There are so many things that as a parent we want to give to our children, however there are some times that this isn’t possible, due to time or money etc. But boy am I glad to have given the girls the gift of a love of travel. To be able to have an open mind and excitement about seeing places that are new, unfamiliar and exciting is an incredible thing.

This trip is one that will again bring unique experiences for both Boston and Jamei, and to share these memories for a life time is absolutely a treat! We wake up on our last day with what was supposed to be a fairly relaxed day. I’d woken up in Seminyak and found my way home on the back of bike, many thanks to the staff at a small coffee shop who ordered one in for me.
I arrived back and Boston and I had some breakfast downstairs while Jamei slept off her late night. She needed to check out and move all of her stuff over to our room as I had organised to have it until about 7pm so we had the ability to shower, relax etc before we headed off for our red eye flight at 10pm.
Today was yet another tattoo day, but this time for Boston. Yes my 16 year old got a tattoo. We were planning on waiting till she was 17 which is when her sister was allowed to get her first, but she was vey keen indeed. So rather than it happen behind our backs, it was better to have an element of input and control in what she chose, where she would get it and who would do it. We set off in a cab for Kuta, back to our friends at Golden Ink tattoo. Boston’s sense of adventure and love of travel helped guide her decision on what to get. She is excited, and a little nervous about the pain and how she will go. But knowing Boston, she’ll be perfectly fine. She is a tough kid with a high pain threshold.

She was quite fine as Mancu tattooed the cutest little aeroplane on her hip. This girl is going places for sure. I feel like Boston is definitely an adventurer like me. Earlier this year she went to the USA on a group travel experience where no parents went. She opted in for this without hesitation. She is confident, friendly and open to new experiences – it also helped that it was to California and Disneyland was on the itinerary.

It wasn’t long before it was done and she grins from ear to ear as she stands up and admires the reflection of it in the mirror. She is then asked to pose for a picture with a sign that is specifically for those getting their tattoos for the first time. Tattoo virgins. The shop assistant and Mancu are all smiles and laughter and he takes another picture of the tattoo for his Instagram page.

Boston and I set off to grab some food. In past experiences with Boston and piercings, she can sometimes feel a bit faint, so we thought we would go somewhere close by. We returned to visit Blacky’s bar and once again we got the royal treatment. Boston has certainly been the centre of attention in the restaurant. Made (Douglas) is there teaching us more Bahasa as well as telling us more about life here in Bali. He introduces us around to a couple of the other staff. Including one of the tattoo artists that work above the bar. He shares pictures of some of his work and tells me to visit when I am back next for another tattoo.
Over lunch we make some plans for the rest of the day, which includes Boston having her hair rebraided and I was very happy to have a foot massage while that happens. Jamei still not yet surfaced, but we pop our heads in on the way home. She is wanting to do some last minute shopping so she tells us to let her know when we’re done and we can head out.
The first place we go, Boston has a ‘Learner Braider”. So while I very much enjoyed my foot massage and ear candle (by the way, that is the grossest thing I have seen), she is not a fan of the job that has been done. So we do a spot of shopping followed by the search for a replacement braider. We actually head back to the place that she had it done earlier in the trip,
The place was absolutely packed and the only 2 seats free were where Boston will sit for her braiding and one other seat that I take. She is much happier and gets comfortable, being asked if she’d like to put her feet up. She giggles, but decides to do it nonetheless and settles in for the next hour while her hair is being done with precision.

As I look around the shop there are all kinds of people here. Men getting beard trims, hair cuts and pedicures. Women having hair treatments, manicures and braids. Then there are a group of children that appear to be without parents. Then I notice an Indonesian lady interacting with them all. Seems she is their nanny while the parents are back at the villa relaxing in the sun. She was in control of the money all the kids were spending which determined what they were able to do. Some of them actually opt for the fish spa too. I lament as to whether that is something that I would ever do, not the fish spa but getting a nanny to enjoy all the experiences of Bali without me. Half the fun is seeing this place through their eyes. Precious memories to be missing out on. Not a judgment on those families that chose to holiday in this way, but it’s just not something that I would do.
It seems Boston is going to be a while so I attempt to make contact with Jamei to entice her out of bed to get started on the shopping she needed to get done. No response, so I decide to head across the road for a much needed coffee. While I enjoy the coffee I don’t enjoy the feeling of the seat dripping down the back of my calf.

Eventually Boston is nearly done and it also seems that Jamei has arisen from her day long slumber and hangover recovery to arrive at the spa ready to shop. Boston is much happier with this braiding attempt so she thanks them happily and we can head off to do some final things before we go to the airport. Boston doesn’t stay with us long as she has done all her shopping now and is keen to enjoy the sunshine and view from the roof top pool area. However she won’t be able to take a dip with her new tattoo in its first stages of healing.
Jamei and I set off and get through the shopping list she has quite quickly. She even tries her hand at bargaining a little too. We have decided that we might head down to On the Juice one final time to watch the sunset and farewell our new friends there. It wil also give me a chance to thank Bam for taking care of Jamei at La Favela last night. It seems he sheilded her newly tattooed arm from the bumps of the crowd, as obviously it was still very tender.
We make our way down realizing there wasn’t that much time before our driver would arrive so we couldn’t stay long at all. On the walk down we watched numbers of people on bikes with massive kites they plan to fly on the beach. It’s an incredible sight as they bike down the road holding them above their head. I have seen them in sky but didn’t realise quite how big they were. They litter the slowly darkening sky, making their shapes easily recognisable as silhouettes.

