Long Nice Walk

Surfing with Kelly Slater

Kelly Slater showed up on our beach today to surf Padang Padang. FYI, he’s tonked (although a little shorter than you’d expect), he rubs suncream on his bald head and doesn’t have to paddle out like the rest of them, a jetski gives him a lift.

We climbed up a big rock to watch him and about 30 other guys take on these monster waves as the sun set. It was epic. They are brave boys.

To complete the cliché, Jack Johnson sat strumming his guitar on the beach to provide the soundtrack.

Lulu&Mat

Million Dollar View

The view from our balcony in Bali Rocks is incredible. Everyday is different and there’s always another beautiful sunset to snap.

It deserves a post all to itself. We could sit and watch the ocean all day.

Lulu&Mat

In the Bukit, Bali

We arrived in Bali and headed South to the Bukit peninsular, famed for its surfing breaks and found our own little patch of paradise in Padang Padang. A terraced bamboo hut, perched on some rocks, hanging over the crashing waves. It’s called Bali Rocks and is run by the nicest local guy, Gede, rooms are 8 pounds a night and we can paddle out to the break from the doorstep. There isn’t a bathroom in the room, but there is an outdoor shower, with views of the sea that makes up for it.

Everyone staying here is surfing and they are a really friendly crowd, we’ve met lovely people from all over the world, Germany, Switzerland, Holland, Argentina, Italy, Australia and France and we all eat breakfast on a big table every morning, or head out for dinner together at night (Mango Tree, Buddha Soul and the Italian are all firm favourites). A special shout out to our friends Phil and Sabrina from Zurich – they were staying at an amazing bungalow next door (Le Sabot) and whilst the boys were surfing, we sunbathed on the terrace overlooking the waves.

We’ve got 6 weeks in Indonesia, we’re tempted to take up residency.

Lulu&Mat

Globetrotting

A 7am flight from Lisbon to Amsterdam (just enough time to nip to Voorschoten and have a pancake) followed by a night flight to Bangkok (plus a whip round MBK, mango-sticky-rice and a nap) before finally landing in Bali, sleep deprived and delirious…50 hours later.

Back on track for a long nice walk having racked up some serious air miles.

Lulu&Mat

24 Hours in Porto

Sylvie had some business up in Porto, so the Cuveliers all went along too for a family roadtrip. Philippe treated them all to a beautiful 4* Hotel where Cle Cle arrived down to breakfast in a pyjama-winter-boots combo.

La Classe.

Lulu&Mat

Surprise Family Easter

The original plan had been to spend Easter with Mamma and Papa Crook in Thailand, but after a change of plans, which meant they couldn’t come out to see us, we decided to take Easter to them in Portugal. We did a supermarket sweep around Tesco Lotus in Bangkok, picking up all the exotic ingredients we could find, ready to take a taste of the Far East to Europe. I almost smuggled back some sweet mangoes but figured that was taking it a bit far…

It was 18 degrees when we landed, but we couldn’t acclimatise and spent 10 days secretly cranking up the central heating, curled up in front of the fire or sleeping with an electric blanket and two duvets. We went surfing on Easter Sunday, but I had to come out after a while because I couldn’t feel my feet. All these tropical climates are making us soft.

As we were so close to home, we invited the Cuveliers for Easter too, but kept it a surprise from Mat’s mum. When they arrived, we hid outside the house and called the villa phone, chatting away about what a lovely time we were having in Thailand. When Mat crept up behind Sylvie, still talking on the phone and tapped her on the shoulder she couldn’t believe it. It was pure gold. I love surprises.

We burnt up an enormous carbon footprint zig-zagging around the globe, but it was definitely worth it to see everyone. 10 quality days of eating, drinking, surfing, dancing and Franglais. And my dad fell in love with Cle Cle’s cabaret.

The Crook-Cuveliers, thanks for a great week. We love you!

Lulu&Mat

 

Hugging Snakes

In 1926, His Royal Highness Prince Paribatra Sukhumbhand raised funds with the Red Cross Society of Siam to build a research centre for venomous snakes, fish and insects to aid the treatment of patients hurt by venomous animals. The original ‘Four Snakes Building’ he commissioned has since been knocked down, but the site still houses Bangkok’s Snake Farm and the largest collection of venomous snakes in South East Asia.

They milk the snakes for their venom, then inject a small amount of the venom into horses, who produce antibodies which are then used to create anti-venom for the treatment of snake bites. We got there in time for the 3pm educational snake talk, which ended by asking whether anyone in the audience wanted to hold an enormous python. Apparently if a couple holds one together, the Thais believe they’ll have everlasting love, so we gave it a go…

As you can see, I was loving it.

Lulu&Mat