Steps of Faith: Travelling South East Asia: Bali

Living out of suitcases for five weeks and living on the road sure didn't seem as appealing as it might sound to so many others. I worried about where we would sleep, what we would eat, and any other trials we may run into with three young kids in tow; you know, all those things you can't really control ahead of time. I am now on the other end of this five week trip and can't fully express how much of a gift this trip really was. I have an amazing husband who planned an unforgettable trip. We saw and experienced so much that there is no possible way to minimize it into one post. I am so thankful that my parents were able to join us here in Jakarta for the last couple weeks of school and then for the first three weeks of our trip. It was so special to be able to share our lives and our travelling with people we love (and missed).

We travelled for a total of 33 days, starting our trip in Bali, then moving on to Malaysia, and ending up in Thailand. We ate out for supper every night, ate who knows how many peanut butter and jam sandwiches, and slept in a total of 11 different places. We travelled by airplane, longtail boat, speed boat, kayak, bus, minibus, bicycle, car, tuk tuk, taxi, subway, train, and a whole lot of walking and hiking. We broke/lost 5 pairs of shoes, Jolene's favourite bear and then later on her favourite blanket, and we lost 5 bathing suits, or half of bathing suits; and somehow accumulated more stuff than what we left with. We saw mountains and rice fields, vast oceans with beautiful sea life, jungles and mangroves, caves, lagoons, and blue sky! We experienced different cultures and ways of life that gave us and our children an opportunity to learn more about the world we live in.

This is a trip that will stay with us forever...

Ubud, Bali

Bali Breeze Bungalows. Our very own pool!

Island of the gods.

Monkey Forest

Dad enjoyed having the monkeys climb on him. They were suspicious of what he had in his pockets though and wouldn't leave him alone. Jolene turned out not to be a big fan after a monkey pulled her hair.

Road Trip to Kintamani

Terraced Rice Fields: Getting ready for planting season.

Fun pictures...but beware, you have to pay! Dad has learnt that nothing is free!

A visit to this small plantation was a great side trip.

Coffee Beans

Samples of coffee and tea to try. So yummy!

Feeding coffee beans to a Luwak

Brewing Luwak Coffee. The best coffee in the world...so they say!

Visiting a Hindu Temple

One of our last memories with "Bear Bear." He was left somewhere in Bali.

Balinese Traditional Dance

This, along with another dance you will see pictures of, were Alana's favourite. It was fascinating to watch, not only for the beauty of it all, but for the way they used every part of their body, especially their hands and eyes, to express themselves.

Father's Day

Massages. Who needs to pay for one when you've got three eager kids?

Large orange that tasted mildly like grapefruit.

Eating Babi Guling (pig) at a Night Market

Seminyak, Bali

Puri Raisha Villa. Another great place to stay.

We enjoyed a few different beaches while staying in Seminyak.

You think these waves are huge?

We gave Paul a kite for Father's Day. It didn't want to fly.

Hard to get out with waves that are stronger than we are.

It may not look like it, but the waves at this beach were massive. I have never
experienced waves like this before. It was rather exhilarating!

Balinese Fire Dance

People from all over the world came to enjoy the show.

These guys chanted for the entire hour that this dance went on.
It was quite amazing to watch and listen to.

Paul's Birthday

What was so impressive about the place we stayed at in Seminyak, was the owner noticed on Paul's passport that it was his birthday while we were there. That morning they came in singing Happy Birthday along with a cake and a special birthday breakfast.

This dog, along with another dog and five other brand new puppies, were the
first of many animals the kids fell in love with during our month long trip.