Bali

So here we are almost at the end of our week here in Bali. We got an amazing deal on our accommodation in Tanjung Benoa from one of those online special deal websites. We planned our week here to revolve around very little other than relaxation – hanging out by the pool, sitting on the balcony, maybe the odd massage. For me, early morning runs along the beach. For my husband sneaking out in the evening in search of yummy Padang food.

It’s kinda been what we planned. The resort we are staying at is beautiful. Right on the beach with a gorgeous pool complete with overhanging frangipani trees and plenty of deck chairs. Our apartment is lovely and love the balcony (where I am am sitting right now watching the sunrise). The tropical juices are delicious as is the food, and I have managed a few early morning runs – though found the heat pretty exhausting even at 6am!

But travelling with our three boys could never really be called “relaxing”. The simple combination of CP + ASD + TT ( typical toddler) means it’s just as demanding (if not more) to look after the kids here as it is back home. I learnt that pretty quickly on our first evening here when I braved the pool with the 3 boys while their dad slept off a headache. Armed with swim rings I felt confident and safe. But didn’t take into account M’s overexcitement and insistence on ignoring everything I said and A’s insistence on copying all of his brother’s behaviour. Deciding I had had enough, I turned for 2 seconds to ask a staff where the towels were and turned back to see A had removed his swim ring and slipped quietly into the pool – reaching up to me in a silent scream from under the water. Hate to sound cliched but it really was just like in the movies. Bloody terrifying. Hauled him out by the arm, coughing and spluttering (thank god) and after a long cuddle we all returned to the room, me doing my very best to not ponder any “what if” scenarios.

Fortunately the event seemed to give A a more healthy fear of water but definitely is not an image easily dislodged from my mind! And so I have felt even more on guard than usual.

The rest of the week has passed much more uneventfully with lots of pool, play, relax time and A and I snuck off to Kuta for a bit of shopping yesterday too. Poor M has had some bad luck with his skin flaring up with a bout of impetigo – which hasn’t done wonders for his mood (sigh!) and has kept him out of the pool. It is looking better much today thankfully.

Today is our last full day in Bali and we are on our way to the Safari Park for A to finally, finally see the elephants he has been wanting to see since the day we left Australia nearly 3 weeks ago.