Taking a Baby Where the Tap Water Makes You Ill

Crazy? For sure. Doable? Did it!

I was excited about the idea of going to Bali to continue our, hopefully new tradition, of venturing somewhere to celebrate both my birthday and Mother's Day. But I would be lying if I said I wasn't stressed out of my mind with the idea of taking our precious 18 month old to basically a 3rd world country where something as simple as water to brush our teeth had to be considered. Then there's the dogs that wander the streets with rabies being a serious issue. And the dodgy money changers and money swindling taxi drivers that try to negotiate a higher set price instead of turning on the meter. The lack of car seats in most vehicles. Mosquito heaven that has potential for malaria. The unknown of whether there will be safe and like-able food for Meyli to eat. Plus the longest flight for Meyli so far. On top of that she's still at that age where she's touching and tasting every thing unmentionable or not.

So, what to do? As they say, plan for the best and prepare for the worst! Loaded up with extra antibacterial hand wipes, vaccinations, and an assortment of medication and antiseptics to make any EMT proud, off we went!

On May 4th, Sete was dropped off for a little doggie vacation of her own then off to the airport with Anthony grumbling all the way about how I always over pack. We're first in line at the check-in, that's a new one for us. So easy peasy, check-in, security, keep Meyli preoccupied (or more like she kept us busy by practically running everywhere and touching anything and everything within reach) and wait to board. Only to find out we're running 2 hrs late simply because they didn't take the plane out of the hanger early enough and it got held up trying to work its way to the gate. Or so they tell us.

Meyli's first lolli. We picked one up for her to help with the airplane flight. She was interested for all of 5 licks then could care less about it. 

Miraculously, Meyli does superb on the plane. Slept on the ascend and descend while playing contently in between. Of course it helped we were able to get the middle row of 4 seats to ourselves. We arrive in Bali at around 1:30 am and we're immediately assaulted by the hot humid weather (~83 F/28 C) and we see all the miserable people sitting by the gate that have been waiting for our plane to arrive so they can get out of this sweat box.

Anthony ushered us quickly through the Visa purchase, immigration, luggage carousel, and customs. Fortunately my obsession with pre-planning gave us an idea of what to expect and prepare ahead of time. We're staying in a villa so the driver is there waiting for us as soon as we walk out. Thankfully we don't have to hassle with fighting for a taxi (or taksi as they spell it).

My parents, having arrived almost 6 hrs ahead of us are already at the Villa. I booked us a 2 bedroom 2 bathroom villa with a private pool (not a plunge pool but a proper large pool) and a full kitchen. The bedrooms are air conditioned (thank goodness!) with an open air living and kitchen area and open air bathroom.

The view of our villa pool as you walk through the entry door and around the tall bush.

The open dining and kitchen.

Kitchen

Our view when we are dining.

Considering it was 2:30 am, we crashed out. The next day was chill day. We checked out the large supermarket called Bintang (which is also the local pilsener name) after breakfast, grabbed some munchies, couple of bottles of Bintang, and a little tub for bathing Meyli. Then back to the villa for a swim. Inclusive with our Villa was a BBQ dinner cooked at our villa so we picked that night. The BBQ was a pretty big spread and we had so much leftover. They even set up candles around the pool for some ambiance.

Breakfast at the Villa's restaurant.. Nah, we don't treat Meyli like a princess or anything.

Glad we brought her a floaty!

Thoroughly enjoying the pool!

Swimming with Daddy and Grandpa! Made us miss our pool in Texas.

Nice to see Grandpa Kuo relaxing for a change as he's always working, even when on holiday.

A little dip in the pool with Momma before the BBQ.

The chef grilling at our villa. He's only put on about half the food in this picture.

The shrimp soup was so delish!

Thai Beef Salad for a side.

The next day we walked around Seminyak and avoided being run over by any cars or scooters. My mother even jumped right out into traffic without hesitation to get them to stop so we could cross the street. Apparently that IS the way to cross the street otherwise you would just stand there forever. So Go Mom!

Breakfast of champions! Okay, maybe not champion but very filling!

On our way to Bintang, the longer way, before we figured out the MUCH shorter route. The back alley has businesses and houses.

Other shots of the alleyway.

Meyli meeting the local. She runs a laundry place not far from the villa. There's also a chicken in the basket next to us.

Can we say walking fire hazard? This is petrol for the scooters. Wonder who drank all the vodka?

