We have Visitors!!

Mother Hen & Little Bro arrived yesterday, it is so good to see them! We greeted them at the chaotic Denpasar airport, expecting to find them as zombi-fied as we were when we arrived but they were both completely fine, on a bit of an excitement rush we put it down to!!


The long drive back to our house was great; having new people to talk to about all the different areas we drive through, and a lot of the local customs we see on our drive home...which, I am ashamed to say we take for granted now as we're so used to it! They were the perfect passengers, and they loved their tour guide Gemma & Driver George..we could be in the wrong job..!


We all went for a swim when we got back, again we were shocked by this - when we arrived we dumped our bags and went straight to sleep for 14 hours! They finally flaked at 9am...but, this resulted in them waking up at the un-godly hour of 7am! We haven't been up that early for weeks but today has been great, a full day by the pool and me & Mum even got a gorgeous massage to finish off our afternoon! George cooked us the local dish for our dinner, Nasi Goreng (fried rice) and it went down a treat with our guests! I think the next couple of weeks will be a lot of fun..on our agenda are temples, markets, safari parks, water parks, sea food BBQ and as many massages as we can fit in...


I now also have my kindle, I am already in love and can't put it down! I can't believe how small it is, I was expecting iPad...only trouble is now, I can't stop finding new books I want, my Nan may have created a monster buying it for me!!


Ooh, almost forgot about snake watch today! The staff found a snake in the bushes, wasn't a venomous one though, so no panic. We we're sitting on the balcony and it re-appeared just outside on the grass - it was huge, it was a rat snake or something! But luckily when George went near to it, it slithered off really fast! I also got bitten by an ant today, which really hurt the stupid bloody thing!


Gemma xx

My Week..

This week I have mostly been extremely excited, which has resulted in no sleep which has also meant I have been absolutely shattered! The reason for my excitement...My Mum & Brother are coming to visit for a 2 weeks, they are at Heathrow now waiting to board, we pick them up tomorrow afternoon! Can't wait to see them, it feels longer than 5 months! 


And, if that wasn't enough..my Mum is bringing me the Kindle my Nan bought me...whooppp!!


We have not done too much this week, quiet week as the next 2 will be busy busy, luckily the weather has been absolutely beautiful..the hottest since we have been here, so most of our free time has been out by the pool! I downloaded and listened to my first audio book this week, Michael McIntyre: Life & Laughing. It was brilliant, I laughed, and cried! I definately recommend it, especially on audio!


We decided to get out for the day yesterday, it was our monthly book swap and we decided to go to our favourite place for lunch, it's called Tekor Bali and we go there all the time! We sat on the comfy cushions, George read the Bali Advertiser and I started on the Da Vinci Code from the Book Swap! We had a couple of beers each, and gorgeous food as usual and just chatted about randomness. After we went for a walk along the beach, we walked across the wet sand, the sea was like bath water! It was so hot, don't think I have ever felt warm sea before! Only thing was, we hadn't taken our swimmers so couldn't get in properly! 


Not a very exciting week of activities, but I guess the next couple will definately make up for that! 


Hope everyone else has good weeks, Gemma xxx

What a Wonderous Weekend..

This weekend has flown by, but actually all of our days at the moment are merging, it's difficult to tell..I know it's Monday today, Facebook is famous for "Oh Crap, Monday again - shoot me" Status Updates

We went to Ubud on Saturday, the hippy, arty capital of Bali..and there were definately a lot of 'Ubuders' (George's nickname for them) around, you know the type, baggy tie dyed clothes, John Lennon Glasses, crazy long multi coloured hair! But aside from that, we love it there!

We both had a Spa treatment, me a facial and George had reflexology. It was gorgeous, an hour of relaxation and pampering..what more could you want! Better still, it cost about £8.50 for the two!!

As I was lay for an hour, I started thinking about trip to Bangkok. Particularly, the Ping Pong shows (I mentioned in another post), and the fact that these ladies can make their 'bit's' do, pretty much everything - writing letters was my personal favourite! I wondered...how on earth do you figure out you have this talent!? 

Then I started to wonder about other obscure talents; one I have always wondered about is Pole Vaulting - do they find a stick at the park and try to pole vault over the swings? 

I have actually just Googled this, Googled Strange talents, I have found a comment on someone explaining their strange talent "juggling whilst water skiing" Now, that is impressive! Lol! 

I'm sure there are lots more! :)

Gemma xxx

Relaxing Weekend..

