at 6am. Cannot sleep on planes, trains or automobiles!

So, at the risk of sounding like a spoilt whinger, I'll say that Bali was enjoyable, but I wouldn't rush back there. Certainly enjoyed and appreciated the time away and the relaxation though. Being met at the airport by the sight of our collective 7 children running towards us was priceless, and the relief on the faces of the 3 husbands was palpable! What an amazing trip.