An amazing start to an amazing vacation.
Craig, Katherine, Mario, Di announced that they would be having some vacation time in Bali - could we come? Could we? Hell yeah! First time for us and all the kids to be together in something like 6 years, so one not to be missed.
Craig/Katherine were in Lombok first, and Mario/Di were in Bali when we arrived having been there a while. We then have to depart on the Tuesday sadly and others go home too and others go on to Gili Islands. But we have managed to get a total of 6 days together anyways.
A HUGE 6 bedroom villa booked in Seminyak that I'll get to but our first day and night was at W Hotel, Seminyak. OMG you are gonna love this one. We had such a nice time here, beautiful place, amazing people looking after us - and of course great friends to just put icing on the cake, an a bloody big cake it was too!
Here is Amy on arrival awaiting a free room at the hotel. Nice decor isn't it, and this is just day time. You should see it at night. All pinks/purples, Amy's favourites.
OK and now yours truly facing back the other way to the bare and lobby. Nice bar, that you may see a few more shots of as this blog progresses on. But boy did I make a big mistake wearing jeans as this was HOT HOT when we arrived.
Oh here's one of the bar again, told you told you. This is actually one of quite a few bars, funky funky. Cool Bintangs on draft - why thank you!
A little bit of panorama to show off the view from the reception area. Nicely done W. Beach in the background there a spit away, comfy seats galore, a black tiled pool to deliver luke warm waters. Luke warm as in warmer water than I would shower in in Singapore. Lovely lovely!
Here it comes, here it comes;
"Facebook, Facebook" the tribal chant, that has to accompany every blog I seem to write now.
Nice pics Mary, Queen of Sheba style, lazing on the chez lounge supping on cocktails. Not a bad first hour in the country.
This was just amazing. The boys have not all been together for something like 6 years, and look they just jelled immediately - almost like walking in to a conversation they had started the evening before. Quite incredible. Best mates immediately.
And I have to say likewise with us. Straight in there. Kindred spirits, popping an immediate beer and sitting to chat - delaying lunch for more important things (sorry kids) - yes adult catch up time.
Nothing has changed, same friends, same thoughts, same loves - even Di still shutting her eyes for every photo - ha ha (love ya Di).
Always have to have some shots using the flashy underwater mode of the camera. Come on bear with me. Why buy it otherwise. So a couple of mandatories, but still pretty good I think - ha ha!
Once checked in and changed to swimming apparel we wander down to take our place at the pool, order beverage, order food, and sit chat, swim chat, eat chat, play chat - just lovely. Palm trees providing the all important shade for a rest from the sun, but still just somewhere to stand and watch and soak all that is happening around. A pretty damn beautiful place I think you'll agree.
Oh dear me, a 100 yd (tops!) walk to the beach below. Now that's not bad is it. Ahhhh Seminyak.
Exit past the big 'W' of course and here she blows.
Well hello ladies. Boy band in town, maybe a troupe of male strippers? Ding Dong Boys. I think even I would pay to go see these guys!!!!!
NAH - it's me and Mario, chilling with a cold one - seriously any more laid back and we'd be floating on the pool. So surprised we're still upright. Yes I know what you are thinking not just because we're laid back, and actually are those rosy cheeks just from the sun - cough cough. Of course a few local beverages were consumed, come on we haven't seen each other for over a year, lots to catch up on ha ha!
To the rooms to change and shower for dinner, but first spin round to catch sunset disappearing in to the sea. Supposedly the best in the world are in Bali. Well gets my vote, that's pretty stunning is it not!
Also the bar at night - hmmmm, what you think. Kind of chic night club with palm trees and no roof. I like. Tomorrow we hear as well the 80/90's singing/DJ Omar is playing out at W, so we got free tickets - watch on friends. We actually met him a few times before the show as he was staying in the hotel. And from his walking ability and speaking ability I really think he was enjoying himself! Go for it Omar how could you not friend!
Back to the room and probably the nicest door numbers for a hotel I've seen. Look at these things. We were in room 309. That's pretty amazing isn't it. The minute detail in this hotel never ceased to surprise!
Remember I showed the bar when we first arrived and how cool it was ay night. Well here you go. We were waiting the guys to then go to a beach restaurant - a walk down the beach in fact - Potato Head, so stopped to have a quick bevvie. NICE. If you like neon changing colour bars that is! Not much text to write here, just to look at the pics of us having fun.
F, F, F, F - OK not FaceBook then Mary -
How about F, F, F, F - "FLIP-FLOPS!!!!!!"
This is rather cute, it's actually a sofa right at the entrance of the hotel.
Like a basket of material eggs, and of course once the kidlets knew it is not a "work of art", but indeed something to "lounge" in - BOOM. Yep, kid soup!