Our view this morning

This morning, I found I had been sent lots of pictures of snow at home - I looked out of the window here, and it's absolutely gorgeous, the very opposite of snow! It has been really humid this week, and we had a HUGE storm last night, which did a cracking job of taking away the humidity! 


Last night, during the storm we had a lot of fun watching one of the drivers trying to get his car up the hill - George was going mad because he was using too many revs (obviously I agreed, as I have no idea when it comes to cars) and this was the reason he was having trouble, then they decided to do a 3-point turn and go forwards! He eventually got it out,  George even had his flip flops on ready to go and help too! 

My Tan Lines!!

Tanah Lot Temple

We have had a quiet weekend this weekend, we went out for sunset on Friday at Tanah Lot, which is one of the most iconic temples in Bali, it's set just off the coast, on it's own little cliff and it's a beautiful place to watch the sunset! I had the most ridiculous tan lines ever on Friday, from my huge sunglasses..which got worse as it got darker, so the picture of us on Friday is ruined slightly! lol! We then got the drinking bug a little bit and remembered a place called Echo beach where they have a DJ on a Friday, so we head off their - only to find that the live music is only on Sunday in low season...we we're a bit disappointed but still enjoyed a couple of cocktails each and an amazing chocolate brownie! Whilst we were sat enjoying this, the wind picked up and the heavens opened! We only had about 100metres to walk to our car but we were absolutely drenched..like drowned rats! We struggled to run, laughing, flip flops and torrential rain are not a good combination! 


We're off to Bangkok for a week tomorrow. We're very excited and have no real plans, so can just explore explore explore..all we know is we definately want to eat a lot of street food and a try eating bugs! 



Hope everyone else has had a fun weekend, and is enjoying the snow! 


Gemma xx

Selamat Hari Raya - Galungan & Kunigan

"Happy Galungan & Kunigan Holiday"

It's Celebration time this week in Bali........ it's Galungan & Kunigan.

The holiday occurs every 210 days and lasts for 10 days. Kuningan is the last day of the holiday.

Galungan is the beginning, and today is the first day of the holiday. I have been reading up about it, and find it fascinating, so thought I would share.

During Galungan deceased ancestors of families come back to their former homes. And, the living relatives must make sure that they are suitably entertained and welcomed. It is believed that they will stay for 10 days, and will leave at Kunigan 10 days later!

Today, all the Balinese women have been preparing the food for the ceremony as offerings to the Gods and the relatives who will be coming back, we we're bought some delicious food (although we have no idea what it all was) they make plate fulls of it. The men slaughter the pigs & chickens, and unfortunately we got to see them killing a pig at the side of the road when we drove out yesterday! It was huge! Not a pleasant sight, but all part of their culture. 

 We drove through the village to and saw just how much they decorate the villages, each family house creates a bamboo pole decorated with coconut leaves and an offering at the bottom, these are called 'penjor' these are supposed to show devotion to the Gods. I really can't explain what they look like, so here is a picture we took yesterday in the village next to where we live ...

Most places are closed now for three days, so we have a nice relaxing few days lay out reading by the pool! Happy Holidays, 


Gemma xxx

Has anyone seen January?

Ok, so just looked at the date and its the 30th January already! I think because it's so hot here, it has made me completely lose track of time, we have had no winter so it still feels like July!


We have had quite a quiet January, which was planned because Christmas was crazy and we have visitors coming out in February so we have had a bit of a detox. Well, the detox which started on January 2nd (1st doesn't count) on the 5th, we went out for dinner and ended up getting home at 6am..somehow we ended up at a club!! 


But, apart from that January has been quiet. I also had that horrific heat rash which lasted about  a week, so whilst I had that I spent all of my time lay in my underwear under the air-con - until a friend of mine suggested natural yoghurt! It was an epiphany - ok, I looked a bit mental lay smothered in natural yoghurt, but it really worked! I am always going to make sure we have a stash of it in the fridge for emergencies from now on!!! 


We went white water rafting too, which was so much fun! Here are some pictures...

This was the mid-way break..we were allowed beer!! 
The rules on H&S are a lot leaner here than in the UK! 
Here you get to see just how much of a midget I am!! 

During the second half, it started to really hammer down and 
the rapids got faster..we couldn't see a thing the rain was that heavy! 
At one point, the guide pointed to a level on a rock, 
and said if the water gets to there and you fall - you die!  
This was really what we wanted to hear lol! 

This was the 4 metre drop at the end. We had to lie down in the raft, 
it was so much fun, definately the highlight of the day!

