We just got back from our first holiday, alone, as a family of four. We had traveled to the US and also traveled around Western Australia with my parents, but we hadn't done it alone. And believe it or not, it was so not that bad. It was fun, even!
We went to Lombok, an island next to Bali in Indonesia. We went when I was seven months pregnant with Samara and again when she was four months old and this time. We have loved each trip there and found it to be a deeply relaxing and beautiful place.
Since we hadn't been on holiday in a few months and I was nervous about how it would work with both kids in one room, we kinda splurged and stayed in a place nicer than we usually go for. When I saw Jeeva Klui on Trip Advisor, I told Matt that we were going no matter what. And it was just as good or better than I expected. For the first two nights we had our own two storey villa with a private pool, an outdoor bathtub and shower and another bathroom and shower inside. It was so nice to put the kids to bed and then have the downstairs and outdoors to ourselves. (Thanks to Shana for the tip to put the baby to bed first and then put Sam to bed quietly - it totally worked!) The resort had a beautiful infinity pool right at the ocean, which made for unbelievable views and not a lot of motivation to leave!
Our first day we ended up calling Effendi, a driver whom Deeksha and Rajeev had introduced us to on our first trip there, and he took us up to the monkey forest. But when we got there it was pouring, so we keep driving and he invited us to his home. It was fascinating to see his super modest home, meet his lovely wife, inlaws and children (two of the three). They were soooo welcoming to us, preparing coffee and even knocking down a young coconut from their tree for us to drink. Samara's description of the visit today was "Everyone was trying to carry me." They were, and she was a champ. At some point I think she was so overwhelmed with all of the attention, she just started running back and forth from one house to another. On the way back we got stuck in major traffic for a Balinese/Hindu holiday - hundreds of people were walking down the street with their prayer paraphernalia, and we didn't move for about 45 minutes. It was beautiful. Sam was waving out the car window at everyone and most people actually waved back or at least pointed and smiled.
The second day, after the second night, we had to switch rooms (we booked only a few weeks in advance, so they were full...), so we decided to leave the hotel in between. We drove to a beautiful temple on the water and spent the entire rest of the day at the pool and beach, relaxing. It was absolutely perfect. (ooh - as I noticed my previous post - the woman at the spa made sure to tell me that I can't get a massage if I'm an expectant mother. Thanks, lady.)
We are working on our return trip...
In other news, not much has been going on, as we have been deeply into our routine. Sam is becoming much more of a kid - able to do so much on her own, have great conversations, excellent questions...she's so much fun. She's swimming with her head above the water as well, which makes my life less stressful while swimming with both kids. Elie is extremely mobile, has a particular fondness for balls and garbage cans, loves to eat (ANYTHING!), is sweet and a bit clingy and still sucks at sleeping during the day. But it turns out he's a really easy baby. Life has been good.
Photos aren't in order but I'm too tired to organize. Sorry!
We went to Lombok, an island next to Bali in Indonesia. We went when I was seven months pregnant with Samara and again when she was four months old and this time. We have loved each trip there and found it to be a deeply relaxing and beautiful place.
Since we hadn't been on holiday in a few months and I was nervous about how it would work with both kids in one room, we kinda splurged and stayed in a place nicer than we usually go for. When I saw Jeeva Klui on Trip Advisor, I told Matt that we were going no matter what. And it was just as good or better than I expected. For the first two nights we had our own two storey villa with a private pool, an outdoor bathtub and shower and another bathroom and shower inside. It was so nice to put the kids to bed and then have the downstairs and outdoors to ourselves. (Thanks to Shana for the tip to put the baby to bed first and then put Sam to bed quietly - it totally worked!) The resort had a beautiful infinity pool right at the ocean, which made for unbelievable views and not a lot of motivation to leave!
Our first day we ended up calling Effendi, a driver whom Deeksha and Rajeev had introduced us to on our first trip there, and he took us up to the monkey forest. But when we got there it was pouring, so we keep driving and he invited us to his home. It was fascinating to see his super modest home, meet his lovely wife, inlaws and children (two of the three). They were soooo welcoming to us, preparing coffee and even knocking down a young coconut from their tree for us to drink. Samara's description of the visit today was "Everyone was trying to carry me." They were, and she was a champ. At some point I think she was so overwhelmed with all of the attention, she just started running back and forth from one house to another. On the way back we got stuck in major traffic for a Balinese/Hindu holiday - hundreds of people were walking down the street with their prayer paraphernalia, and we didn't move for about 45 minutes. It was beautiful. Sam was waving out the car window at everyone and most people actually waved back or at least pointed and smiled.
The second day, after the second night, we had to switch rooms (we booked only a few weeks in advance, so they were full...), so we decided to leave the hotel in between. We drove to a beautiful temple on the water and spent the entire rest of the day at the pool and beach, relaxing. It was absolutely perfect. (ooh - as I noticed my previous post - the woman at the spa made sure to tell me that I can't get a massage if I'm an expectant mother. Thanks, lady.)
We are working on our return trip...
In other news, not much has been going on, as we have been deeply into our routine. Sam is becoming much more of a kid - able to do so much on her own, have great conversations, excellent questions...she's so much fun. She's swimming with her head above the water as well, which makes my life less stressful while swimming with both kids. Elie is extremely mobile, has a particular fondness for balls and garbage cans, loves to eat (ANYTHING!), is sweet and a bit clingy and still sucks at sleeping during the day. But it turns out he's a really easy baby. Life has been good.
Photos aren't in order but I'm too tired to organize. Sorry!
Effendi's wife and Elie (sooooo tired Elie!!!)
Effendi's mother in law and Elie
Preparing coffee for us
Effendi's daughter
Effendi's father in law
Seeing us off
Stuck in holiday traffic - but it was beautiful and entertaining. Sam waved to everyone
Balinese/Hindu temple visit
Checking out the temple
Major crash on the porch of our second room
Family photo!! (thanks to our new friend, Lucy!)
Both kids in the ocean...for a minute at least. But Elie didn't like the waves and Sam said the shells were hurting her feet.
They preferred the pool
Morning walk on the beach
Our own private pool! With white noise from a waterfall, even, so Elie could sleep
Sam running up and down in the village
Check out the Balinese white dude
Chillaxing, rolling around the couch
Daddy daughter moment
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