Bali Baby!

After our little stint in East Timor we headed to Bali - Indonesia!

I was particularly excited to get to Bali, not only cause it's somewhere I have always wanted to go (even before Eat, Pray Love came out!) - but my buddy Helen was meeting us there for an Indonesian adventure. I was so excited all the way there and couldn't wait to see her - the taxi pulled in the hotel and voila - reunited with my buddy! So there I was in Bali with 2 of my favourite people - coudn't be happier! We reunited over Bintang's (local beer), dinner on the beach and a celebratory bottle of Prosecco!

The next morning we were up bright and early for to travel to Gili Air! We were collected from the hotel and travelled 1 hr to the pier, then after a 2 hr boat ride (complete with a screening of the Fast & Furious 7!) we arrived in paradise!  The Gili Islands are a group of 3 ridiculously beautiful tiny islands west of Bali - Gili Trawangan (party island), Gili Meno (honeymoon central) and Gili Air (mixture of both - where we stayed). It takes about 2 hrs (my speed) to walk around Gili Air, there are no cars on the island and a taxi is a horse and cart!

Gili Air

We arrived and immediately posed for an 'eat your heart out - we are in Gili' pic in the beautiful crystal clear water! Then had a lovely lunch and Bintang at our hotels restaurant and headed to the beach to soak up some rays! We stayed at Unzipped - it's pretty central and the bar restaurant is right on the beach. The rooms were just gorgeous (complete with air-con, outside shower and well needed mozzie net) and the pool was an added bonus for our afternoon Bintang session! That evening we had cocktails on the beach watching the sunset and delicious Indonesian meal at one of the quirky restaurants nearby. Indonesia is one of the few places you can be a millionaire - for £57 you can get 1 Million Indonesian Rupia! It's a bit crazy when you are literally spending thousands on a cocktail!

Unzipped - Gili Air

Day two on Gili island paradise we signed up for a snorkel trip - stopping at both Gili Trawangan and Gili Mano! We left at 9am and headed to the clear blue for a non stop snorkel adventure! We saw loads of pretty fishy friends, starfish, eels and a few turtles! Oh - and i got stung by a baby jelly fish too! Ouch! (I am ok!) We stopped at various 'snorkel spots' long the way including an old shipwreck, then lunched at Gili Mano and had some time to explore the tiny honeymoon paradise.. We were back at our hotel by 3.30 pm and ready for 2 4 1 cocktails on the beach at 4 pm!

Snorkel Selfie!

Day 3 of island paradise we bummed around on the beach all day - literally! We hired a sunbed in a prime sunny location for 20 000 Rupiah (£1.50) and stayed there all day. Between napping, tanning, reading, lunching, Bintang-ing we also managed to do a little sarong shopping from the beach vendors! That evening we had a local meal and yet more delicious cocktails!

I heart Gili!

Day 4 we sadly had to leave island paradise! After breakfast we headed back to Bali and onto Kuta! Kuta is probably the best known tourist area in Bali - filled with loads of restaurants, pubs, clubs, shops and markets! It's also a great surfing spot for those that like to ride the waves! After a quick pit stop at the hotel we were off to shop, then chilled at Monkey Bar on Kuta beach enjoying out last Bintangs while watching the surfers and sunset! The next morning we were up at stupid o' clock, headed to the airport and made our way back to Bangers!

Kuta Beach Sunset.

Bali - I am so not done with you yet! I have had just a taste (beside Bintang!) of what you have to offer and promise I will return one day! Until then....see you in my dreams!