Gemma xx

Wind, Rain & Snakes..

I have not blogged half as much as I have wanted to the past week or so, this week we have had pretty much a piece of every extreme weather imaginable, which has played havoc with our Internet connection! 


First of all, we knew it would be rainy in January it is after all rainy season, but nothing could have prepared us for quite how much rain we would see! It is literally like someone is holding a bucket up in the sky and pouring it down, never seen rain like it! The good thing is though, that we don't really get whole days of rain, we've had a couple but it usually just rains in the evening, or late in the afternoon..
Then came the wind! So strong, it pushed us along when we we're outside, quite scary driving around as there are so many trees and we saw loads blown down - not to mention one falling on an electricity cable just as we we're driving past it! 
Last night we had the extreme thunder & lightening - lightening bolts that last for around 30 seconds each lighting up the whole sky, which is obviously followed by the thunder...wow, the thunder! I am not really a fan of thunder, I am getting used to it more now, it sounds like the sky is ripping apart and even shakes the house! Last night, there was a huge clap and I found myself doing an involuntary hop across the room to get away from it! I guess, when it shakes the house it kind of feels like an earthquake - or at least the sound does, anyway! 


We had an earthquake here our first week, it was 6.1 on the Richter scale but luckily very deep, but it was such a strange sensation, and although it didn't have a sound, it sounded like thunder, like a rumble before everything else started to shake! It being our first week, I did the complete wrong thing in panic and ran, when actually as our apartment was in a Rice field, I was perfectly safe where I was (George was out at the bank and didn't feel it because the roads are so bad!) After that, I found myself in a bit of a worrying state, late at night if I heard an aeroplane going over, I'd think it was another earthquake, every time we went to the beach I'd be planning my escape - I am a lot calmer now though, and it is not at the forefront of my mind...


No, that has been taken over by the thought of snakes!! It is my own fault, I watched a stupid programme about the deadliest animals in the south east Asia pacific region - and, yep - most deadly snakes can be found here in Bali! I now find myself looking at every pile of leaves, every tree, even shouting at the floor when I get out of the car in case any are underneath!! This is what I do though, I have an obsession and it stays with me for a while and it's all I can think about! I even had an idea yesterday of some night vision goggles, that didn't act on heat they somehow pick up snakes - I have no idea how, but I think it would be a winner! I think this would definately be a good one to take on Dragon's Den! George didn't agree, he said it was stupid - easy to say for a snake lover!! (Weirdo!) 


Speaking of deadly snakes, it has reminded me of a night over Christmas. We went to the Gili Islands, which are a group of three islands off Lombok, absolutely beautiful! One evening we were all sat around the bar there were a couple of locals with guitars entertaining us, it was a really nice chilled out night. Anyway, our friend, a South African diving instructor called Darren, shouted out "there is a snake on the bar" so, naturally I ran (not very far, I ended up standing on a table next to the bar, because here I was safe!?) The local man, had a baby cobra in a bottle and was teasing it, making him stand to attention as cobra's do, bearing in mind, we we're on a desert island, nearest hospital minimum 2-3 hours away and this would kill you in an hour! It turned out, he hunts the old fashioned way, with poison arrows - he had this snake for his darts! We all sat back down, pleased he had put the Cobra away - then, he bought out a sea snake!! This would kill you in 20 minutes! It really was one of the most surreal experiences of my life! Fascinating though, to think that people actually still hunt this way - we thought after, that having those snakes on the bar, was actually the same as him holding a loaded gun, crazy!!


Wow, I have really rambled! Here is a picture of the Gili islands, we stayed on Gili Meno, which is the middle island, there are no cars or bikes - only horse & carriage, walk, or cycle! Can't wait to go back there.

Our favourite place for lunch, looking out through the mangrove trees

Me!

Gemma xxx

Wet Weather Day...

Believe it or not, here in Paradise it rains...it's rainy season at the moment, with January being the wettest month! But, to be honest sometimes it is a nice break from the pulsing heat. 


I have a really bad vile heat rash all over my arms, legs, stomach and neck at the moment...I want to rip off my skin - I have cream, but it's rubbish - just have to ride it out, but urgh it is so hard! I struggle to stay out of the sun, feeling guilty for wasting a sunny day - but, as George keeps reminding me "we live here, there are loads of sunny days" I know, and I hate to admit it he is right..so, I was extra glad for the rain yesterday! 


