Road trip day 1 – trip to Tulamben - 18 February 2008

Bali map showing whereabouts for the day

Awake early again – it is 4.30 a.m. and Anita is awake – the bad news being that her ears are playing her up and that her back is feeling none too good either. The alarm goes off at 5.00 – but I see it going off before I actually hear it – and no – not because I'm deaf – it has a bright light that shines for maybe 10 seconds before the alarm. We make our way down to the breakfast hall at about 5.20 – they are beginning to set it up.

Others begin to drift in – and all of us get some breakfast inside us – and leave to get the bags ready to load up the busses. Funny thing here is that there is no-one around to give us the bills (well Su and John, and Anita and I don't need one because its included for us). Everyone else leaves without paying their bills! Naughty them! Even Nanny and Granddad! (and I wouldn't have thought that of them!). Having said that the amount taken behind the bar in the last couple of days would probably more than compensate them!

Onto our coach – and its about a two hour drive to Tulamben – where we are staying one and a half days. The plan is – get to the hotel – unload the bags – and those that are going diving go diving. Doh!

The journey is great, with fantastic views – of countryside and the mountains and volcanoes. The roads the farther north we go become very winding – and in certain places only just wide enough for one vehicle. At times it is a bit worrying, as the coach tries to overtake a moped laden with just about everything that the driver owns. More than once I feel that we are going to have an accident – but we arrive at our destination without mishap.

Mimpi logo

We are staying at the Hotel Mimpi, which like the Puri Santrian looks very nice. We dive off the bus, as the van with the luggage arrives. The rooms are sorted out and we go to drop off the luggage.

Outside toilet!!!!!!!

As we are checking out the room we are surprised to see a lock on the outside of the bathroom door. I open the door and find out why. The bathroom – well toilet and shower room – is very open plan – so open plan there is only a small roof – the most of the ceiling is missing! It is very quaint – and actually makes sense – no funny smells in the bathroom etc.

The divers get themselves ready – and Anita decides to give it a go. The room is great – loads of space.

The rest of us not diving go and find the pool, and set out towels etc – and get ready for a day's hard sunbathing. There are a lot of hawkers just at the hotel's edge – who will not leave us alone. They cannot come onto the hotel premises – but still make a nuisance of themselves. We move away – which seems to quiet them a touch.

Map of Mimpi Tulambem

It is very hot today – and everyone is quite tired due to the early start we had. People begin to doze – and a few even fall asleep. Lauren and Granddad fall asleep – side by side – on the same sunlounger. Lauren has her hand on her leg, and they both sleep for maybe an hour. When she wakes up – she moves her hand – and she has a white spot where her hand had been! Both Lauren and Granddad are quite red – and start to hide from the sun a little. I lay and continue to read – until the divers return, they having been away from us for about two hours.

Once they are back, and have washed off the seawater with the water from the pool, lunch is going to be served. Lunch is free for the divers – but everyone else has to pay. We wander down the road a little to the restaurant where we are having lunch, which is a small buffet. The kids look none to happy again, but at least some of them try a little.

Quick thing to note – Carole is allergic to seafood – and has asked the restaurant if any of the food is seafood – or has been cooked with the seafood. They advise everything is ok – no danger. (mmm think Bali times – Bali life – Hakuna Matata – sorry wrong film!)

Some of the food is lovely, and once everyone has their fill of the main courses, a dessert plate is given to us. Some of the fruit is wonderful – melon with real taste for example. The kids go back to the hotel (to order "real food"). John, Su, Cathy, Mike, Anita and I sit and chat around the table. As we are chatting – Mike is noshing away at the fruit. He finishes one plate and goes to take a second. Cathy tells him – that if he is not careful he will have the shits! All of us just fall about. Big Matt comes back asking if anyone has got some headache tablets – as Carole is not feeling too well. He is given some and goes off.

When we return to the hotel it appears as if Carole has a case of food poisoning or some such. The other kids are tucking into their pizza and burgers. Once finished its back to the pool – for more frolics, although they are all complaining that the water is not chlorinated, in fact it could be bleach that they are using to make it safer to swim in! Again we can have drinks around the pool, so more reading with liquid refreshment occurs. A very relaxing afternoon for all (well except Carol!).

Pool @ Mimpi Tulabem

As the sun begins to drop towards the horizon – we retire to the rooms – for a sloosh and to put some glad rags on – ready for the evening meal, which we will have in the hotel.

We all meet back together once we are feeling more human – and cause a stir when we ask for dinner for 20! Once again WFSAC rule Bali! Unfortunately we might rule Bali – but some things just don't work. My meal is very poor – the burger was full of gristle – and fatty – and Nanny's meal turns up last – and is cold! After everyone is finished – a fight breaks out over who is to pay the bill – primarily between Anita and Nanny! Everyone else takes the diplomatic route and leaves them to it. We retire to the bar, and have a couple more drinks and we are in bed by 10 o'clock.