We say hey to everyone and they all recognise us from the night before. We enjoy one last drink and the gorgeous sunset befor farewelling everyone and Legian Beach for the last time this trip. We are obviously all going to be back again, but we are all sad that our trip is drawing to a close.

Right on dinner time we head to the restaurant at the hotel, taking turns to head upstairs and pack all our belongings up. We haven’t really left ourselves a lot of time, which has meant that our packing skills perhaps haven’t been world class. But at least it’s all done and nothing has been left behind. We eventually head down to the foyer and meet our driver Ketut who takes us a private back way to skip the horrendous traffic that we encounter. Traffic is always a possibility in Bali so it’s always important to leave plenty of time prior to your flight, but past experience has also taught me that you cant arrive too early or they will not check you in (only from 3 hours before your flight).
Along the way I hear music outside while we wait for the traffic lights to turn green. Ketut says these particular ones stay green for a vey short time and red for a very long time. I am looking around to see where the music is coming from, and it’s only as we etch forward toward the very busy intersection that there is a guy with an amplifier tied around his neck with a microphone. He is selling his music at the lights. So fascinated as I have never seen this before.
We arrive at the airport and set about to find where we will be checking in. There are multiple security check points for different reasons. The first is where all bags are xrayed. Including the suitcases. Then it’s off to the check in counter. We must open our bags for an explosives check. I wonder how much of this is thorough versus just making it appear like there are high security measures.
We check in and laugh at the luggage weights and how they have changed from when they were weighed in Sydney. Boston tries to convince us that hers is lighter because she took time to pack hers more neatly, as a contrast to Jamei and my last minute dash to just throw everything in. This also went on to another hilarious discussion about how clean clothes weigh less than dirty clothes and also that 1000kg of feathers weight less than a 1000kg of brinks (think about it………did you get it?). Really only the last one makes any sense. But we are all in fits of laughter.
At check in we are told that the lounge is available for Qantas Club members, but as it’s a partner lounge you are only allowed one guest. Interesting dilemma. Do I make the girls ‘scissors – paper – rock’ for who gets in? I ask them why my daughter (who is a minor) can’t just come in, and Jamei (as an adult) be my guest. He asks me to take it up with the lounge staff. Which I absolutely intend to.
After some discussion at the lounge entrance we are all finally permitted in and we recharge, both our devices and ourselves. I grab some food to nibble on and some drinks, while attempting to catch up on the blog. I get not very far into Day 9 when our flight is called to board. I haven’t actually looked at my watch since we left the hotel, so had no idea that we were now flying out in about an hour. The gates are very widely spread out so there is a little bit of a walk.

We pack everything up and head to the gate with yet another bag check. This will now be the 4th bag check, but this time in particular checking for water bottles. I don’t really understand this particular one as water bottles were also confiscated at another point earlier on, so those bringing on water had purchased it from the airport itself after security. Anyway, we oblige and had nothing of this nature anyway. We sit with long faces while we wait for our row to be called. It really is time to go home.

We board quickly and easily, and boy are we all tired now. We pose for our last picture for the trip and see the recognisable kangaroo on the back of the plane out the window. It is nearly 10.30pm and we are hoping to get some sleep on the red eye flight, as we should touch down around 6.15am tomorrow morning. We make our way into the plane and settle in, but not before Jamei grabs a sleeping tablet and Boston gets comfortable up against the window.

There isn’t much to say about the flight except that it was long and uncomfortable. I couldn’t find myself getting into any position that was comfortable enough to sleep, while Jamei’s sleeping tablet helped her, Boston didn’t need anything and managed to sleep nearly the whole flight.
We touch down in Sydney and have been admiring the beautiful sky and sunrise as we have descended into our home country. We make our way out of the plane and into the craziness that is Friday morning at Sydney International Airport. The busiest of all mornings here. We get through customs and immigration easily and locate our bags. We have a couple of souvenirs that are made of wood so we make sure that we declare these and do the right thing. We have all watched a significant amount of a show called “Border Security’ which is a reality program filmed here at Sydney International Airport showing many many tourists and citizens not declaring prohibited items and getting into a lot of trouble. I know from past experience there is nothing to be concerned about, but also know the importance of protecting our country from the threat of diseases in woods etc.
The man is lovely and Jamei chuckles with him as one of her souvenirs is a very large bottle opener, but it’s a big black shape of penis. It’s a very common souvenir available all through Bali. Off we head now to grab some breakfast and head to the train station so we can take our final leg home. While we sit and eat breakfast I can’t help but feel very chuffed when completely unprompted Boston says “Mum thanks for taking me to Bali”. Ahhhhhh and THAT is why I do it. Gratitude for the experience. It was amazing to have both the girls with me and I am so grateful to have been able to share so many very unique experiences and memories that we will have for a lifetime.
The train trip isn’t too painful as we seem to have missed most of the commuter traffic. When we arrive at Gosford train station we are greeted by an almighty cheer, and it seems my mumma was very excited to see us, fully equipped with a bottle of prosecco in hand. I love it when my family knows me so well.
Exhausted, yet content, we regail mum/grandmother with all our favourite memories as we head home to see our house and dogs who have of course missed us as well. It’s nice to be home, but what an amazing 10 days its been.
Thanks for coming along the journey with me. I really hope that you have enjoyed hearing all the stories and experiences we’ve had along the way. And lastly to thank you all for your kind words and interest in this blog. It’s quite a labour of love each day, but I know I enjoy getting all our stories down. Perhaps also to help others in their journeys, and maybe even inspire some travel booking in the future.
Sumpai Jumpa Lagi!!!! See you later……till next time.