Although number 1 son, puts a different spin on things with one of the eggs. Careful Ollie, all that straining mate, you'll be singing the high notes from now on!
On to the beach and a slow walk, oooh 4-500 yds to Potato Head - really all that way, come on you can't be serious. I wanted to go somewhere nice that was closer. Please!!!!! Hmm OK, 500 yds is alright walking the shiny, glittery beach, under the moonlight, stars a twinkling, waves a crashing and friends in tow - OK that's manageable (cough cough!!!!!)
Di, could not handle the pace clearly and fell asleep early, or perhaps it was just a power nap! In her defence m'Lud we were sat on day-beds and it was something like 2200. But cool restaurant or what, days beds all round, one for adults + Amy, and one for the boys. Quality!
Needs some explanation of this shot. Behind us (ignore the umbrella) is the pool, the pool bar (you can just see), and to the right is literally the sea and beach at the end of the infinity pool. Yeap, we're eating and fine dining on a bed on the beach (almost). No sand between toes, but pretty damn close!
Clearly having a ball sat alone, and being treated as quasi-adults the chaps are chilling and chatting too. OK assisted by iPad, iPod, PSP and other electronics and even one time iPood but that's another story for another time!
Remember the pool, the infinity and the beach/sea - does this give a better idea? Bit dark I'll give you that. But we're in a restaurant with circa 3-400 others, a restaurant the size of a small town with its own light-pollution problems taking a beach of a moonlit beach. I am SURE you get the picture, we're 30 yds from the sea having dinner. NICE.
And nice it was kids on wagyu beef burgers, me and Marion on duck confit, girls I am so sorry I forgot - too engrossed in my grub and about 15 Bintangs. Anyways it's all about the company too. A great night for young and old!!!!
See what I mean, here's the young having a a great time lounging after eating. Love the little bed tables they bring to serve food and drink. Sort of hospital, but good food and no sutures. After this a wobbly walk back, as the sand is very very soft (cough) and to bed after a couple of roadies for Mario and I, having bumped in to Omar and agent at the bar! Chats of England, London, 80/90's and Bintang. I felt about 20 years old, then saw myself in the mirror and went straight to bed to sleep off that illusion!
Day 2 at W - the breakfast of all breakfasts!
Sitting in a room with a candelabra like this - like a massive rambutan (local fruit like a lychee but hairy) hanging from the ceiling, cow hard carpeting from floor to 100' ceiling, al la carte AND buffet inclusive, the best coffee, foie gras (OMG), bloody mary shots and it went on and on. An amazing breakfast indeed!!!! B&B's in Margate, you have a LOT to live up to!!!!!
Then to a lucky break, an extended to 1300 check-out so a long lounging morning, lunch and early afternoon before check out and off to adventure number 2 the villa Craig/Katherine and kids, Pete/Deb and kids for another 5 days in Bali.
BRING IT ON!!!!!
Yeap all together and all finding the egg basket now! Seriously you have NO idea how hard it was to take this picture. As in getting all four to sit still and face me. Like herding kittens, believe me!
Yes oh "Queen of the pool" I would have come and dropped grapes in your mouth as you lounge catching a few rays in your floating ring.
Sorry how old are you again oh Princess. Did you say you wanted a cocktail too?!??!?!?!?!
Hold on a minute here's another. Princess of the pool number two in fine form. Retired iPAD at feet, or just hiding it for an FB shot, not sure. Either way, how relaxing was this!!!!
UNTIL ......................
Yep the kids found a rubber ring big enough for 3 - here we go. Mayhem kicks in and BOOM.
Notice the pool police with the dark glasses in the background watching on. I think that was some energy drink or something ensuring he was fit enough to dive in and save children in distress. Others in the trade know it as something called beer. Still it has the same effect; loads of energy, focus and attention and of course side effect of smiles and enjoyment. I must try some of that myself!
Oh bugger me I did.
I did with the security guy too, and adopting his style decided to have dark glasses, one of those energy beers and to actually have it under water.
Hey why not, in for a penny in for a pound!
Rub a dub dub three kids in a tub, Charlie and Ollie and Amy!
What's that song????
"Oh I wish I could fly .......???"
Er "I wish!" - I think Amy has achieved the first un-aided human flight here. Weeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!
Obviously after a while the kids started to wain and feel tired. So one or two of them needed a little afternoon nap - he he (sorry babe! Could not resist this one!)
Two more photos - is that Luca?
Also looks like my great mate Goffy to be honest, but he wasn't with us so it has to be Luca.
And final one before we trip to the villa is those bloody strippers again!
Slightly more tanned now and slightly more "relaxed" shall we say - hopefully not too relaxed for their performance tonight!!!! He He!!!!!
What a great DAY!
