Chilling in Nusa Dua

Please excuse the steam clouding the lens; it's very hot and humid in Bali but breathtakingly beautiful.  The first photo is from our window in the first hotel we stayed, the Bali Aston.  This end of the island is very quiet and less touristy with lots of Europeans and Asians.

It took some time to get used to all the zeros in their currency.   I was amazed that our hotel clerk told us he earns 1 million rupiahs a month until I figured out that's less than $100US.  It's easy to give some one the wrong amount by a couple of zeros so you have to pay attention.

Beware whenever you are exchanging foreign currency.  I met a retired Scottish policewoman who was understandably upset after being shortchanged by a currency exchanger.  After watching the man count out their money, the vendor turned it sideways to straighten it.  She figures the man tapped it on the edge of the counter, allowing part of it to fall to the floor behind the counter.  George always recounted it in front of the moneychanger after he gave it to us; our vendors were honest.

Many of the goods for sale reminded us of Mexico, albeit with a Hindu flavor.  In fact, the people reminded us of Mexicans, smiling, hardworking, and practical, very family-oriented and doing their best to make a good living.  The tropical climate and scenery enhanced the similarities.  Those of you who know how much George loves Mexico understand that's a positive impression despite the bad press Mexico has had lately with the border town violence and swine flu.

Our Airport Limo Service

We started our Balinese adventure with a trip in the Rosemobile.  She and Joan escorted us to the airport in style in Rose's Aussie Winnebago, as she calls it.  Rose and her sister once traveled all the way along the southern coast of Australia and back in this but I don't think I'd want to go that far.  You do see quite a few vans like this in our neighborhood.

Brave New World

Meet Andy, Bernadette, Madison and Francesca, new friends from Leeds, UK.  We met when they were staying downstairs. They sold almost everything they owned and moved lock, stock and barrel to Perth without jobs or a place to live to seek a better life for their children.  

After they arrived, Andy found that tiling is done differently here but is learning how to do it Aussie style by volunteering to work with another tiler for awhile. Bernadette works with the elderly but all the open positions are helping seniors in the community so they would have to buy another car first.   Luckily, they have some savings to rely on but I hope they find something soon. 

 

The girls have adjusted amazingly well and Maddie is loving kindy.  We marvel at their spirit and pluck!

Fabulous Fashion

Excuse the fact that this blog is backwards.  I am still trying to figure out how to post on a Mac and don't know how to rearrange the photos!  : )

Audrey and Evelyn's moms probably didn't know

 what they were getting themselves into when 

they sat at our rowdy table.

Evelyn is a recent arrival to Perth even though

 she's been in Oz for years.  Scottish by birth, 

she also lived in Canada.  We're glad she's here!

Audrey and her mom, Liverpool natives, are extremely fun

and we love them despite the fact they never met the Beatles.

Sue and Fran choose from an array of homemade goodies.

Mary, Margi and Veronica yuk it up over 

Veronica's new discovery, tit tape.

I love Australian fashion because all the styles have a kicky edge that's really fun.  However, I haven't bought a thing because fashion is pricey here.  Luckily, I didn't need to buy to enjoy the fashion show at Veronica's tennis club.  Three of the ten ladies at our table won door prizes.  We laughed when Veronica, incredible Italian food cook that she is, won The Book of Pasta.

   

Anzac with the Girls

Anzac Day is a big holiday in Australia and New Zealand, celebrating the alliance of the two countries during World War II.   Jenny is our only Aussie native in the group but Pauline and Pat also count since they immigrated many years ago from Indonesia and England respectively.  Since I lived in New Zealand for six months, I consider myself an honorary Kiwi.  Veronica is always game for a fun outing.  Besides, who needs an excuse to get together with friends?  Certainly not moi!

Eating alfresco is a popular Aussie pastime so to commemorate the occasion, we went to a lovely sidewalk cafe to share an array of Aussie dessert delights and gasbag, as my neighbor, Spike, calls it.  Wish our friends who aren't here could have joined us!

Hasta Luego Reads

Our friends, Chuck and Nancie, moved back to the States so we had to have a party!  As usual, everyone brought fabulous food and a good time was had by all.

Nancie at the last  AWCP Welcome Coffee she attended,

 looking good as always despite the stress!

An American food theme seemed right for the occasion.  Grilled steaks, chops and chicken along with au gratin potatoes, salads, vegetables & dip, chocolate chip oatmeal cookies, lemon bars and a little Italian dessert from Vito and Veronica, homemade Tiramisu.  Even though it's been awhile, I suspect some of it's still on my thighs.  Sighs!

We Get by with a Lot of Help from Our Friends

Well, thanks to Sherri and Paul, we are back online.  They lent us their Mac laptop because I didn't want to pay $1,000 more for the same laptop here since we will be heading home in a couple months.  It seems our laptop crash was serious stuff and all the data is most certainly lost but we'll find out for sure next week when Ben at Ben Tech gets a chance to look at it.  So, if you haven't emailed us in the last couple of weeks, please email us at dsawc@frii.com so we can keep in touch!

I will post photos as soon as I figure out how!