Sept.24th -26th
So, where do we start? We are a couple days behind since we didn’t have a computer for awhile…we’ll try to catch everyone up and keep it short…but we all know that won’t happen, so grab some popcorn and enjoy…Starting off with Sept 24th- the day we were supposed to leave Gilles T. Thank the Wisnu God for knocking the prop off the boat we were to leave on… because illness struck…BAD! Taya came down with a 24 hr…trip to hell and back with a remarkable recovery that included Brittany and Briana quarantining her in a NON-air conditioned room with a NON-working fan and Taya’s paranoia of bed bugs got the best of her when she caught a bug scurrying across her arm…(IT WASN’T AN ANT BRIANA!!!) Anywho…it was terrible but glad it wasn’t contagious! On to the next day…caught our boat finally…BOY OH BOY! Did we ever! Again, thanks to the Wisnu god (aka god of water) but this time for rocking the shit of us…literally. Started off with a shuttle (an oversized wooden canoe) that ferried us to our “boat” since it couldn’t dock…which didn’t give us much confidence seeing that we smashed into our boat breaking chunks of wood. We then boarded our “boat” aka a blue Theodore Tug boat. Age-100 years, Feet-24, Seats-26, People-30, Exhaust levels Inside- Intoxicating, Functioning windows- 0, Entertaining British guys- PRICELESS! To take our minds off impending doom, here are a few quotes from our fellow Brits (keep in my mind the poise that a British accent holds): “Boy, that was a biggie!” after crashing through yet another 10 ft swell…no lies!, “I think I see Bali, only another 30 minutes…scream if you want to go faster” as we literally skipped across the Pacific ocean giving us all Whiplash, and lastly, after a wave knocked out their window drenching all of us, they looked up in fear at the 2 crew members rushing to their aid…“I thought you were driving the boat?” Needless to say we had a memorable trip to Padangbai where we caught transport to Ubud. Got to our hostel-Jati Home Stay, definitely our most “simple”…we then headed out for a nice, relaxing supper…ended up dining with a few large hamsters…we tell ourselves that for peace of mind! Following supper we took in a traditional Kecak fire dance at one of the nearby temples…very interesting and different from our culture…very enjoyable! So, bringing you all to today, Sept.26th. Busy, Busy, Busy. Started off at 830am with a driver that we hired for $40 to drive us around all day to 4 temples including the biggest Temple in Bali, a volcano, coffee plantation, rice fields/terraces, and a mountain top lunch. Basically, a jammed packed day of sights and learning of the Balinese culture. Too much to write about, but a few highlights…Briana christening some Italian tourists with Holy water as the sign instructed all to do, sampling of some of the best coffee we’ve ever tasted…but not brave enough to attempt the coffee made with the “Poo-Poo” of a local animal who eats the coffee beans, a hike through a jungle where we expected to see Tarzan and Jane, sorry folks, no luck…but we did hear a “squig” ( what Taya calls a squealing pig), that was being sacrified to the gods. You can only imagine the look of shear terror on Briana’s face…Taya and Brittany once again trying to play it down, “No, No Briana, it’s National Pig Day…it’s being honoured, we should celebrate!” and finally, the 80 yr old Balinese women that never break a sweat, carrying baskets full of dirt on their heads, climbing mountainous terrain in + 40 degree heat and humidity putting 3 Canadian girls to shame…that’s understatement…we drank 3L of water and perspired out 5! Tomorrow we have white water rafting on our plates, don’t worry Momma Dalziel…if we fall out, we can stand up…more just to see the landscapes. Until the next time..keep fit and have fun!!!!
- J&H McLeod
p.s. Briana wanted us to mention the extremely dusty, dirty, ratty, cobb-webbed lamp that lies next to our heads at night…sleep tight…pray the bed bugs don’t bite…FOR REAL!
p.p.s sorry this was so long…it’s hard to shorten when we can’t do it daily. Thanks for following us. Take care.
