Holy Smokes...where to even start....

So Bali is amazing...I apologize for no updates on the blog (yes, we are still safe and very much alive)....There is just so many better things to do on an island paradise besides sit in a painfully slow connected internet cafe and update your personal blog...but now I've started so hopefully this is a good one....

One thing I have to say, and I really emphasize about Bali...if your first stop is Kuta, where I recommend staying for about 1 or 2 nights, in which time you will hear any of the following sentences about six thousand times, (imagine all sentences with funny balinese accent...roll the Rs and high-pitched)..."Transport?", "Motorbike?" "Sarong?", "I give you good price, morning price", "Come inside, jus looking", and of course, "Yes, please?"...anyway, if your first stop is Kuta, you dont have to bring anything at all...as long as you dont mind quality made knockoffs...the board short and t-shrit selection here is tremendous..everything from Volcom Stone with an obviously wrong logo to Balibong to T-Shirts that dont quite make sense, but you know where they are going...ex. "Harden Up Princess", "Josh is Gay", "I-Pood"..the clothing options here are endless for the average male skate/surf look....for the ladies there are more garments that I can imagine, but the exact words to describe them escape me. I would just say there is a lot of different dresses and stuff. Barganing is a lot of fun though, and I've learned that it is almost impossible to give back an offer that is 'insulting'. Basically, whatever price they start with, cut it down to anywhere around 10 or 20%..Example of a conversation.."How much?" "For you, 250 000.." "Yikes, thats way more than I thought." "What you want for price?" "How about 30 000?" "Oooh, no cannot do that price"...and then as you start walking away...."Okay, how about 40000?".......Anyway, Kuta is an interesting place, but way over the top touristy. As soon as my luggage was found (yay) we got out of there and went to Ubud.

I was able to get some nice beach time in Kuta and spend some time with my cousin Danny who I'm sure I'll see again when I go back to that area.

Ubud....this is a great place. We stayed ina second floor room with hot/cold shower, free breakfast, swimming pool and incredibly friendly staff all for 100K/night...thats about $12 CAD. What a deal....Ubud is in the middle, so no beaches, but it has a lot art and temples in the area and the unforgettable Monkey Forest where Balinese Macabes? Socialize with the forest visitors..especially those brave enough to carry any kind of food with them. Some great pictures from here...cant wait to show everyone. Another highlight froim Ubud involved a Temple called Ganung Kawi. According to our Lonely Planet book it is located in Tempak Siring, which is approximatley 11km NE of Ubud. 11Km, thats no problem on a Bike..."Hey Kate, let's rent bikes and go to Tempak Siring for the day, stop at the Elephant Cave." Unfortunately Lonely Planet neglected to mention for those attempting the journey on Bike that it is ENTIRELY (no joke, the whole way) Entirely up hill. Everytime we would come over a crest, or around a bend..the hill just kept going. Katie and I made it though and we are still in love as ever..although there was some mild swearing a couple times during the climb. The ride back was a blast.

After a couple more days in Ubud we visited Tirta Gangga and now we are in Lombok leaving for Gili Trawangan tomorrow. I will write about those adventures in a nother couple weeks.

Thank you everyone for reading this far. (Now the softy goo-goo gaa gaa crap) I apologize if there is spelling and grammar mistakes littered throughout this script, I have no time for editing and I type looking down at my keyboard usually (most of my co workers know my typing style). Happy Thanksgiving Everyone and Happy Belated Birthdays to Sara and Manette and Nathan and Brennan?..how about Tom, i know his birthday is this time of year. I really hope I havent missed anyone else...Vanessa?.

As for my family and close friends we miss you so so much. Mom and Dad I think about you all the time. I think you guys might really like Bali (except maybe the quality fo the mattresses - Dad) I love you a lot and can't wait to see you and tell you about all our adventures....and I hope my crapload of stuff in the basement isn't getting on your nerves. I always smile when I think about you.

Grandma Fry, Grandma IJ, my brothers, Vanessa, Aunties, Uncles, and all my friends, I think about everyone a lot and I hope everyone is enjoying whatever they are doing in Calgary and Alberta and the other parts of the world. Thats all for now....Note - Please send me your addresses to my hotmail address and I will send you postcards.

Auntie Carla, please send me yours, your Kids, and Grandma's mail address to my hotmail.
Mom - Please send me Grandma's mailing address.

Someone comment on my blog! Tell me whats shaking in Calgary. Flames winning?