A hydrofoil took me from Penang,
Malaysia to Belawan, Sumatra; I also left Indonesia
via this route. New Year's Eve was spent on an island in a lake in the middle of
the island of Sumatra. After the celebrations I headed south-west and crossed
the equator; my first visit to the other half of the world. The most memorable
experience was watching orang-utans in the rain forest; it was wonderful.
For 2010 the family headed for exotic Bali. With a 2 and 3 year old it was a risk but Anne
& I coped and in the end really enjoyed ourselves. After 1 week in Sanur we had chilled out but was looking
for the real Bali. Thus Anne arranged a move to the Bali Spirit Hotel, Ubud. This was a great move, the hotel
and surroundings were tropical with the mix of the rich Hindu culture. A memorable day was persuading Anne to
leave the kids with a nanny and to spend the day cycling 25 km downhill through the heart of Bali; this trip
revealed the true beauty of the island. All in all Bali execeeded my expectations.
