Snowing

 We rarely get snow here in Cornwall, England, but today he have it.  In 5 minutes we went from zero-snow to total coverage.  Traffic crawling, schools are closed and people are unsure about what to do.

In the last few years we have had the odd day when it has snowed, but this year we have had several periods of snow, even in Cornwall.

Earlier in the year I was living in 37 degree Celsius weather, today it is -2.

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British Pound is Weak

So the British Pound remains weak against just about every currency at present.  This is annoying as my money is worth less just about everywhere.

The secret to solving this is to travel to the cheapest countries at this time.  The weaker the target currency the less I’ll lose now.  One should travel to the countries with the stronger currencies when your own currency returns to full strength.

So for now I am thinking of Southeast Asia again.  Japan and Korea will have to wait.  As does returns to Australia and New Zealand.

When I visited Australia in 1998 I got 2.8 dollars to each pound.  Today it is just 1.75. 

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The Importance of Being at Home

I’ve been home for about 2 months now, sorry for the lack of updates. My intentions for this blog have wandered many times, and my focus has been lost.

Since I have been back the normal family and friends things have happened, but also something important has happened.

A family member has become unwell. This family member has also just had serious surgery and requires care and help from the family.

I am so glad I am home to help. I am close to this family member, and it has become an important part of my everyday to see them and help them.

Their decline in help was not foreseen, and was not any of the reasons I returned home.

But being back home has become vital for now.

Travel plans continue to swirl in my head, but they do not even reach the draft stage. They are just ideas.

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Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

He arrive in Kuala Lumpur.

After 2 months in Bali we are pleased by the cleanliness and efficiency of the city, but the pace is frantic and it takes a moment to adjust.

We grab cash and drinks and take the efficient bus to KL Sentral. Then take the monorail to the Tune hotel.

We are in KL for a few days. We are hoping to visit the Petronas Towers, which has eluded us so far, and to get some shopping.

In 1 week will be home in Cornwall, back in the house that I left 9 months ago. We are ready to go home. I am ready to go home. It will be cold and expensive, but it will be civilised, and organised, and cheap if I want it (actually cheaper than here if you’re clever), and ultimately it will be home.

I intend to make the most of being home. Going to the gym, makeing nice food, seeing my family and friends, working hard, enjoying quality items at cheap prices.

I love travelling in Asia. I love the cheapness and the variety of life. But it wares me down. I had thought about trying to live here for a time. But now I am worn out my Asia.

Maybe if I went back to live in the house in Thailand I would love it all again.

Dunno

But for now I am going home, and I will enjoy it.

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Goodbye Bali

Last night we had goodbyes with our friend Cam. It feels more sad this morning. He is a good friend, has been the source of many good times recently, and we will miss him. I think he will also miss us.

We pack and say goodbye to Hotel Sorga, and to Bali.

I wanted more or something different from my stay in Bali. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but nevertheless, I have had a great time here, but it is time to move on.

We take a taxi to the Airport and check in.

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Nusa Lembongan

We catch the 10:30am Permana boat from Sanur to Nusa Lembongan.

The swell is big so the boat hugs the Bali coast for some time before turning towards the island. The big boat surfs a couple of the waves, and we make it to the island without any dramas.

The reef around the island is very shallow, so the boat takes some time weaving its way through the rocks and plant life, before stopping at the Permana office.

We leave Caroline at a cafe and trek up the beach looking for a place to stay. We ask at a lot of places, probably 10 or more, and see various levels of accommodation. A lot are overpriced, as are many things with Bali’s current over-inflation.

We eventually settle on the Pondok Baruna dive school. They have lovely new villa style rooms around a pool. The rooms are pricier than we’d like (IRP350,000) but it’s worth it considering the other places we have looked at.

We have to do a little room juggling over the next few days, but at least we get to stay somewhere clean and (mostly) bug free.

The staff are very helpful.

After unpacking we head out. We walk along the front, and over to the first of the small cove beaches we can see. We swim, before heading home for an amazing sunset.

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Kuta, Bali

We catch another Bemo to Kuta. This one turns out to be the slowest one on the island I think!

We take Caroline to Warung Campur Campur, which is perhaps our favourite place to eat in Kuta. After breakfast we head down to the beach.

It’s hot today, and there is a little surf. Not enough for a proper surfboard, but Caroline rents a bodyboard.

We all get red in the sun. Once the sun has set it takes us a good while to get a taxi back to Sanur.

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Balangan beach & Ulu Watu, Bali

After breakfast we find a taxi driver and negotiate a price for a day out at Balangan beach, and then down to Ulu Watu for the sunset.

The drive to Balangan beach is good. Lots of natural landscapes. The beach is very much empty, with a few people, a couple of shacks and a number of surfers enjoying the rocky point break. The rock makes the water too shallow for swimming.

We chill on the beach for a while with a few drinks.

Caroline makes the rookie mistake of accepting the first price on sun-loungers. £6 for 2! Woopps. Abby has banned Caroline from any further negotiations.

After we head to Ulu Watu. The temple is just as I remember it from last time, although this time there are many more visitors, due to it being the holidays. The monkeys seem more aggressive.

The sunset is great and get some good pics.

The traffic is busy as we head back to Sanur. We talk to our taxi driver a lot. He has good English. He is a hard working man, who sends his children to private school, and occasionally eats at McDonalds. He is obviously doing OK in life.

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Kuta, Bali

We head over to the water park near Kuta, via Bemo which is fun. It’s the busy Leberan period though, and when we get there the park has closed due to reaching it’s capacity.

Undeterred we walk around Tuban, by the runway, and the Discovery Mall.
My continual fight with flip-flops continues. The new cheap pair I bought recently is already showing signs of failure. So I buy an expensive pair, in the hope that they will last a long time. I find a nice Rip Curl pair for £20! Fingers crossed!

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