Although I’ve made countless trips to Indonesia throughout my life, only four of those have been to Bali.
The first was in my early 20’s with a leggy, blonde friend who was eager to travel and experience a completely “new country”. Rather, she was clueless about its religious and cultural sensitivities and pranced around in skimpy clothes that would’ve appalled Britney Spears. She was lucky that Bali has a higher-level tolerance for raunchiness than other parts of the archipelago. (Yeah, yeah, I’m a prude…)
Next, was an Eat, Pray, Love pilgrimage to Ubud in an attempt to mend my (at the time) broken heart. I didn’t meet a sexy Javier Badem but spent ten blissful days going solo and soul searching. I even stayed at a villa owned by a Ketut. I was way ahead of Elizabeth Gilbert.
Anyway, on the third jaunt, I got engaged.
Then, most recently, a journey accompanied by my little Indo/Aussie twinlets who captured the attention of many a local and tourist.
Initially, I was worried that my frazzled Indonesian would impede an idyllic first overseas family holiday.
This over-anxious head was only making it harder for myself.
I always forget how friggin’ easy it actually is over there.
Reliable transport ? Check.
Air-conditioning ? Check.
Free Wifi ? Check.
Hotel staff, taxi drivers and shop assistants able to deal with an awkward, bumbling speaking Indo raised in Australia ?
Checkity, check, check, CHECK.
And as children always do, they held their own.
I dismissed that they require far less than us high maintenance adults to be happy.
The twinlets jumped straight into the laid back rhythm of the Balinese people and eased into those stretched out lazy afternoons.
They spent hours mesmerized, in a zen-like state, staring at the carp in the fish pond. Every day there was ample pool time. They embarrasingly devoured all the local food as though their mother starves them.
We even managed to snag one of the hotel’s baby sitters over a couple of days. SCORE!
Okay, so there was one incident when we pushed their toddler limits to exhaustion and took them for a late afternoon bike ride on the Sanur Beach Esplanade. Nunu fell asleep in the back seat. K-Bear, with me in a seat behind the handle bars, cried and screamed the entire hour then almost got his foot caught in the front wheel spoke. Oops.
Anywho.
Now knowing the simplicity of Bali, it makes me wonder why we didn’t get there sooner.
I guess this particular holiday had to happen in its own sweet cadence.
There’s still a ton of stories I’m busting to share – our trip to an orphanage, the boys picking up the Indonesian language like little ducks to water while my husband, like a goose, can barely able to string a word together…
So, hope you don’t mind if this blog will be slightly “Bali-centric” over the next couple of posts or three.
But forgive me. I’ve always dreamed of taking my own family to the land that I think of and miss every day.
I’m still caught in the excitement that it all finally came true. Making up for lost time.
After a week’s hiatus, I’m IBOT-ing with Essentially Jess again! Yipee!
iSophie says
I can’t wait to hear them all! I am so jealous! Well not about the bike ride…
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Jodi says
It looks gorgeous there Grace! Bali is one place I have never been, but would love to one day, take the kids when they are a little older. x
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Mel @ Adventures of a Subversive Reader says
I’m looking forward to more Bali posts 🙂 Please, post away!
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kirri says
It looks and sounds like a perfect holiday destination to me! I’m keen to hear (and see) some more and so happy to know that it exceeded expectations.
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Ai Sakura says
Welcome back! Sounds like a divine trip and so glad you managed to finally make it with your whole family! Looking forward to your Bali posts 🙂
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Me says
Sounds like you had a great time. I know that often as adults we envisage something will be worse than it turns out to be – we should just trust the process and do it !!!
So glad you all enjoyed yourselves ! Looking forward to more posts about your adventures in Bali.
Have a great day !
Me
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Kelly HTandT says
Ah, beautiful! Sounds wonderful Grace, I’m so glad you enjoyed yourself. So you would recommend Bali as a place to travel with children? I want to take our kids somewhere before we have number 4.
I would LOVE IT if you’re next few posts were holiday ones 😉 xx
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mamagrace71 says
Bali is great for kids, Kelly! The Balinese adore children and little Western ones are always a big hit 🙂
Our main concern was children’s seats in the cars for the airport/hotel transfers but we organised that through our travel agent. And you know, considering Indonesians don’t use car seats let alone seat belts, I was impressed that they they now have them.
You guys will have a ball!
Rachel @ The Kids Are All Right says
I can’t wait to hear more! And now you know you love it, you can go all the time!
