Day 1 Sunday 13th August
Early start, well the hotel was a wee bit noisy....Took romantic walk into Kuta along the beach and found two very nice girls who offered to braid my hair for only £80. Bargain! After some serious bargaining, continued with some much needed retail therapy (well it has been five months in Balikpapan!) and sampled traditional Balinese drinks (banana milkshake, fresh pineapple juice and avocado coffee - don't ask.)
	Before...	...After!

Day 2 Monday 14th August
	Changed to quieter hotel room after another sleepless night. With cameras at the ready, took whirlwind tour to discover 'Real Bali'. First stop was traditional Balinese dancing, viewed with about 200 other tourists; second was Hindu Temple visit. Next - Batik printing, Ikat weaving, jewellery making, wood carving and Balinese painting - all (supposedly) hand made... Lunch was traditional Indonesian buffet by dormant volcano Gunung Batur. Day rounded off with stunning views of rice fields.

Day 4 Wednesday 16th August
	Alex went for morning run on beach, Sophie stayed in bed. Left hotel at 8.00 am to go rafting with 5 Aussies....excellent! Lunch was (another) Indonesian buffet. Alex not well (twisted ankle, pulled shoulder, sunburnt, flu and dodgy knee) whinging, grumpy etc.

Day 5 Thursday 17th August
Left hotel for Benoa at 8.00 am. Had lunch on boat whilst sailing to East Bali. Saw double Ikat weaving and traditional Bali Aga village at Tenganan. Back on boat, weather windy and rainy...		...Sailed to Lombok, crossing 'Wallace Line' (marks transition of flora and fauna between Western and Eastern Indonesia). Everyone seasick, so went to bed. Alex still ill and grumpy.

Day 6 Friday 18th August
	Alex not grumpy anymore! Sophie grumpy instead. Had 'cool' shower (freezing cold) and breakfast before leaving boat for day trip around Lombok. Saw Temple with monkeys, more ******* Ikat weaving. Had (yet another) Indonesian buffet lunch. Back on boat, read books and relaxed whilst boat sailed past Gilli Islands and overnight to Satonda. Did a spot of stargazing - saw Milky Way, Sagittarius and several Southern Crosses (I wonder which was the real one). Slept outside, under the stars. It would have been romantic, had we not both fallen asleep within seconds of lying down....

Day 7 Saturday 19th August
	Had late breakfast and went to Satonda Island (a volcanic cone) for snorkelling and sunbathing. Sophie tied hair bead to tree by crater lake - when the bead falls into the water, Sophie's wish will come true (top three for Southampton FC...?)		Back to boat for lunch. Spent rest of day reading and relaxing. Choppy sea, but slept soundly. Overnight sailing to Komodo.

Day 8 Sunday 20th August - KOMODO ISLAND
	Watched sunrise over Komodo Island whilst having breakfast. Landed on island at about 8.00 am and trekked for 40 minutes. Saw three Komodo dragons, which were awesome, but a little bit scary - says Sophie. Also saw wild orchids, huge spider and cockatoo ("How did you know THAT cockatoo would be in THAT tree?" - Question from American - did he think it was nailed there or what??)
	Sailed to other side of Komodo, for snorkelling, kayaking and lazing at Pantai Merah (Red Beach), so called because of the red coral. After sunset, had beach BBQ on neighbouring island - apparently Komodos can't swim that far. Entertained with traditional Indonesian / Scottish / American music.

Day 9 Monday 21st August
Arrived in Bima (capital of Sumbawa Island). Visited traditional market. Saw traditional Bima wildlife on bus trip (monkeys, crashed horse and cart, run-over cat) to Wawo village...		...Saw head bashing dance, rice sorting dance, tour of traditional Kampong house and rice storage huts. After lunch, back to boat by local transport (uncrashed horse and cart.)

Day 10 Tuesday 22nd August
	Boat stopped near fishing village Labu Mapin - so had to wade through water to get there...
...Greeted by schoolgirls who presented us with flowers...		...Escorted by Lubis and Eno to village to see local dance. Given coconuts to drink...
	...Taken to school and mobbed by schoolchildren. Had lunch on boat and went to Kolong Island for snorkelling (but coral already killed by fish bombing) and attempts to waterski!

Day 11 Wednesday 23rd August
	Last day! Spent morning snorkelling at Gilli Nanggu near Lombok - more dead coral. After lunch, made final sailing to Bali. Crossed Wallace Line again, everyone seasick again. Arrived back in Bali for three more days of sun, sea, sand, shops, surf, and anything else beginning with 'S'.....