Trip to Bali

Kitimani Volcano

Rice Field between Ubud and Kitimani Volcano

I had to leave Autralia because of my visa expiring after 3 months, so Shelley and I took a 6 day trip to Bali for a short vacation.  I flew into Denpasar where Shelley met me and took me to our hotel (the Green Garden) in Kuta.  We spend a couple days there and then headed up to Ubud where we met  up with one of Shelley's friends that moved to bali almost 2 years ago now.  We met up with them and went out for dinner and Shelley caught up with Marcene.  The second day in Ubud we went to see the Kitimani Volcano (Still active last erupted in 1999) and on our way back went to a park and went on an elephant ride.  Very cool, while we sat and had our tea afterwards they had a couple baby orangotangs that Shelley and I played with for a bit before we headed back for Ubud.  The next Day we left early afternoon back for Kuta where we shopped sat by the pool and just relaxed for the rest of our time there.  It was a very nice place, very humid but very friendly. 

Pool at Green Garden Hotel in Kuta

Wedge

For a weekend away some of Trents Friends invited us to go up north for a couple days camping at Wedge Beach.  There are big sand dunes where everyone brings their 4 wheel drives and goes crazy.  We stayed for a couple nights and camped out in the car.  There was a lamb on a spit one night, we went to the beach, and just hung out.  It was a really good time (other than Trent hurting his knee).

Wedge Dunes

Richo writing with light in from of our camp site

My Garden

When we first got back to Australia I started a garden in the backyard to give me something to do and to be able to use fresh vegetables and herbs for cooking. That was about 3.5 months ago and I now have blossoms and fruit starting to bloom.  The lettuce grew the fastest, I've already been able to pick a couple heads of it and use it in salads.  The cherry tomatoes are just ripening now and will be ready to eat in a cuple weeks I'm sure. 

Before and After shot of the whole Garden (Before photos taken some time late June, After taken a few days ago)



Before & After of the Cherry Tomatoes





My Herb Garden Everything grew so quickly I had to trim it all back and now have some freshly dried herbs as well. 




A brunch I made using fresh Herbs from the garden as well as the lettuce for the salad.



A new Room

Trent and I have been working since we got back to re-do our room to make it look new again.  We cleaned up, re-painted some of the walls, bought all new furniture, a new TV and stand to hold electronics and gaming consoles and DVDs, replaced old beat up cupboards with the silver storage rack, replaced the ratty old blinds with a new one, got a couch from one of his friends (cleaned and vacuumed) and most recently bought the finishing touches of new sheets and baskets. We are still planning on putting up some pictures but haven't got around to it yet.  There are a few things to be done (including the photos, a new mattress, and staining the wood rack to match the furniture) but for the most part the picture below is our finished bedroom.

1. Looking into the room from the door                                           2. Standing in font of the dresser, looking towards the door

My Relationship in a Few Words

So, at the moment I'm writing my letter about Trent and my relationship for our "DeFacto Relationship Visa". I know exactly what I need to say and it's not like our dates or recreational interests have changed, but it's still hard to go through every aspect of your life and write it out in detail for other people to read and scrutinize and see if your worthy.  We've decided that neither of us can read the others letter until at least the first rough copy is finished so we don't influence each others writing.  I've got about a page typed out and there's not much on there about our relationship yet.  I have a feeling it's going to be a fairly long essay...
We'll see how it goes?

BaCk to WoRk

Back in Oz, Trent and I have been working in the backyard just cleaning things up and moving stuff out.  When I say WE what I really mean is Trent does most of the work and I muddle around pretending to look busy.  So one of the things "we" have worked on is breaking down the old brick BBQ in the middle of the yard.  (we also moved some bricks from the steps and cleaned up branches trees and overgrown shrubbery)

Trent working on the bricks the the axe

Reminders of Home

The entrance to the backyard through right side door

Before I left for Australia with Trent I took photos from around the house to remind me of home.

Front patio late evening just before the sun fully set

View of Dad's office from back porch 12:00AM June 2010

Left gate to backyard June 2010 

On our way...

In June we left for Australia,

Trent and I packed up all of my life and belongings into as few boxes as possible, threw out what was not needed and whatever was left was packed into my luggage to bring with us. 

June 9, 2010 My family loaded up the car and drove us 2 hours to Pearson International Airport in Toronto where we said our goodbyes and until next times.  15 hours to Dubai after a 2 hour delay on the runway, 8 hours in Dubai and another 12 hours to Perth. 

These are just a couple of the photos I took during our travel time.

 Our plane at Pearson International Airport (YYZ) a few hours before take off

Trent in Dubai wasting time

Dubai International Airport June 2010