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carmen says
What a lovely break for all of you Grace! I loved your photos and updates during your stay… almost convinced to take the kids over myself now! 😉
xxx
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Prue says
Sounds like you had a fab time Grace. Your right, kids a so adaptable. I’m hoping we will get to Bali next year with the kids, you’ve inspired me! And it’s only a 3.5 hour flight from here.
Prue x
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Kim Frost says
Beautiful, beautiful photos. I’m looking forward to more of Bali! Virtual holiday please Grace!
x
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Catherine Rodie Blagg @CoTaaB says
Lovely hearing about your holiday experience Grace, The twins really do look mesmerised! xx
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Kyla @ Three Quarters Full says
I am so very jealous of your Bali trip, reconnecting with home and sharing it with your twins must be such an amazing thing to do.
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Aroha @ Colours of Sunset says
We really do forget how easy it is to keep kids happy don’t we? Nick was most happiest in NZ at the play ground in Te Anau. We made it a point to try and find playgrounds after that! It sounds like you had a wonderful holiday and I look forward to hearing more Balinese stories!
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Lyndal says
oh i am SO glad you had a great time – i cannot wait to read more of your adventures!
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Mumabulous says
I think I’ll go and book Team Abulous a ticket right now.
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Seana Smith says
So good to hear it went well, and such a meaningful trip for your family. Look forward to a natter.
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Tammie says
Thanks Grace for sharing xx I run womens retreats every year in Bali and I too love how easy everything is. Great to hear about it from the perspective of a family holiday. If you get a chance to go to Ubud I think you would love Bumi Sehat – the birthing clinic, the work they do is amazing. I also hear the Green School is great but haven’t been. I look forward to your next post. Hope it’s ok to share these articles throughout my networks 🙂
mamagrace71 says
Hi Tammie,
Thanks for dropping by! Just popped over to your site and am very keen to find out more about your retreats in Ubud!
Feel free to share my posts! 🙂 x
Julia Kuku Couture says
I can’t wait to hear more Grace, I really enjoyed this post. In fact I’d love to hear any tips you have on travelling with toddlers, We are packing up the babies and heading to the US & Canada in February for two months. So I need all the help I can get xx
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EssentiallyJess says
Yay for fabulous holidays! So glad it was wonderful for you.
As for being a prude, I’ve been to enough of Indonesia now to know that you need to be far more conservative than most people are. It makes me cringe to think of them trying to go to Java or Timor dressed all skimpy ways.
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mamagrace71 says
I’m glad to hear you know exactly what I’m talking about, Jess.
This girl was so clueless, it was astounding! (I think you’ve heard me say that before ;))
Kylez @ A Study in Contradictions says
So glad to hear you had a lovely time! I would love to go to Bali but I think we are few years, maybe more, off actually making it ourselves so I am more than happy to hear all about your trip. The more the better say!
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Rita says
I’m so happy to hear that you had a great holiday Grace! And I’m looking forward to hear more about your trip and especially the orphanage.
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Rhianna says
Glad it all went so well for you, can’t wait to read more about!
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Emily says
Can’t wait to hear more Bali tales! And I LOVE that photo of the boys and the pond. Adora-bubble!
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Becci says
Sounds like a lovely place for the kids. A bit like Fiji maybe? My sister and her husband went to Bali recently without the kids (which are big teenagers now anyway) for their 50th birthdays and loved it. So many wonderful places to see in the world, so little time!
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Kirsty @ My Home Truths says
That sounded like an awesome trip away. I really want to take our kids somewhere exotic but now we are committed to building our house we won’t be doing too many trips for a while. However, I will tuck that information about Bali to the back of my mind for when we are ready to take the plunge!
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Kevin says
This is great. Great that you had a great trip, great that your little ones surprised you by being easy and great that you have reminded me of the same fact – that it’s rarely as hard as your mind builds it up to be.
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Azara says
These pictures are stunning. I’ve just added Bali to my list of places to visit.
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Glowless says
LOVE! How did you go allergy-wise? xxx
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Salz says
That sounds like the perfect place to be right now. I’m glad you went and I’m glad you had a great time.
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Mud Hut Mama says
Sounds like an amazing trip and I love that photo of your boys watching the carp. So wonderful to watch how easily children adapt and accept – we adults can learn a lot from them.
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Josefa @always Josefa says
adore the photo of the boys staring at the carp
what is it with children and carp??
travelling with kids – one of the best experiences you can give them, isn’t it?
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Nami says
Don’t apologize – thanks for enlightening us with the wonders of your magical homeland. Wish Queens were that awe inspiring or even looked half as serene in pictures. (Sigh)…hope someday we get to experience your tranquility.
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