Voyagers @ Sea: (Backup) Day 52 At Sea Sunday February 25, and Day 53 Monday February 26, Benoa, Indonesia (Bali)

I will start out with Sunday, the sea day as we had a rather special sea day. I started out deciding to skip watercolor class and just catch up with finishing some of the paintings that had gone unfinished due to trying to put to much into a day. And I did just that, so that was good. Then we both, went to Barbara’s talk on Bali, and I think that was productive as we both enjoyed the tour the next day more because of it. Then Ed went to the test kitchen, to see Bella Jakubiak make Aussie lamb burgers with beetroot relish, while I painted. I was determined to finish before we had to go to the crafts and make a bonefish bracelet, and for the most part I did.

Now we made reservations for the Sommelier Dinner that night featuring Chef Bella, which probably was not the smartest move, as it made it difficult to get up the next morning, to go on a tour, but I get ahead of myself.

The Sommelier Dinner is held in the Pinnacle dinning room, that is the specialty dinning venue on the Amsterdam, you always pay an extra price to dine there and on this night it’s even more! LOL. It was very nice, we had 7 coarse’s and 7 wine parrings, so now you get the picture, of why it was hard to get up in the morning. We’re haveing so much fun we’re killing ourselfs.

This was the menus:

First Course, Big Easy Chenin Blanc, paired with Australian snapper, lemon myrtle, coconut, wild finger lime

Second course, Laroche Chablis premier cru, paired with beef consommé, oxtail, vegetable pearls

Third course, cloudy bay Sauvignon Blanc, paired with lobster medallion, poached in butter, Espuma of old Amsterdam, saltbush dust

Intermezzo, same wine as above, with lemon sorbet, dehydrated lemon, almond streusel

Fourth course, Meiomi Pinot Noir, paired with duo of veal cheeks & beef tongue, Tasmanian mountain pepper, chili broth, roasted eggplant, jasmine rice

Fifth course, Errazuriz late harvest Sauvignon Blanc paired with vanilla panna cotta, Lilly Pilly berry compote, macadamia crumble

Final course, Warre's Warrior Tawny Port, paired with artisan cheeses, dried fruits and nuts

I’m full all over again, but it was a Dinner we’ll remember, for a long time

So the next morning we got up, slowly, but had to make our meeting time and walk the gaunt let to the bus, beautiful Bali was HOT! We the good news was the bus had good AC and it was a smaller one, so off we went, to see Bali arts & Safari Park, 8 hours, first stop, the Batik factory where besides seeing beautiful Batik fabrics, two of the artists painted with wax on mine and Ed’s shirts, in just minutes, wow what ability.

This is what she used to do my flower, and a man did Ed’s eagle, this fabric starts out white!

So then next stop was the wood carvers,

We were not allowed to take any pictures inside, they did have beautiful work

Then it was on to the Safari Park, this was very similar to Disney, we also had lunch there, and it was good.

I got a nice shot of a lion.

Then it was on to Ubud the artist area, to see some very interesting paintings, we couldn’t take pictures there either, but I got a great idea for a painting, we’ll see if it works out.

Then Lucky our guid took us to see a typical Balinese home, very interesting, not what I expected at all.

The bed in the back is not for sleeping it is for sickness or dying, the above is for washing

This little house in the family compound is for newlyweds, there are no windows, it just looks like windows, they stay there three days, and others bring them food and water. It is also used for birthing, and then the mother and baby stay there for 42 days. Others shop for their needs during that time, and baby’s can not touch the ground for 42 days either.

So when we returned, we did a bit of shopping on the pier and had a good shower, and made it to dinner, then attended the Balinese show, it was really different the costumes were spectacular and so was the dancing, but the music,,,,, not so much