Bali Day 5: Surfing Class

We were undecided on the surfing classes. There is a surfing school right in HR hotel and they charged IDR600k per pax after discount for our big group. This is also the rough rates for reputatable surfing schools when I checked online. I read mixed reviews about the need for good surfing schools and did not book in advance in case all the kids decided against surfing.

I brought my exercise gear on this holiday and had the chance to hit the treadmill before meeting the girls at 8am to check out the waves. Looking all healthy. Yeah!

We would decide if we should sign up for the class after checking out the waves.

There were 2 classes for the day at 8am and 2pm. The class timings were based the tide. It would be dangerous if the tide is too high. The staff had advised the 2pm slot as the tide was receeding then and perfect for kids.

There were people taking lessons when we visited the beach. It didn't look that bad and it was decided that we would sign the kids (less ER and lollipop) plus Auntie S and J gorgor up. The staff also agreed a full refund if we eventually decided that it was too dangerous for the kids. Additionally, they agreed to give us 1 instructor for the 2 adults and the kids will get their personal instructor. I like how they made business, with the kids' interest at heart.

Daddy Lim and the kids were still in bed when I went back to the room to collect them for bfast. Yummy pick and choose - the kids' favourite. It was finally different from the villa's toasted bread and a lot of eggs.

The sky was gorgeous that day and we just had to take picture with the iconic HR structure.

Time past so quickly and soon we gathered for the surfing lessons. They started their "surfing class" early.

We thought that we would be the only ones but there was a huge group of people learning as well.

When the lesson started, we were brought to the swimming pool. The participants went through a safety briefing. While it was super important to be attentive, Zaky was playing with sand. Zzzzzz.

Then, they were taught how to paddle and to stand up on the board.

We busied ourselves with picture taking. Haha.

Practical lesson 101. Into the water to practice paddling.

Soon after, we headed to the beach to start the action.

The kids were assigned an instructor each. The next moment, they were pushed into the sea. It was seriously hard work for the instructors. The kids merely lie on their board while the instructor pushed them out, helping them to ride waves. The waves were no joke. The kids forgot all about their paddling. No wonder we had to pay so much for the lessons; it was brutal work. 

Their worried parents stood by the shore shouting words of encouragement.

Ok, we did sneak rest too. It was hard work in the sun.

They eventually all got it and managed to stand up on their surf board. There were quite some incidents too - going under the waves, eating sand, crashing into other surfers, abrasion, knocked over by their own surf board.... everything. Still, we couldn't be more proud.

The class was supposed to be 3 hours. The actual surfing probably 1.5hrs and the kids didn't last that long. They took rest in between and by the end of the hour, nobody wanted to go back to the water. Who can blame them when it was that hard work?

The instructors were all very nice and patient with the kids. I only heard Zaky's instructor's name - Theo. Zaky was really scared in the beginning, the waves were really intimidating. He eventually gained enough confidence to stand up on his board but reminding Theo times and again to only select the small waves. Lol. Theo said that Zaky was good, that he could stand up 14 out of the 18 times that he was launched. He also said that we could come back and learn from him the next day without going through the school and he would only charge INR200k. He asked us to come back about 11am the next day if we were keen.

The Liow family and Lee family were leaving in the evening. We had the iconic shot before bidding goodbyes.

And said hello to the towel dog waiting for us back in the room.

Dinner was Chinese food near to the hotel. In Bali, the touting took place in an interesting way. The vendors do not approach us directly but beckoned us from their stall. They will only officially approached us after we had selected them. The Chinese food eating place is a big open space with stalls surrounded. While deciding, all the vendors were waving at us, trying to catch our attention.

I was dead tired though I didn't surf. Lol. By 9pm, I was knocked out. Daddy Lim still had the energy to go for his massage with Uncle C and enjoyed the live band after that. I was long in lala land by the time he was back.

Mummy Lim

Bali Day 4: HardRock Hotel

I was deciding between Bali Dynasty, which we last stayed and HardRock Hotel. We eventually decided on HR and it wasn't a choice to regret.

Bfast on the 3rd morning was a breeze - eggs and more eggs please. We did last minute packing and left the villa at 10am. Goodbye to the villa that provided us with such comfortable stay for the last 3 nights. It was such great fun with the big group.

It was the same mini van that took us from the airport and was again a tight squeeze. I sat with Zaky and the girls and almost lost my life - the kids tortured me. Sob. I wanted to have nothing to do with the kids for the rest of the day. Lol.

I must be the happiest person to finally arrived at HR. While we were checking in, the kids were so noisy, running around playing tap and screaming at the same time. I pity the other hotel guests.

The rooms were not ready except for the Chan family's. We headed out for lunch shortly after our Welcome drink.

Restaurants and shops lined the street and the sun was shining brightly, it was so different from Ubud.

