Saturday, May 23, 2009

Lombok - Indonesia

Welcome to my blog.

After returning from the UK we took a short break to Lombok and the Gili Islands in Indonesia.

We went for a peaceful holiday to snorkel and walk on the beach. We pretty much did just that!

Next time I'll show you the island of Gili Meno.

This first shot was taken early in the morning as a night fishing boat was returning to shore.

Thanks for coming. Hope you enjoy the photos.

Alan
















Some do their fishing without a boat.
















One of the first things we did was to pay some
money for the privilege of releasing a young
turtle to the sea as part of the sea turtle
conservation efforts
taking place all over Indonesia.


















We called him Yoyo after the lovely gentleman
who is in charge of the project at the hotel.















Yoyo didn't need any instructions. He made a
bee line for the ocean!
















There was a brief moment of hesitation,
however, as if to say "My God, it's big!
















But plucky fellow that he is, he just walked
straight in to his new home.
















We stayed in the Holiday Resort. It used to
be the Holiday Inn Resort. It is in Sengiggi on
the east coast, north of Lombok Airport.
It wasn't yet the peak season so it was very
relaxing.
















Daniela at the entrance from the hotel to the
beach.
















A Balinese style temple.
There are many people from Bali who have
moved to Lombok for work. Bali is 4 hours
by ferry from Lombok and can be seen from
the East coast of Lombok
















The gardens of the hotel are well kept and a
beautiful setting to stay in.






















A reflective glass door was an excellent
way to get a shot of ourselves.
This was taken with Daniela's camera
















The colours never fail to impress!
















Two local children enjoying their own
beautiful environment
















Daniela enjoying the sunset















Fishermen taking advantage of the low tide.
















What Daniela was looking at! On the horizon,
top left, you should be able to make out Bali.
















This was taken on our way to get the ferry
from Lombok to Gili Meno














And these last photos were taken on the
journey back from Gili Meno to the airport.
Here we are arriving on the ferry at Lombok.
















Some, of course, travel in style!
















Inland Lombok is very beautiful with lots of
rice paddies. May is the end of the wet season
so it was lush and very green. The next 3
photos show this.


























































To get back to the airport we were driven
through part of the Monkey Forest.
Here is one of the inhabitants, a
long- tailed grey macaque monkey
who had just taken a peanut from me.

Gili Meno is a very small island off the North
West coast of Lombok. Don't miss the next
posting in a couple of weeks!















































Sunday, May 03, 2009

A tribute to my Dad, Roy: Died 13 April 2009

My Dad died on 13 April (Easter Monday) 2009, age 81.

I have just arrived back from the UK and I am dedicating this post to him.


My Dad was loving, generous, totally dedicated to my Mum and our family, a wonderful father to me and my sister, Annette, and also my best mate.

He loved travelling, people, cooking, wine, was inspiringly life positive and had a great sense of fun. I like to think that I take after him.

I am proud to be his son and I miss him terribly.

The photo above was taken when my Dad and I were having a boys holiday, on our own, in Naples and on the Amalfi coast, Italy. (My Dad is the one on the right!)

These photos are mostly recent and I hope they communicate to you something about the lovely man that he was.

Thanks for coming

Alan
















Last summer, June 2008, we went to Looe.
a small Cornish fishing village. My Dad took a
shine to Betty Boop. Not sure it was reciprocal!






















My dad having 40 winks in the garden
of our home in Plymouth, UK

















My Dad and my wife Daniela battling it out while
we were on holiday in Vada, a Tuscan seaside
town in June 2006
















Daniela, me, my dad and my Mum enjoying
coffee after lunch. Please excuse the washing:
it was a camping holiday!



















My Dad and my Mum in Vada






















This large container is full of Tuscan
red wine. My dad is showing his
enthusiasm!



















2005, on the island of Sentosa, off Singapore,
my Dad get up close with a friendly snake!






















I bought a fur hat for my Dad
when I was in Georgia (ex Russia).
This more luxurious model one was
given to him by my brother-in-law,
Tullio. It comes from Canada. And
yes my Dad is wearing his pyjamas.
He just couldn't wait to try it on!

















Getting up close to a friendly dolphin in
Indonesia

















My Dad, me and my Dad's cousin, Ian during
a champagne brunch at the Ritz Carlton in
Singapore.






















On November 19 this year my Mum
and Dad would have celebrated their
60th wedding anniversary. They lived
a long, full and happy life together.

I celebrate them both, the most loving
parents I could wish for