Looking for lunch and a place to cool down, we stumbled across a lovely little place called Blue Karma as we walked down an alleyway following the signs for a different restaurant. It turned out to be the restaurant of a newly built Villa. We were the only people there at the time so we felt like royalty with people standing around waiting for our smallest need.

Beautiful Blue Karma Villas

What's up doc?

Excuse me, where's my drink?

Bean bags around the Blue Karma pool.

Aloha! Oh wait, wrong island. 

After lunch siesta?

On our way back to the Villa we passed this temple like structure with tigers in the front. Meyli immediately started to "roar!"

A quick family shot just inside the foyer area where the tiger statues guarded the front.

Since it was my birthday we tried to book in at Ultimo for dinner, a place we heard highly regarded but it was booked solid so the Villa reception booked us in at Trattoria which we found out as we pulled up in the taxi that it was right next door to Ultimo. The whole area was brimming with activity, obviously the shopping and dining catered to the tourists that want a little more upscale and modern.

Strawberry Daiquiri, it was yummy!

When we got back from dinner, The Villa had surprised me with a birthday cake waiting for us in the fridge. It was a really good chocolate fruit cake! How sweet was that?!

Meyli obviously chanting an internal mantra, "cake, cake, cake"

On our third day, it was the first day of us hitting the tourist sites. I had booked a driver just a few days before we flew in but had no itinerary planned as I was unsure how much Meyli would be able to take in the car and in the heat/humidity. I was aware of all the usual big tourist spots, just didn't know what would be the best ones to visit and in an order that would make sense.

The first day we had a late start, our fault not the driver's, so we visited a painting gallery, shopping area in Ubud just past the monkey forest, a Royal Family Temple, then a late lunch overlooking a scenic rice paddy which was blowing a much needed cooling breeze over us.

On our way we saw several scooters and motorcycles. It wasn't unusual to see very young children on them as well.

The entrance of the painting gallery where you see some of the artists in action. It's very deceiving because once you walk through the narrow door there, it opens up into a huge gallery covered from the ceiling to the floor and room after large room of them.

The shopping area in Ubud is a very large area of stalls like those just behind us, full of typical tourist stuff. Lots of "cheap" stuff, both in quality and price provided you haggle. Meyli just finished a bit of a crying fit hence the sad expression.

Lots and lots of stuff!

You know you're in a tourist trap area when you see rows and rows of vans like these. They're typically all private hired drivers like ours, which is nice though because you make your own schedule.

One of the royal family temples, right next to where they live. This one was in Ubud, just a short walk from the tourist market.

At one of the royal family temples. Some pretty intricate scary looking stone carvings.

Anthony is determined to rent a scooter next time we're in Bali.

Our view as we ate lunch. 

Our chariot.

We did a brief stop at the Tegallalang Rice Terraces, a silver shop (Yatra something), and the Bird Park. We were all tired so we figured after the hour and a half drive back we'd call it a day as it would be close to dinner time anyways.

The Tegallalang Rice Terraces. I didn't get to enjoy the view as I was too busy haggling with the shop lady on a dress for Meyli. We walked away with the dress for Meyli and a sarong for me, not sure who got the better deal out of that one!

Sarong me!

All the beautiful sparkly silver stuff in the store and this was the one thing Meyli was only interested in.

Komodo Dragon. If it didn't weigh a ton, Meyli probably would have dragged it home with us.

Bird Park! Gobble gobble!

Lots of birds just hanging out in the open.

Love!

Ready for my close up!

Nothing wrong with Meyli's eye sight! She was constantly spotting birds well before we saw them.

Peacock! Meyli has no fear with birds, making a mad dash to get to them. Whereas Mommy was terrified!

The Bird Park is divided into countries so we saw lots of birds that we normally wouldn't get to see in the States.

Yeah.....

Map of the Bird Park. Not very big, kind of felt sorry for the birds in the confined cages though.

The second day we started with Tanah Lot temple which we opted to go in the morning to avoid the massive crowds that show up to see the sunset. We followed with Ulun Danu Bratan temple which is a little temple on Lake Bratan up in the mountain. The temperature was so much cooler and comfortable. The temple was lovely but for us the attraction was the lovely garden that surrounds it. Meyli was going nuts with all the animal statues spread across the grounds.

Entrance. It was so hot we ended up drenching her hat with water.

Before you get to the temple you have to survive the long walk past all the stalls and hawkers. Since we came during the day the stalls were still quiet and some still being set up.

We turned the bend and there's still more stalls!

One of the stalls.

