INDONESIA - Sanur, Bali - Feb 2026

Indonesia - Bali - Sanur - February 9th to 16th

My departure from Australia was delayed, and as I have to be in the UK by the end of March, my travel time was rather truncated....ChatGPT 😉 advised me to spend all my time in one certain country (of my choices) but an opportunity arose to at first depart via Indonesia. 

Linda needed to leave Australia and return to refresh her Visa stay....and as Australia is so bloody remote from anywhere, one of the closest and cheapest ideal spots was Bali, a mere 6 hour flight from Brisbane, but well past half way to my ultimate destination, and in the tropics - so possible scuba!

The only issue was that in January and February, Indonesia is in the rainy season...but now on completion of the break, yes, when it rains, it really does...but generally we have been fortunate, and as the week progressed it got much better, which aligned with our plans, and what a gorgeous place, on a number of levels.

Sanur, was our resort, - with a beach front complex...a really top spot. Seafront path for quite a distance with a diversity of eateries and stalls, and very relaxed.

Met at the airport by our taxi man via Booking.com, but he became our tour operator and friend.... Gosa was brilliant, we had a full day out visiting temples, a coffee plantation, waterfall, paddy rice terraces etc Driving through all the rural villages: some specialising in wood carvery, silver, stone carving etc.

Many places look quite shanty, but materialism is very low down on the Hindu philosophy, so the exterior looks of places could be misleading, according to research. The traffic though was insane, even in the rural parts...cars and so many more scooters and motorbikes, all undercutting, driving outside inside...cars cutting across...but no rage, not even a horn beep! Hindu temples are so plentiful with offerings daily made in so many places, some in unexpected places....this is the culture...and Hindu closely follows spiritualism....where confrontation isn't on the agenda!

Interestingly 93% of Balinese are Hindu, whereas 93% of the rest of Indonesia is Muslim...the history is quite interesting, in general, it was an escape by the Hindus when Muslims from the Middle East moved into Indonesia...research it!

Anyway the week:

I haven't dived properly for probably 12 years...ChatGTP recommended Indo Divers, and soon I was sat with my dive guide Hadie, and a mad driver, taking us the hour up the coast to the Blue Lagoon. Perfect refresh dive on soft coral, buoyancy came back really well, after we added an extra kg (4kg in total, full 3mm wetsuit and aluminium tank - for reference!)...lots of beautiful coral and wildlife. Second dive was a tiny more challenging with some current, hence bigger shoals and a solitary reef shark....it was good to be back...and followed by a slap up bali meal just on shore....delicious although I was not totally sure what I was eating!

 Immediately the confidence was back, so I signed up for a three dive boat session...starting at Manta Point, surfacea 45 min boat journey to Gosa-Penida Islands. Mantas were so regular, with some great video...the only issue, was on returning to the  the swell and waves had got up! Getting out was sort of ok, but then the boat journey (only a 15 person dive boat) to the next dive site was rather rocky to say the least, including several belly flops and just once a major tilt! Two people were consequently looking for huey over the side of the boat!

 

 Anyhow the next two dives were excellent, with the final one being (I felt) a rather speedy drift dive along a reef wall, with zillions of fish of every colour...although Hadie later stated that the current was quite moderate to what it can be ! So 5 dives, just what I wanted and needed...more to come on my travels I'm sure.

 

GOSA'S DAY OUT:

Drove to Ubud, I assumed this would be rural with less traffic and more open scenery. The traffic hardly relented, with no apparent rules, but no anger..not even the slightest. Ubud is known for the centre of crafts...we passed communities that specialised in various products including silver, wood, and volcanic rock...some of the products / designs were amazing, and so many...we wondered where the market was for all of it...apparently much overseas and of course the wealthier Indonesians.

Hindu shrines are all over, although some are more special than others especially Gunung Kawi,  with the shrines cut into the rock. I did a Beckham impersonation there, wearing a sari,  to cover my legs! It really was impressive though, and set in a stunning jungle environment.

We visited the Luwak coffee plantation, with a number of taster flavoured coffees...include what our "salesman" described as the most expensive coffee in the world ($50 a cup in New York so he said). It's made by feeding a captured Civet...it eats the ripe sweet berries, and they basically collect the shit, and make coffee, although our man was not so honest. The use of civet, like a stoat, is controversial, as they are caged, although our man said it had been rescued. When we declined the purchase of any bags, the guys demeanour changed  very clearly....even if we bought Lin had no space in her luggage, and I wasn't lugging coffee bags to wherever I ended up next!

Next was rather a tourist Instagram place, Tellallalgang, a rice terrace...quite staged I thought...and so did my pal ChatGPT! Sure there are much more impressive examples, around the island, not simply managed for tourists. The "Bali Swing" apparently is looked upon as a must do, typically the outward swing is over an edge...nothing at all dangerous about it, but there was an age limit of 65! Oh how Linda larfed, the age limit also included a magic carpet and a zip line. Oh to be considered so old!!

