Day 14-15 (Fri-Sat) - Elephants and Tender Tummies

Day 14 (Friday)

Half way point.

(Tina) It’s official: Bali Belly has struck home! After delicious banana pancakes for breakfast, my intestines rebelled. Ugh. The rain kept us in yesterday though, so we were itching to do something fun, so we went to the Bali Elephant Park. I was worried about having an upset stomach, so I decided to fast a while rather than add fuel to the fire. The elephants at the park were rescued from Sumatra, another Indonesian island, where their habitat has been deforested. I think there are about 30 elephants there, three of which were born in 2009. It was really fun and it seems like the elephants have a good life there. We got to feed them and ride them, and Eliot got to be part of the show. When they asked for a volunteer, I raised his hand up and they called on him. He was embarrassed but happy to get to be a part of it.

We ran into Made on his motorcycle at the top of the lane, so he gave Charlie and Sophie a ride down to the house on his motorcycle. Yes, we let them both ride on a motorcycle with no helmet. What were we thinking?! After getting home, I laid down because I was feeling a little green.  Jim and the kids were going to go for a swim, but a big rain storm came out of nowhere. It even blew in under the big thatched roof porch of the house and bathrooms. It quit by dinner time and I was feeling a little better. Jim however was the sick one now. He managed to eat a little but we were both anxious to get home soon. I ate but wasn’t sure what affect it was going to have on me. I had promised Charlie that we’d get him this rice farmer hat that he’s had his eye on, so we found a shop before heading home and got hats for all three of them. Again we ran into Made at the top of the lane on his motorcycle, and this time he gave all three of them a ride at the same time down to the house. We listened for screams but they made it safely, thank god. I wonder which god they pray to here for motorcycle safety? They put on a little play for us dressed in their hats and sarongs, then off to bed for all of us. Hopefully we’ll all be healthy tomorrow.

Day 15 (Saturday)

(Tina) I’m feeling much better this morning, but Jim is suffering. He had a fitful night’s sleep and was fevered until about 4am. Ketut made us eat dry toast and bananas for breakfast. The kids were relieved that they still got to have fruit salad and pancakes though. After breakfast, Jim went back to bed and the kids and I swam. Later we decided to let Jim keep sleeping so we walked to town for a snack and maybe a little shopping. Sophie got a lacey shirt that the girls and women wear to temple here. She loves it. Charlie said “I am so jealous but I can’t stop looking at her because she looks so pretty, but I am still jealous.” He really wants dress up clothes too and that was what I was looking for most, but we didn’t find anything yet. He’s getting pretty creative with his sarong and hat.

Notes on living outside – eggs are kept on the counter but salt and pepper are kept in the fridge, milk comes in a box with a 4 month shelf life, ants like peanut butter. I doubt this has anything to do with our tummy troubles – it’s just so different than the way things are done back home. And yes, that's a gecko on the wall in the picture. He is more welcome than ants!