Finally the last few steps before we can actually see the temple. Meyli can't wait to see it, can you see how excited she is?

Temple is behind us, not reachable as it is high tide so the pathway is underwater.

Crazy for coconuts!

The entrance to the temple on Lake Bratan is guarded by these goofy looking lions. Goofy they may be but Meyli LOVED them!

Love this picture! Like they're having a drawn out conversation.

She loved this large patch of grass, didn't want to leave it.

The temple and yes, it is as small as it looks. Meyli has to ponder that.

Meyli was quite the little celebrity while in Bali and that day she was approached by at least 3 strangers. This particular one asked to take a picture with us, or more like with Meyli.

We had a below par buffet lunch then headed out to a coffee plantation where we sampled various coffees and teas as well as paid for a small cup of Luwak Coffee, one of the most expensive coffee in the world. Why? Because it has to be ingested, digested, the pooped out of the luwak animal. The phrase eat shit kept popping into my head, wonder why?

Showing us the different coffee beans and the poo. I couldn't help but hope she washes her hands before she serves us drinks.

Drinking the most expensive coffee in the world. I think he should have stuck his pinkie out.

Do I look happy enough after drinking brewed poo?

Besides coffee there were a lot of other fascinating fruits and veggies.

There was one luwak on display in a cage. I felt bad for it. Must have been bored out of its mind.

We attempted to make reservations at 4-5 different restaurants for dinner that night that we were suggested to try by other visitors and reviews but they were all booked so the Villa reception said they would book us a seafood place in Jimbaran that will also send us a car. We had no idea where they were sending us or what the place was called but we just wanted seafood. It turned out to be quite a spectacular experience. Just past the airport is a long section of beach called Jimbaran Bay. There's a large fresh seafood market on one end and right next to it running all along the beach are 24 seafood restaurants that offer on the sand dining with a view of the sunset and sounds of the wave crashing.

Seafood spread. Dinner by candlelight on the beach. So nice!

Chili Crab!

Our last day with the driver we spent at the Safari & Marine Park which the driver pre-reserved for us. Not sure what benefit as the line for the reserved was so much longer than the regular line. And it certainly didn't make it any cheaper! The park was okay, didn't have as many animals as we thought it would but the appeal of the place is the interactions you can have with the animals from feeding and riding the elephants, holding an orangutan, or petting a lion cub. I was particularly looking forward to having lunch at one of their restaurants where it is surrounded by the lion's section of the safari ride. It was sadly uneventful as they just laid there. But it wasn't all a loss as there was also a meerkat section and not having seen them in person before, it was a very pleasant surprise.

Just along for the ride. Not comfortable or anything.

So excited to see the park!

The park, not really that big but given the heat, it's a good thing.

Great experience! Meyli already got to pet some real elephants as soon as we walked in! I was hoping the elephant would wrap his trunk around Anthony's leg.

Lion cub for petting. Didn't want to risk Meyli around the cub so we  took our picture from a distance.

So many choices!

Bird!

Cheeky bird actually darted for Meyli's finger. We kept our distance after that.

The safari ride. Blissfully in air conditioning. Our tour guide was a bit hard to understand.

Rawr!

Meerkats!

Gives you an idea of how small they are.

Walking walking!

We all thought the park was grossly overpriced until we decided to take in their once a day theatre show. It's a full costume song and dance cast with live animals that tells the story of one of their past kings. It was very well done and in a surprisingly high tech theatre. Even Anthony enjoyed it, that's saying a lot.

We finished the day with catching the sunset again at Jimbaran Bay but at a different restaurant. This time we knew to wear sandals and wiggle our toes in the sand.

View to our left, lots of other seafood restaurants.

View to our right, even more restaurants.

Comfy?

Waiting for the sunset before we sit down for dinner.

Dinner is served!

The right way to sit while having dinner.

Impromptu music performance.....resulting in a tip of course.

On our last two days we finally just relaxed in the villa. Anthony took advantage of more massages and I even made it out for a 2 hour spa treat for myself!

When it was all over, we packed our bags and headed to the airport to get on our midnight flight back to Melbourne. Meyli was a firecracker, zigzagging everywhere in the airport. But the plus side was once we got on the plane she crashed out from right before takeoff to just 30 minutes before we landed. So yay for surviving the flight there and back with Meyli!

So that was Bali. We hope to return now that we know what to expect and Anthony seems determined to rent a scooter next time. I'm sure THAT blog will make for a much more interesting read.

Thanks for reading!

- julie