England at last!

We'll that was a reasonably easy travel experience.

We left Sydney pretty much on time and I'm very happy to report that qantas business class is very comfortable. We were in the bubble of the 747 Longreach - Lord Howe Island.

 

The change over in Tokyo was good. The business lounge is very well equiped and whilst we did not eat or drink we did have showers and a massage each.

The final leg of our flight was with British airways, not as comfortable as qantas , there are more bus class seats so more crowded, it is better than cattle class. We still managed to sleep.

So after arriving at heathrow, we went in search of our car rental. As Avis and hertz are the only companies in the terminal we took a little while to locate europcar and Alamo. It's a pretty efficient service once you know what to do. We were able to pick out the care from a group of about 20, all the same price. The bags all fit and we are off!

We didn't have far to travel but it was peak hour so the going was a bit slow, we only had to turn around and backtrack once! We were headed into London instead of south. Not to worry we sorted it out and corrected ourselves. It eventually took us about 50 mins to get to Fleet, then another 30 to find our accommodation. There is a lot to be said for NOT booking ahead if you can, you don't have to find anything!

Our room at Tinkers Furze is lovely, it's a double room with ensuite (claw footed bath) upstairs in a quaint house that has been the family home for over 60 years, the proprietor lives next door.

We got our generous sized bags upstairs and went out in search of some light sustenance. The Prince Arthur pub fit the bill perfectly, 2 pints of ale and a light meal of baked potato covered in chilli concarne for Greg and ham and eggs for me. Then it was back to our room to collapse.

We awoke to our English breakfast with 6 different homemade conserves and marmalades, Greg tried everyone! Along with pork sausage, bacon eggs tomatoes and mushrooms yumm! Proper tea too!

Our host is an extremely interesting lady who is well travelled and talkative, her stature reminds me a bit of my dad's mum. The property has a beautiful garden that is teaming with birds, she's a bit of a bird lover with feeders and boxes everywhere, quite pleasant to look out on over breakfast. We saw magpies that are sharks supporters as they have a shines blue back. Pigeons, wrens, sparrows, 6 different tits, and possibly a woodpecker.

After breakfast , we waddled out to the car and set off for Windsor castle. We got waylaid on the way by Royal Ascot, wow you should see the hats and outfits all lined up to get in. I will post photos of our race day later. We had a stop at Runnymede, the birthplace of democracy and something to do with the Magna Carta. Will find out more.

We made it to Windsor and wandered around the township of Eton ( a real Hogwarts moment) across the river before venturing around the castle. The queen is in residence at the moment because ascot is down the road, so she'll be there all week. We did pass a police escorted procession on route to ascot, don't know who but I think...............

 

 

 

 

We were directed down the road to the "long walk" which is near the queens private entrance. No cars allowed, this did not stop Greg though, nor did anyone else! We worked out our error and turned the car around and set off for Dover, a considerable distance away.

 

The white cliffs look spectacular on approach and as we drove around town, we found our way up to Dover Castle. One of the more impressive castles in England! We were thwarted from going into the main tower due to some pesky filming of some movie. We were unable to force any information about who was there and what the movie is, security was extreme and all were uncharacteristically tight lipped! Whoever it was, was onsite though so a close encounter was expected, however unrealised, now I'm determined to find out more.

We explored the medieval tunnels below, this castle has been a strategic fortress in repelling would be conquerers from before napoleon up till WWII.

We left Dover and started our return trip along the coast, to Brighton. We did not realise it is a university town, more modern than the likes of Eton or Oxford. We bought fish and chip and ate it walking along the shore and the famous Brighton pier?

 

Then it was back in the car for the drive home, it was just sunset and about 9.45pm and we had a fair way to drive. We ended up getting home at 11pm...a huge day.

So that's the end of the first couple of days in our travels and as I write this it's just turned 7am by the chimes of the grandfather clock downstairs and we must prepare for Royal Ascot, I'm off to frock up and get in the pimms, catch you all soon.

 

Go the blues!

Yours in racing

Cathngreg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The countdown begins

Having just woken up on the Monday morning of a long weekend, I am sitting in bed thinking about our upcoming trip

Yep, Greg and I are off again, and yes I can hear you all saying to yourselves, are those two ever at home?

We'll, if I had my way, and the money to back me, the answer would be...Rarely! And you know you all feel the same.

So, with some $$$$s saved from my redundancy, we are off to the United Kingdom and Ireland, and for those that know us well, you will be thinking that sounds a bit too standard? Where's the twist, the off the main tourist route? Well, we will be hiring a car and travelling as far north into Scotland that is manageable and practical for us. We will venture into the lands of tiny horses and puffins, you know the little bird on the books! We are headed as far north as the Orkney and Shetland Islands!

We will be attending 'Royal Ascot', rubbing shoulders with the hoi polloi, and maybe catching a glimpse of the Queen, Prince Charles and his wife (the one that looks like the horses running at Ascot). If I come across Prince Harry, I will be sure to point him in the direction of our Kelly, she did say she likes an accent.

