Baliday...like a holiday only better

Back from an amazing holiday in Thailand and Indonesia with Ian, Saleema and Nodira!

Ian and Saleema flew into Thailand on Sunday, Sept 9th after an arduous 30+ hour journey. They spent a couple days at my place, exploring Vientiane, soaking up Lao massages, and trying some tasty local food. They both recovered remarkably well from the jet lag and perked right up after a day or two. I finished work on Tuesday and we headed off to Phuket Thailand to start our beach holiday!!!

Phuket doesn't have a great reputation as a holiday spot but is in on the beach and is an easy transfer point for most of the West coast Thai islands. We had a harrowing minivan ride from the airport. The most disturbing part for me though was how accustomed I've become to the insane driving. I guess it must be a survival technique, learning to accept just how helpless you are as the van driver squeezes between buses and swerves to avoid motorbikes.

View from the rooftop pool.

Two happy travelers

Pretty swanky digs

It's still rainy season in Thailand and Lao, so while we spent the next morning in the pool and sunshine, it wasn't quite the sunny beach holiday we had all been envisioning. The view from the pool on the hotel roof was pretty amazing though.

The next day we hopped on the ferry to Phi Phi island to meet up with Nodira and hopefully find a Thai beach respite. Alas, the rain clouds followed us and were unrelenting. Between downpours we managed some games of frisbee, some tasty meals and some pool lounging. But with sunshine being the priority, so far our vacation was falling flat.

Our cabana

So we gave up on Thailand, caught the ferry off Phi Phi and headed for Bali. Due to the stormy weather, our ferry ride was more than a little harrowing. I spent the trip seasick and losing my breakfast, while the others were mentally preparing an evacuation route, that we luckily never had to utilize.

We arrive in Bali that evening and awoke to an amazingly beautiful sunny day. We spent some hours at the pool lounging and getting our fix of sunshine, then ventured the 10 minute walk to beach to play in the ocean and watch the surfers.

All in all, we spent a week in Bali. Aside from lounging by the pool and at the beach, we managed a day trip to Ubud, the more culturally significant area of Bali and a day trip to Sanur for some snorkeling. We ate lots of tasty meals and ridiculous amounts of fresh seafood, had some pretty amazing drinks and contributed to the local economy with consumption of Bintang beer and banana splits.

Beach lounging at it's finest.

This one's for Greg.

Ian doesn't take direction very well...

Gelato!

Must hydrate, coconut style.

Rice paddies

Monkey forest....i.e. monkey bites waiting to happen.

Home away from home.

Post holiday stupor

Boogie boarding....planning the attack.

Action shot

One more Bintang please..

Too much Rupiah....and maybe too much Bintang.