There are several waterfalls across Bali, but Gosa took us to probably the worst tourist trap...Tegenungan, packed out, although a steep descent to the fall itself, did somewhat thin the masses. The Instagram monkeys were full at it, especially a rather voluptuous woman, posing seductively in the water, in a tiny bikini...even handling her own breasts...fvckin sad really.

Gosa had plans to take us to somewhere else, but both Lin and I were rather worn out, more by the lengthy car journeys, in such chaotic  traffic. So we returned to our chilled resort.

On a map, we hadn't gone that far into the island, and I hoped if we had the time, there would be much more interesting and tourist free places...one day maybe?

On our non plan days, we chilled and walked around Sanur and especially along the coastal path...plus a Balinese massage on one morning!

Gosa organised a Penida Island day, 8.30am fast ferry, met at Penida by another taxi man...the three spots we visited were quite impressive....but the crowds were really mental...many Chinese....the first spot was Broken Beach and Angel's Billabong...with an impressive arch...but the road leading was single track, snided with cars and scooters...and at best just had potholes...the car time again wore us out, and this was far worse than the Ubud trip....we also visited Kelingking Beach and Crystal Beach (which was quite nice and less busy)...but again we wanted Sanur and to relax. However, the speed ferry back was more than half the size of the one that brought us out. It seemed inconceivable that all the passengers could fit on, but they did, in the hull affectively, very claustrophobic and a little worrying re safety...fortunately the sea was relatively calm, and we got back OK...but there were very worries looks on people on certain bumpy occasions....including Linda, and Indonesia does not have the best safety standards nor record.

 This was our last day, we could've done with another free day, but off in separate directions at the airport, Linda back to Aus and the family, and me heading north!

In conclusion the week was excellent, we mixed a variety of chill and activity (especially me)  - the Hindu culture gives it a friendly I guess spiritual vibe...perhaps another visit one day, perhaps again as part of an Aus trip...but can now think about staying in more of an Indonesia  - the downside was the intensity of traffic even out on the rural roads and of course the masses of tourists on Penida.

But where to? 😊

 

 

AUSTRALIA - Part 4 - The Finale

Pelicans nr Tweed Head NSW

Glass House "Mountains"

After returning from our stay in Sydney, returning to the Gold Coast was rather a dampener - obviously not in the context of the family, who are wonderful to see (most of the time, 2 under five year olds of course can be a challenge!), but in the context of the environment.

Simply put, GC is not my sort of place, I'd tried hard to explore the hinterland and the "mountains" further afield, but nothing I visited made me want to return....as for the "city" itself my comments previously stood up, probably even more with time....in fact Jamie visited the family for a short visit, and he described it as dystopia....the end of the World, and this is the best at a rebuild...again I understand for a young family it is a very desirable environment to bring up kids...but if you want vitality, diversity, culture, any "edge"...go elsewhere.

Interestingly, and conversely, the Gold Coast is one of the most in-demand regions in Australia for people moving out of the traditional cities and relocating....property prices are high and rising, as is the rental market, with a real shortage for both....but I won't be joining those throngs and each to their own!

Glass House Mountains - Volcanic Plugs

Also in fairness, you have to love the beaches and surf...it is a way of life for probably most residents , a top reason why they move there...

Anyway, now in nearly mid January, I was originally planning on moving on...but due to circumstance this became delayed. On my hit list I still had not explored especially the recommended Glass House  Mountains north of Brisbane, nor seen the Sunshine Coast and the now infamous Noosa (after the England cricket team received some over exuberant R&R after their pummelling at the Gabba in the Ashes Test match)

Also on that hit list was a return to scuba on the Barrier Reef, but that was really looking more and more unlikely due to extreme adverse weather in North Queensland with biblical flooding...BTW at the same time Victoria state was partially being burnt to a cinder with temperatures touching 50C!

And also over the New Year, there were several shark attacks around the Sydney area - mainly by Bull Sharks, the same ones that breed in the brackish lakes near where the family lived...what is it about Australia! So stuff that getting into a sea based water sports, at least in Australia!!v

Record temperatures and rainfall with extensive flooding and wild fires; sharks on the rampage and a country geologically flattened - is this a slow apocalypse, geologically?

So what did I do? With Linda we had several grandparent duties including a nice day out at the impressive Botanical Gardens with Callie, and also with Becky and Sienna we had a day at HOTA near Benowa on a safe lagoon....with Jamie and Linda we went down to the NSW coast in the Coolongatta and Tweed Heads area, in my opinion a much nicer varied coastline...especially at one spot viewing lots of Pelicans on a creek estuary...belatedly we also tested a few surf clubs, open to the public, a small step up from the souless standard bars with their "pokie" rooms...