Anyway, I have my frock ready with a brand new hat, handmade by 'Sassy' of Sydney, shoes and a 'KK' hand bag for the occasion. Greg will be appropriately suited up for the day.... I will have to find him a boutonnière on the day, but that's a task I'm up for.

Ascot is only 2 days after we arrive, and from here we will head out and follow the lay of the land in the south of England up to and into Wales. Then onto a ferry to the Emerald Isle Ireland, where we might just get to the Irish Derby for a week of oysters and Guinness! Just as well my frock and hat are black and white...

From Ireland we hope to get to the 'Aran Islands', then back to England to continue our circumnavigation. Scotland and Nessie await, north up to the Shetland and Orkney Islands, then back down the east of Scotland and England, and into old London Town.

We have 8 weeks in which to do and see as much as we feel comfortable doing, not too much planned. Stop where we want, drink when we want, eat whatever we want!! We don't mind driving long distances (remembering no matter where you are in the UK and Ireland, you are no further than 72 miles from a coast!!) we are Aussies after all! Gregs beer economy will get a good work out, and there will be photos galore, and maybe a 'little' shopping.

So follow us if you will and we will try to deliver some glorious sights, some tips if you are heading this way, some humor and hopefully a lot of fun.

Stay tuned

Your self appointed travel bloggers

Cath n Greg

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video of tour de Permuteran

Bali 2013 part 3 tour de permuteran.

Maz, Denis, pj , Greg and I took the bikes for a ride up to bio rock for a snorkel. Bio rock is an artificial reef that is being constructed off the coast of Pemuteran beach about 3 km up the road. They have sunk steel frames in varying shapes and sizes and attached low voltage cables to encourage coral to grow therefore creating a man made coral reef environment - interesting and quite ingenious.

On our approach down the final 100 mtrs of dirt road I picked up a puncture in my front tyre, no problem we will have a snorkel and then work out what to do.

The snorkeling was great a bit murky in parts but it looks like it will be a great reef in years to come. Maz and I had had enough and decided to head back, taking 2 good bikes and promising to send Putra back with a car or puncture repair kit at the very least. Maz andmy return was uneventful and we informed Putra of what had happened, and off to the rescue he went. Little did we know at that point this was the start of a comedy of errors.

Putra got the punctured tyre fixed and the boys set off home, Greg's bike, had an issue with its gears being stuck in a high gear, now good for mountain climbing not so good when riding on a relatively, no, no relativity about it DEAD FLAT road, sooo his legs are traveling at a rate of about 100 revolutions a second and his progress is almost non existent. Seeing an opportunity for his latest entry into funniest home videos, pj commenced video and commentary. See attached, warning you may wet yourself.

Greg would like to thank his road crew and support crew for their unfailing assistance in his incredible journey!

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Bali 2013 part 2

We had a fabulous dinner at Sarong restaurant and the next day we decided to layabout the hotel in and out of the pool and not a lot else as we were planning on meeting some more friends at Rock Bar Jimbaren. The Sherrys and another couple, Guy and Robyn, had arrived the day before staying at the Legian Beach hotel. We had heard fabulous reports on this place and had high expectations. The bar is in the Asaya resort, an extremely upmarket place where only the rich and famous can afford to stay whilst the poor and helpless (us) are allowed to visit.

The bar opens at 4pm each day and is accessible via an inclinator which takes you down in groups of 8. They have a dress code and no board shorts, singlets or bintangs tshirts allowed. Dave arrived not having received this message, in a singlet and boardshorts. Ruth, Daves wife raced up to the resort shop and bought him a new t shirt 300,000 rp and as Dave stood on the queue he took his boardies off and turned them inside out so they looked like a plain pair of shorts. At 4.20 we joined the queue, at 4.45 pm we were told that the bar was full and there was no guarantee we would get down, we were however, welcome to utilize any of the other bars on the premises or stay in the queue and try our luck. We opted to use one of the other bars and sat around on the lawn for a couple of hours and enjoyed each others company the t shirt was taken back and dave stripped again in public to turn his boardies back the right way and we paid exorbitant prices for drinks (ie 95,000 rp or about $11 a bintang after tax!). A couple of the group decided to sneak in the back way to get a look. Whilst a nice outlook the reports back were "nothing special"

We decided to head to Gosha for dinner, an old favorite of all of us and so started the trek back via taksi! The normal 80,000 rp cab ride increased exponentially due to traffic and with bursting bladders and a price on the meter of 120,000 we jumped ship and took off at a fair clip on foot to cover the remaining 2-3kms, as the others had told us they were already at the restaurant, they lied!

We had broken land speed records to get there and then sat for around 15 mins waiting for them, the only consolation ice cold bintangs at reasonable prices. The other cab had the same issue with traffic and that group bailed as well at 150,000 rp! With our seafood and steak picked and ordered we sat back and had a good chuckle about the afternoon with our eye on the clock as we needed to get back to the hotel for the imminent arrival of Vicki.