While waiting for lunch to be served, I brought Zaky for a walk and he was lured into a shop that sells imitation basketball T-shirt. The sales was so quick to leech him to buy a T-shirt, asking him which team he likes and which basketballer he hearts. They are pro. Within seconds, Zaky was presented with a Jordan shirt. I was quoted IDR600k, which is a freaking S$60! With this kind of quote, I didn't have much idea how much to bargain. I eventually paid INR150k and still left feeling that I was a carrot head.

After lunch, the kids wanted to try the fish spa.

It was funny how they were all screaming in agony and excitement at the same time. At one point, Auntie J took ER's place and all the fish went to her, leaving almost none for the kids. She had so much dead skin on her feet.

We didn't have any agenda in the afternoon, which also meant that it was swimming time! HR has a few slides.

The water was so cold but the kids seemed not to be affected at all. Seriously, if we didn't stop the kids, they can soak in the water the entire day.

The kids adjourned back to the room for more soaking in the bathtub. The room was awesome with 2 big beds.

Zaky didn't soak long in the tub though bcos there were quite some good free movies to choose from.

We had dinner at HR Cafe.

The dinner ended with the live band back at the hotel.

It was an awesome night and the beds were so comfy. We all slept well.

Mummy Lim

Bali Day 3: Bali Treetop Adventure

We had a wonderful time at the Bali Treetop Adventure the last time and knew that we just had to come back. The villa owner helped to arrange for a full day transport.

I chose to wake up slightly earlier to quietness that didn't last very long bcos Zaky came and disturbed my peace soon after. Chey. It was a cloudy day but at least no rain!

Bfast was a lot more efficient the 2nd day - just give us toasted bread and a lot of eggs.

We set off at 9am and Treetop Adventure was 1.5hr drive away. The ride turned painful when the kids started getting bored and grew grumpy and noisy. We were so happy to be finally arriving and let out of the mini van. The air was super cooling given the high attitude. Super nice.

While the parents signed the indemnity and paid for the adventure, the kids pretended to practice or monkey.

It wasn't too crowded and we were done with the payment shortly and all harnessed up. We had to go through a safety briefing and a mock circuit to get use to the hooking system before we were allowed to explore the circuits. 

There were different circuits with different level of difficulty, distinguished by colours, going from yellow to green to orange then blue, red and finally black. The green, orange and blue circuits each comes in 2 levels. The kids needed to be of a certain height for the more difficult circuits. 

When we were there the last time, Zaky could only manage the green circuits bcos he was too little physically. This time, we hit the orange circuit immediately. Lil Shauna tried the orange circuits the last time and went directly to the lower blue circuit this time. She complained that it was super tough. Lol.

The drizzle came midway and the cables were super slippery. Luckily nobody fell. Probably bcos of the rain, we were also surrounded by mist/ cloud at one point while we were high up in the trees. It was super nice.

Zaky completed both orange circuits while Lil Shauna tried the lower blue and higher orange. For the last one, Lil Shauna decided to go on a green circuit with Boo, leaving Daddy Lim and I to go on the lower blue circuit with Zaky. It was fun and more physically challenging. Zaky needed a lot of help; there were times that he couldn't reach to hook up or was left hanging after he was hooked up. Bcos we helped, the circuit was completed so quickly. Yeah, lower blue conquered.

The staff didn't seem to be tracking time. However, 3-hour was just nice. By then, we were all tired and hungry for a good lunch. It was great fun.

The driver brought us to the same buffet lunch place that we last went in our last Bali trip; there must be some commission tied up. The food wasn't too bad or maybe we were too hungry from the workout.

Zaky fell asleep shortly after lunch and was angry when we woke him up at the strawberry farm only to realise that it was not the season and there was no strawberry to pick. We eventually decided to visit the Monkey Temple instead.

We were told that there were over 600 monkeys and the staff will feed them sweet potatoes in the morning and bananas on the evenings. We were not supposed yo touch the monkeys but they may choose to climb on us. Even though so, still no touchy. Daddy Lim and Auntie J had one each that climbed onto their head. They must have special "smell" to attract monkeys.

We were not allowed into the actual temple grounds. The opened area for the roaming monkeys wasn't big and we were done in less than 30 mins.

Auntie H and Uncle C were telling us the great crispy duck that they had in Bali 10 years ago. The driver then arranged for us to try crispy duck for dinner. We were given a gazebo seating that is built on the lake and the kids went crazy over the koi fish.

The restaurant serves western food and the kids had their pasta since a long time. Their appetite finally picked up; Indonesian food is not their thing for sure. The food was great and so was the ambience despite all 14 of us squeezed in 1 tiny gazebo. 

We headed back to the villa after dinner. The driver helped us arrange for more massages and Lil Shauna's little hand shot up really quickly while we took count for order. Lol. 

It was our last night at the villa. It has been very enjoyable at the villa bcos we had such great companion. There was always something to do, somebody to chat with. Thumbs up!

Mummy Lim