Reunited…and it feels so gooooood….

UWe’re back in Sanur and are so happy. Not that we weren’t enjoying Ubud, but we were much more limited in our ability to get around and we were pretty far out. But our epic walks were great and the girls continue to be so proud of themselves for walking so far and are all swagger about a shorter walk: “this is nothing. This is sooo easy now.” These statements may also have been because of our destination:

It was our first time to McDonald’s in Bali, not too much different. Extra non-usa options: pandan ice cream, fried chicken and rice, chicken kari kari or something and spicy/sweet sambal (just means sauce) in the dispensers instead of ketchup. Or instead of gravy if we’re comparing to the Philippines. Prices for food were rather steep (for what we’re used to-chad got some take away from a little shop (warung) for 10k and a burger no cheese at McDs was 14.5k. With cheese 26k! You could get a giant dip cone for 8k! We explained the math to the girls and opted for no cheese and yes please dessert! 14k is 1 USD so none was breaking the bank.

The place we’re staying is lovely and the hostess may even be lovelier. Shes great, though the adjective should maybe be rad. She’s an avid surfer, a musician, a traveler, apparently was on indonesia…or maybe malaysia’s…national basketball team until she hurt her knee…she seems to do it all. And she self proclaims not being able to sit still and has done additions on her house, makes whiskey (sshhh she had to stop because it’s illegal) and speaks English beautifully (very nice for us). She actually reminds me of Jonathan. That struck me a bit from the get go and continues to linger. She’s super generous and helpful and laid back. Her name is Michiko. Sumatran not Japanese, her mom just liked that name. We’ve definitely made ourselves at home.

Our second day here Michiko offered to drive us to the beach (where she was headed to surf) which we happily took her up on. She got us situated at the little warung her friend had where they set up umbrella and lounge chairs for us. We were near the end of the beach (the Sanur beach stretches I would guess 5 miles or so?). Things I should look up. But the resorts stretch along for at least 3 or 4 because I took a long jog along the stone path and it was amazing. We had already been there and walked the path before but is still stunning to me how you could pass one after another after another after another of these exquisite, fancy resorts with their pristine pools, ornate facades, statues, colorful (or muted depending on the fashion de jour) lounge chairs and chic restaurants and they just didn’t end! There were enough people that they didn’t seem deserted, but definitely not tourist season. I hope. Because there seemed to be way too many workers to guests ratio.

So the run was lovely, albeit extremely hot and sweaty and I’m not quite back in running form. But something to work at, eh? Back at the beach we swam/snorkeled though not much to see except sea grass, a school of little black fish in one patch and a fair number of hermit crabs. It was still fun with one girl a piece on our backs and gliding through tropical water. Followed by cards and then chatting with Michiko and the girls playing with shells. Solid outing in our book.

Chad got to go to yoga and the girls and i stayed home and amused ourselves: chin face! Ha! Oh these girls. Oh, and followed by night market dinner…mmmmm.

Today we hung around the house, played in the pool, finished Julie of the Wolves (my voice broke or had to blink back tears only 3 or 4 times…Aly seemed unmoved by the death of Amaroq or the end of the Eskimo way of life) and worked on schooling. We of course couldn’t seem to stay put for the WHOLE day, so we decided to take a walk and try to find out where the kites were flying from. We sort of found out, watched one get pulled in from really really high and it looked like it had been flying from a fishing pole/flag pole in someone’s back yard. So not a big park with a bunch of kite flyers. Sadly. But it did lead us past a sidewalk piled with edamame, the avenue of stalls/shops that seemed to mainly sell raw chicken or alternatively flowers and banana leaf boxes for offerings. Why are there so many people just selling chicken right next to each other, Buoy asks. Good question wee one. Good question.

We splurged and got KFC delivered! 😂 and made mashed potatoes and sauted green beans! So american. Such happy girls.

And what better way to cap the night than with a jam session? Too bad i had to hang up the guitar because its been 6 weeks since ive played and my poor soft fingertips are blistered and sore. Calluses here i come! Luckily Michiko is a fantastic guitarist, probably better we just sing along.