 

We sat in the hotel bar and played pool until Vic arrived at 10.40 then took ourselves off to bed. We had a 10am pickup to Villa semadhi in pemutaran north west Bali. A 4 hr drive that took in reality 6hrs due to the increased traffic because of Ramadan.

The villa, one word, awesome!

 

Massages, staff, pool, beach, boat what more could you ask!

Greg and I on an adventure walk, they're sardines!

Denis, Maz and Vicki on bikes through the villa

On Friday night we went to Tower resaurant for the 'highest level of dining' . The view was amazing. We ate on the 4th level of the tower outside, it was a bit breezy but tremendous fun, food was great, logistically it was amusing watching the staff carry drinks and meals up a spiral staircase passing tourists on viewing platforms, as it is a tower in the national park that looks out 360 degrees around Bali, you can even see Java. To help out the staff, we thought we could move downstairs for desert. This resulted in Vicki knocking the cutlery out of the hands of an obliging waiter on the stairs on the way down, and then being ordered back to our seats to finish our meals....after all, it was the 'highest level of dining' we had asked for, and that was what they were going to make sure we enjoyed. We absolutely did!

Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale........

Saturday morning we were picked up early at 7.30 and driven right up almost to the farthest north west corner of Bali to go snorkeling at mengangen island. Awesome day, brilliant coral and fish, then back to the villa for massage, swim, bintangs and rest. Although, Greg did get adventurous and tried his hand at doing some kayaking.....without much success. There will be a video to have a look at, courtesy of PJ...again, he was the on the spot newsman.

Dinner was arranged at the Frangipani Restaurant, a local place with some good wraps. It certainly lived up to its reputation. Sensational! And they allowed us to bring our own white wine. The staff were helpful with great senses of humor. Unfortunately, They wouldn't sell Net her martini glass? What a great night!

A super early start to the morning on Sunday. Up at 5am to go on our trek with Putra to the top of the very high mountain at the back of our villa. The name of which we have to check up on....In complete darkness, we climbed one of the. Out difficult treks I have seen. It was literally six inches wide in some places, steep, loose stones and covered in stinging nettles and blackberry bushes...and we couldn't see a thing. Only just over a one km walk took us about fifty minutes! But so worthwhile. Without doubt the most spectacular sunrise I have ever seen. Breathtaking, stunning. Even the great photos don't do it justice. The walk back, although in the light, was even harder. Old man Cato really did it thought with those chalky knees of his!

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks Putra!

Next up, a day of cycling, snorkeling & Babi gulang!

 

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Bali 2013 The girls trip that the boys gate crashed!

You're going to Bali, how many time is that? If I had 100,000 rupiah for every time we heard that!

Yes, in actual fact it's our 7th trip to the isle of smiles. This time the BOT girls (bitches on tour for the uninitiated) were planning a week in Bali for our punters club, Bali? The boys said, we'll have ambit of that, thank you very much. Ok come along for a week boys and the girls will stay for 2 - that only seems fair, we don't go on the boys trips away! Although that could change.

 

So currently there are 6 of us here at the Adhi Dharma in Legian/Kuta. Maz and Denis, Annette and PJ, Cath and Greg. Vicki will join us tomorrow (Wednesday) and once the boys head home, Pix will join us for the final week.

We had an unevenvtful flight over this time, no out of date visas, no lost passports, money or anything else to remark on, the biggest challenge was how much we could spend on duty free before leaving the country!

We arrived at the hotel around 10.30 pm Bali time that's 12.30am Sydney time.

Had a quick cleansing ale at the 24hr bar attached to the hotel and hit the hay!

We awoke to a rather overcast day and all met for breakfast, Maz and Denis had already been for a 2 hour walk, had I known I would have joined them and left Greg to snore uninterrupted till breakfast call.

After a leisurely breakkie we decided to find Crazy Donnie at legian to order our outdoor furniture cushion covers, alas after walking up and down the street in which he was last seen numerous times and asking for assistance in some surrounding stores we decided that the brand new Aqua villa and apartments was where his store had been. Oh we'll, we'll head back to the hotel and see if we can find out where he moved to, if he still existed. Fortunately on the way we came upon another store, Star store, who willingly accommodated our requirements and its costing us $130 AU to have our our door dining and lounges equipped with bright green waterproof uv resistant covers, we will see!

With my main task for this trip now out of the way, it was time to hit the pool area and sink some bintangs.

 

As today was our 30th wedding anniversary, I had pre booked a 3 hour couples spa treatment for 2pm. As 2 o'clock rolled around, Greg and I headed off to the spa to be massaged, scrubbed, polished, yoghurted and facialed!

We met the others at our room around 6pm for some pre dinner drinks and then headed off to sarong for a sumptuous dinner.

I will have some photos to upload in the next blog. Stay tuned

Cathngreg

 

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