p.p.p.s- We are REALLY behind...now the 29th..In Lovina..will write tomorrow!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Hey Girls! So glad to hear from you. Well... my life is officially - eat, sleep, and work! Yuck! Went to Regina with Lindsay last weekend. She had a Dentist Conference :( Yuck again! But, it was a lot of fun! We ended up going to the Pump with her Dentist friends (that were surprisingly kinda fun). Anyway you would have been proud of your big sisters. Yup that's right - dancing on the stage with the singer. It was fun. I heard he is kinda famous, but, I have never heard of him. I think his name was Johnny Reed? Anywho.... sounds like you ladies are living life! Wish I was there with you! Really windy today and I think cold, haven't ventured outside yet tho! BP's has been really busy and so much fun! I am really glad that I went back there. I like it alot and the girls I work with are all really nice. Had a reservation of 90 people the other day. It was a little hectic. Lindsay and Greg are busy farming still and Cooper has also been busy with a different style of farming - following the combines all day long. But, I will let Lindsay explain that to you. Mom is still staining the front door. Mental note - when you come home remember to mention how awesome the door looks :) Jeff Lees was in BP's last night. Says him and Dad go for lunch everyday and that Dad picks healthy choices each time. So that was good to hear! Glad to hear that you are feeling better Taya and that no one else got sick!
ReplyDeleteHope you are taking lots of pictures. You ladies are living the dream! Just remember it will be over before you know it and you will be back here eating, sleeping and working just like the rest of us. Chin up!
Chels
Thank you for easing our minds with that gripping account of Bali water safety. I bet that everyone was wearing life jackets, and had whistles, red flags, flare guns, protein bars, etc in case you were thrown overboard?? Maybe should have found a way to wrestle that into your overstuffed backpacks;) It's good to hear that you are also meeting lots of the little creatures of Bali, I too have little creatures of Melfort at my farm. The other week at movie night, we all met one of the little creatures scurrying across my living room floor. I think that it was deaf and decided to commit suicide rather than risk facing the crazy lady and her big dumb dogs again..
ReplyDeleteWell, off to bootcamp. Tonight is roughly 16 km bike ride in 60 mile an hour winds. baaahhhh
Hope you are all feeling well lately, and Taya has recovered from her near death experience. They say you only get Montosoon's revenge once Taya, so now you should be good to go!!
Love ya,
Take care. Avoid the little creatures, and for God's sake wear a life jacket!!!
This is your paranoid sister talking!!
Linds
Ha - Sorry Taya, I feel very bad for you and your terrible 24 hours, but also not gonna lie - I giggled a little bit to myself when I read that, I do this only b/c I remember being with you once before during what sounds like a very similar experience....Britt and Briana - did she nearly tear her hands open digging her thumb nails in???
ReplyDeleteI am so excited for you guys that every new day is still just as exciting as the very first day was...that's great! I can't even imagine all the new things you see, hear, smell, and just DO, each and every day that you are there.
Its getting very much colder and colder each day (at least I think so) and it is stupid-ass, crazy windy here too....not fun! I think that damn ol' winter may not be far away... LUCKY GIRLS!
Anyway - good to hear from you again. As always, take care, look after each other, be safe, blah blah blah.
But seriously - BE SAFE!!
X0X0
p.s. - find a monkey and take a picture with him
o.k. where do I start. I don't want to sound too critical but.... first clue might have been when the boat couldn't dock, 2nd clue might have been when its overcrowded, 3rd clue might have been 10 ft. swells, I know I worry but you guys & the ocean ain't no match!!!!! Be careful!!!Who is J & H McLeod. Love mom
ReplyDeleteHi. girls. Glad your computer is finally back up. Miss hearing about all the new adventures. I don't know which is worse- hearing what your up to or just imagining it all by myself. Be careful. I echo everyone's comment about the life jackets- how about helmets as well. Let's see , the flu, near death experiences & critters& creatures. -I'm glad that I'm in windy, cold Sask.. Glad that you are feeling better Taya. Love you & miss you. Keep up the blog. Next big adventure- Cairns Australia- You guys are going there on Oct 1st-right? Sounds like the three of you are having a good time. Mom & Dad
ReplyDeleteoh girls...
ReplyDeleteHappy you made it to Ubud safe and sound! That sounds pretty horrible... but I will tell you, our trip was no picnic.. we ended up on the 'bad ferry' were we sat on a dirty, packed, sweaty ferry floor for 4+ hours.. but, at least our lives weren't at risk! And.... no one was sick. sorry you had to deal with that one Taya.... but are you sure it wasn't something called sea sickness?? haha
How are you liking Ubud? I love that you guys did the same tour as us! And white water rafting? Awesome! Ok, well I will stop blabbering on... hope life is awesome... Australia is waiting for you!
Hey again!
ReplyDeleteSo just heard the news that there was a very large earthquake in Sumatra! It looks kinda far from you guys and it does not sound like it hit Ubud. But just making sure???? Mom is freaking out a bit. Sounds like it may have caused somewhat of a tsunami.
Let us know!