We decided, that rather than sitting in all day we would have a drive out to the cinema. We checked the listings and we're really pleased to find out that Sherlock Holmes 2: A Game of Shadows was showing. So, we took a trip to the cinema.


It's great here, the tickets are only 40,000Rph which is about £3 - makes a huge difference to the whopping great prices in the UK! The only trouble is, people in Asia are very loud in the cinema - something we learnt when I dragged George along to see Breaking Dawn! They come in late and stand chatting in the ailse, rustle bags loudly, talk...and at one point, the girl next to me was even chatting on her phone! This is just one of the many cultural differences we have noticed..

Anyway, so the film..we loved the first Sherlock Holmes and this one did not disappoint! Robert Downy Jr plays an excellent Sherlock, a bit of an eccentric, extremely clever, but also very funny! (and also I might add, quite handsome for an older man). In fact all of the characters are really good Jude Law (who, for some reason I always get mixed up with Ewan McGregor) plays Dr Watson. Stephen Fry also made an appearance as Sherlock's brother, when I saw him I thought oh no, because I really can't stand him but actually he was good, and played a pretty convincing part. 


I really liked the fact that during the film when they find a clue they sum things up so you are able to follow the plot all the way through it doesn't just leave it until the end to try and figure everything out all at once. The 'baddie' in the film is almost as clever as Holmes, so it is touch and go a few times whether they will solve the mystery.....


It's hard to review a film without giving anything away, so I will sum up by saying I really recommend this film, it was action packed without being a 'boys' film, funny, exciting and leaves you wanting more..(with a little bit of eye candy thrown in) 


Gemma xxxx

Beautiful Bali Sunsets...

I am sat on our balcony looking out at the sun setting over the sea and the Rice fields, and thought that actually, one of my most favourite things about Bali, are the beautiful sunsets we get to see every day.

Here are two of my favourite sunset pictures..

Very short blog post today, it's Friday night so we are going to sit out on our balcony with a few bottles of Bintang (the local beer) and completely chill out for the evening, listen to music, chat and read our books! Wow in England I would never dream of spending my Friday night this way - long week at work; home, changed and straight to the pub!

That's one of the things about Bali, it is literally impossible to get stressed even when we have worked all week! How can you possibly feel stressed when watching sunsets like these!

I don't think so far I have seen an angry Balinese person.....nope, I really don't think I have - I'll have to check with George but I'm pretty sure we haven't! 

This one of me was taken on Kuta beach, every night 100's of people gather on the beach it is one of my favourite places to be at sunset! 

My first Blog...how exciting!!


Hey! I'm Gemma, I have always thought about starting a blog but didn't really have anything interesting enough to say...but, at the moment my life is pretty fun (well, to me anyway) so, here I am! 


The reason for this new found fun is, me and my boyfriend George are living in Bali..the paradise island of the Gods (according to the Indonesian Embassy) but seriously, apart from the God part they're right, it really is paradise! 


I think a good place to start with 'Gem Gem's dreamworld' is to tell you a little bit about me...I am 20-4,5,6...ok, I'm 27! ..this is a running joke between my friends in that I won't ever admit my real age. They, and I have actually forgot what the real number is - but, hey I'm fine with that! 


I have a boyfriend, George - he's a little younger so maybe that's where the age issue comes in, he's 24..so, yes I have a toyboy!


I love Reading, in fact I have a book obsession! Here in Bali we have to rely on book swaps, which is ok - but also hit and miss and they really tank the prices up!! But, so excited because my Nan has bought me a kindle, can't wait to receive it!! I will use the blog to review some of the books I read too...I am a member on Good Reads, which is slowly becoming a bit of an obsession...


That's another about me - I get obsessed with things quickly, like when I read Twilight it took over my life, next came Harry Potter..you get where I'm going with this....


I am not really a fan of TV unless it's America's Next Top Model, I watch it religiously..!


My biggest fear in the world is bones - especially spines! Let me explain that, it's the look of them and the feel - I'm actually squirming as I type - to play leap frog, the person I was 'leaping' had to be wearing a very thick jumper!! My second worst fear is snakes - can't stop thinking about them (obsessive nature) now we're here in Bali...there are lots, venomous too :( 


My friends, and George call me the Queen of Random...I have a lot of random thoughts, which I just have to share with everyone, that could be another thing i blog, hence the name Gem Gem's Dreamworld...I'm in my Dream World a lot of the time!


That's it for now I think...I will be blogging Mainly Bali, Books & My Randomness, hope you enjoy!!