Oh, Bali!

I am at a loss as to where to start on this blog about Bali. We arrived with pent up energy from several weeks of busy traveling, where we never sat and enjoyed the moment. It was all about where we needed to be and how fast can we move (which isn’t very fast for a family of 5). I had us booked in the Club area at the hotel, so from the moment we walked in at 10pm, we transformed into different people. No long lines, posh room, every need we had was taken care of. We spent the days alternating from the beach to the pool. The waves were pretty rough, but perfect for teaching body surfing.

An hour at the beach and then back to the pool. One afternoon, Curt napped with Ellery and Jones and Aleah and I spent some girl time by the pool. At one point we were just floating on our backs looking at the sky. The sun was behind a palm tree and there were no clouds…it was perfect. Everyone was happy!

On Friday, I had booked us for a bike tour of Ubud. We were up early and in the car too long, but once we got on the bikes it was breathtaking. The Balinese countryside is quite beautiful. I caught myself wondering if the people of Bali realize the beauty they see daily. I know I was always aware in CO of how lucky I was to see the mountains whenever I wanted. I hoped they understood how lucky they were. Ellery decided she was too hot for the bike and so she rode in the “chase car” most of the time.

Curt and I alternated riding with Aleah as Jones fell asleep at one of the stops and I didn’t have the heart to wake him. I made sure Curt biked the harder parts of the tour. ;) That was about all I could get the family to do for this trip. There was so much down time we needed to make up for that all anyone wanted to do was lounge. So, we lounged!

I was able to talk Aleah into shopping with me one afternoon, but I didn’t get much and felt the tug to be back with everyone else. It was just hot and sleepy and cozy to be by the pool drinking beers and watching the girls play in the water (and playing with them as well). There was a lot of nothing happening. Our biggest decision was where we would have dinner and going off the resort was out of the question as it was too much to walk the 100 yards to the nearest restaurant.

We had some wonderful, playful, relaxing days and some nice, quiet, and peaceful nights. The kids club was the best I have ever seen and one of the nannies from the kids club would come to the room to stay with Jones after he went to sleep at night. The kids couldn’t wait to go to the kids club at night, so it was refreshing to have everyone where they needed to be and Curt and I alone for a few hours.

All I can say is that we will go back there again in the next year and I WILL shop more and buy LOTS more next time! We are rested, refreshed and ready to face the world again…well, almost!