Some describe it as music

7th July Guest editor for the final time: Dr H C Hodge the one and only!

A few days ago we were planning what we should so on my last day here (Luke and I have to be organised and plan our time even on holiday!). The boys were keen on me having an elephant ride - their 3 days looking after elephants had caused them to have an attachment to the creatures. Whilst not dismissing this idea I decided that I would prefer to go out on a boat and go snorkelling, kayaking and any other water related activity which I am still able to have a go at. Consequently we duly booked to go on a day cruise on the Bali Fun Ship to Lembongan Island approximately 1 and a half hour boat trip from Bali. Having booked it I wondered if I was completely crazy as it would mean a day out in the sun – by now you will have gathered that this presents a problem to me – or at least to my skin.

Oh well too late now. Anyway this morning comes and joy of joys - for me at least - it is overcast and it is actually raining a tiny tiny bit – hoorah I exclaim. Poor James – this presents a double whamee – we were being picked up at 7.45am (James doesn’t do mornings especially on holiday) and there is no sun.

Apart from the ever present noise (some describe it as music) the boat was great and moored at a platform just off Lembongan. It was still overcast thank goodness so we donned our snorkels and launched ourselves from the boat. It was fantastic – beautiful coloured coral and strikingly patterned fish in great numbers swimming about – we even saw a small shark which the boys had not seen anywhere else. It was just a fantastic experience. Luke and I followed it up by going on a glass bottomed boat to get another sight of the coral and the fish – amazing.

After this we went out on a couple of Kayaks – a double one with Luke and me and James attempting to paddle a single one – a disaster – he kept falling in – Luke swopped over and although did better still had problems – we decided it was a kids size one. However once underway we paddled towards the shore where there was a cave entrance – the intrepid explorers entered and very bravely continued round the bend to find it was a cull de sac – but a lovely one at that.

After all this exertion we returned to the boat for lunch which turned out to be very good – they had cooked and prepared it all on the boat. After lunch we were taken onto the island and offered a village tour which we declined opting instead for a pleasant café where we sipped iced coffee, fruit juices and admired the view – very relaxing. By the sun had decided to appear and was of course very hot in the middle of the day – yes you have guessed it – despite taking anti histamines every day and topping them up with extra doses – the dreaded heat rashes duly appeared – oh well it was my last day and the steroid cream came into action on return to the villa.
Well I have come to the end - so Luke will resume his blogging to you all – he said he has enjoyed his rest from doing it – but the amusing observations from his travels will resume from tomorrow. I have had a wonderful 10 days with them both and look forward to being reunited with them in New Zealand in December – over and out.