Bali Vacation Days 2-4

Once we got the touristy stuff out of the way on day 1, we stayed at the hotel the rest of the week and just enjoyed the pool and beach. We made an occasional excursion shopping.

Getting braids.

What the Richards' do best.

Please Daddy?

Vacation in Bali Day 1

Day 1 in Bali we hired a driver service to take us to see a couple sites around the Island. After a quick stop at the Carrefour (like a Walmart), we started first for lunch at Tepi Sawah for a traditional Balinese lunch (we actually ate pizza and club sandwiches).

Next stop was the Gunung Kawi temple and rice fields in Tampaksiring.

On the way to the Tirtha Empul Temple we drove through small villages to see the rice terraces. It's a stepped hill that floods rice from top to bottom.

Next temple was Tirtha Empul Temple

And the highlight of the day, the Monkey Forest of Ubud. Theresa cried like a little girl as these moneys roamed about the forest. They would even jump on your back if they thought you would feed them.



We finished the day with a dinner performance at the hotel. The dance performance was a traditional Balinese Legong dance.

Photos From Around Singapore

I love Pasta!!

Okay, maybe that was too much.

Our favorate Mexican resteurant walking distance from home. It's actually pretty good (and take away margaritas!)

Madeline has become a fish swimming nearly every day I am home. She started this week one on one swim lessons from Ms. Liz, an expat British lady who lives in our complex.

Furniture has Arrived

The slow boat to China finally stopped in Singapore and delivered our furniture. I think it was the best gift we could have given Theresa for her birthday. All we need now is space. We have virtually no storage. We have only 6 cabinets in our kitchen, half the size of the ones back home, and we have to store pots, pans, plates, food, and all. The bedroom closet is only 1/4 the size of the master we had back home. We thinned things out pretty good before we left but would have never thought we had brought too much. I'm sure we will be heading back to Ikea soon for solutions.

The movers did a good job emptying the container in a day even though we had a rain delay of 3 hours. They came back the 2nd day and helped us empty boxes. The only damage so far is two broken planters.

All of the boxes are now emptied and everything is at least in their destination room. Madeleine's room is complete with the exception of wall hangings and the play room is all together with big toys already assembled. Madeleine is having a great time exploring while Theresa and I pull our hair out.

Skooter

If you live in our complex you better like kids. Probably more than 50% of the families here have kids under the age of 13. One of their favorite activities is riding scooters like Razors. They go in gangs and you will hear them coming from far away. Soon you will see a sting of 4-8 kids following each other weaving between the landscaping. It's actually kind of fun to watch.

Madeleine liked it so much that we bought her one. Theresa had a hard time convincing me but she finally won - and was right - Madeleine loves it. She's pretty good at going straight but hasn't quite picked up the steering concept.

Regular Schedule

We are finally getting into a regular schedule. Madeleine now goes to Gymboree on Tuesday mornings for an hour long art class. She then goes to Little Gym on Thursday afternoon for an our of the Beasties gym class. It's even the same program she was attending at home.

It's been a learning experience watching how other parents from other countries interact with their kids - or don't. Most places we go are populated with other foreign families, not too many Singaporean families hang out places we go. The first class they went to Theresa was the only parent and all the other kids were with the Indonesian or Phillipino nannies. The next class was full of parents but all foreigners from different European countries. There was even an episode between a couple parents (together) and their kid where the teacher basicly asked them to leave.

Groceries shopping with Madeleine has always been a challenge as she hates sitting in a shopping cart. We found a solution . The grocery store is in the same building as Gymboree and on Sunday evening they have free play. So, while Momma goes shopping, Maddy and Daddy go the Gymboree for an hour. As a result, she sleeps like a rock and Momma gets the shopping done in half the time.

Slow Boat to China

We can't seem to get good information on when to expect our container. Looks like it may be 1st week of July before we have everything. It's getting old living on our scant selection of rental furniture including the rock hard bed. The whole place echos since the floors are marble and walls concrete. We have found a couple nice places for new furniture but we are waiting for everything else to arrive so we can figure where everything should go.

The worst thing about it is Madeleine's room. The poor girl is sleeping on a twin mattress that is on the floor and the only thing else she has is a night table and lamp. She doesn't mind going to sleep but she wakes up way too early and won't stay in her room. Hopefully once she gets her things she will be more comfortable and won't mind staying in her room in the morning like she did at home.

Thanks God for Ikea. There are two in Singapore and it's become a great source for dishes, rugs, plants, and other things we normally wouldn't buy from Ikea in Houston. Headed there today for storage shelves so we are ready to unload boxes when they arrive.