It’s said that a change is as good as a rest, and my holidays these days seem to concentrate on the rest!

Well, this musing comes from Bali, Indonesia – and it’s certainly a change!

The journey itself (17 hours flying, in two legs) is certainly a different way to spend a (long) day.Legs are very important when you’re in Economy, and though it wasn’t too cramped, they were certainly suffering by the end of the flight. Flying, loads of food and drink, watching multiple films on a small screen and very little sleep just doesn’t prepare one for downtown Denpasar.

The humidity hits immediately and the taxi to the hotel passes along roads full of light motorcycles, scooters and SUVs all travelling far too fast and much too close. (Probably it’s the comparison with flying where you see nothing but clouds far below, and they look all the same so there is no feeling of movement even though you’re moving at more than 500 mph).

There’s also an exposure to local rampant capitalism, with the roads lined with a variety of small businesses competing for your attention. As a first time visitor here it all seemed a bit ‘Blade Runner-ish’. (reference to a cult scifi1980s film, one of my favourites)

The contrast with the hotel couldn’t be starker – beautiful tended grounds full of palm trees and flowering bushes, on the edge of a sea that is full of energetic young- ish folk enjoying the activities. Heaven by the sea!

My major activities, however, have changed over the years. Once snorkelling and scuba diving – now eating ( lots of fresh fish and fruit) and drinking (somewhat more than usual) and looking at the lovely views.

I did miss our monthly Probus walks, to Beamish Beacon and back, and round Thruscross reservoir, but you’ll appreciate that I have found that a change can be good too!