Caloundra - Sunshine Coast

Coolongata

Eventually I decided on a road trip up to the Glass House Mountains north of Brisbane. Morphologically quite interesting, a series of widely spaced volcanic plugs...I climbed the easy Mount Ngungun, which pleasingly had clear 360 degree views at the top, unlike the much more challenging alternative I was going to try...Mt Tibrogargan.

 For me though, this sums up Australia: geologically absolutely worn down to practically nothing, what they describe as "mountains", are just remnants of when a true mountain range may have existed millions of years ago....as an example, these Glasshouse Mountains....the volcanic plugs are what would've fed the original mountain orogenic process, on top of which would've been layers and layers of later rock...with repeated folding and glaciation etc creating what we have in true mountain ranges all around the World....the Alps, NZ, Himalayas etc - and the Glasshouse "Mountains" all that is left are the bare bones after millions of years of erosion, with no counter orogenic processes...for me that applies to the whole of Australia! 

Anyway, climb done, box ticked....I won't be rushing back there either....decided to drive over to the Sunshine Coast via Noosa. Hard to describe Noosa, as it was Australia Day (or Invasion Day) weekend and it was packed, so I got out asap and drove all the way down the Sunshine Coast to the south tip at Caloundra.

One continuous featureless straight beach...for friggin miles...I'm sorry but this does nothing for me....same at the Gold Coast, mainly featureless...just before I left, my barber stated that Australia had the best beaches in the World!! The guy clearly needs to travel....although there is a blind delusutory proudness about the Australians....

 Flying Foxes at dusk were an amazing sight, rather jurassic though! 

Flying Foxes at Dusk - thousands!

Flying Foxes - Varsity Lakes

You can guess, I got to the stage where I needed to leave and explore new places....as it happened one of the family had a visa dilemma, and a resolution was to leave Australia (friggin harder than you'd think in distance terms!) and then return....but for me to continue onward and further away from Australia!

But where to.....😊 

 

On the very last morning, this chap appeared in the back garden!  A King Parrot 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AUSTRALIA - Part 3 - Sydney

Only time you'd get me on a cruise!

Bronze Bay coastal walk from Bondi

Part 3 - January 2026 - Sydney

Nearly 7 weeks on the Gold Coast, and as planned a short one hour flight to Sydney to combine playing the tourist with catching up with our son, Jamie, on his 10th month of perhaps permanency (why would any young person want to live in the UK these days 🤷‍♂️), I really hope he does settle...

CBD and that theatre place

Observatory Hill

But WOW! Before we even got off the airport link rail / underground to the city centre...destination Museum Station...heritage listed, all architecture in 1920s period style, based on a combo of London and Paris underground designs of that time....walking the few minutes to our hotel, the true city vibe was saturating, and clearly so cosmopolitan...with an array of historic (for Australia) interesting architecture....a total contrast to the Gold Coast.

We hit an array of tourist spots and cooler leftfield locations with regular suggestions of the increasingly impressive ChatGPT! 

Spice Alley - Chippendale

Bondi

Including Hyde Park, the Botanical Gardens, Circular Quay, Harbour Boat Cruise, a few ferries including Milsons Point and Watsons Bay, The Rocks, Barangaroo, Darling Harbour (not impressed), that Opera House place 😉, something that looks like the Tyne Bridge, even the Museum of Australia (well it was raining but full of kids 🙈)...it was 43C in the shade on the Saturday (it had been 46C in Adelaide and Victoria with many bush fires) hence the boat cruise, but heck I was melting even in the shade.

Bondi

Bondi and Bronte Bay Coastal Walk

We visited Bondi which of course was poignant, and paid our respects...then took the beautiful coastal walk to Bronte Beach.

Jamie lives in Chippendale, quite inner city, but far enough away from the hoards of tourists...and just up the road we spent time in the very impressive edgy Newtown (think Camden Town informed ChatGPT !)...super cosmopolitan, diverse, bohemian, creative, vibrant, eclectic, colourful and culturally significant....I'd live there (if I was younger!). Reyt impressed!

Coastal walk

 

The British influence is everywhere from the obvious historic colonial / convict narrative, to street names and even the pubs such as the Hero of Waterloo, the Lord Nelson, the Duke of Clarence, Lord Dudley etc....of course we had to check their interiors 🍻

The five nights flew by and soon we were back on the Gold Coast....with still Aussie plans ahead, but the tropical stormy season is commencing so a considered lengthy circular road trip up to Cairns especially for the scuba may now have to be reconsidered....

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Gap - Watsons Bay

Tamarama Beach

Mrs Maquaries Chair