Lombok, Bali, Singapore, Malaysia...

Lombok Elephant Park was amazing with lots of interaction with the "live" creatures...

Ubud in Bali was such a beautiful catch up with Surya and his family 

(we first met Surya on our trip to Bali just after Mum died and have kept in touch ever since, so we went and stayed at their beautiful homestay).  

We were treated like family, Darryl, John, Christine and JPh also came and stayed there.

They invited us to the most beautiful dinner together with the family...

It was so special to see Surya and his family

We went to visit temples, holy water, rice paddies with Surya...

Women making offerings

Offerings

Respect at a temple

Only the "holy man" can be in the sacred water

There was to be a Funeral Procession for 3 members of the Royal Family - Suryas village were asked to make the food for the event, also Ketut, Suryas Dad was heavily involved in the ceremony itself - what an amazing experience to witness this...

Men only, make the meat dishes for the ceremony.  These are men from Suryas village

The horses are built and mounted on huge bamboo carrying frames.

The streets are closed and they are carried by many men from the village, to the burial site

The top of the back of the horse is "cut out" and offerings are placed inside the horse, along with the remains of the person, until it is full,

The remains being carried by the men, with the offering beside being presented by the women

It is a really huge occasion, as there are three of the horses, remains, offerings, blessings...

When they have been filled and blessed by the holyman, they are then lit and their journey to heaven is aided by the horse to take them there...

It was truly something very special to witness.

Nogal and Dragonfly had also come to Ubud and stayed in an incredible Villa Complex

inviting us all over for a evening was very generous and wonderful to experience their special piece of Ubud

We swam, drank, eat and were entertained with a show - thank you so much to Nogal and Dragonfly

Back to the boats, and it was time to move on.

It was JPh's 70th birthday, and we had lots of fun with the children from Nogal, Wakanui and Dragonfly on Our Rose making balloon hats for everyone.

They also decorated JP's birthday cake... and they did the most amazing job!

It is a timeline of his life, from left to right

"French Flag, JPh and Christine,  JPh & Christine and their 2 children

JPh & Christine and their 2 children and their grandchildren,

then finally in the middle their beautiful yacht

and the candles in the shape of 70

The birthday celebrations that night were a lot of fun

The hat the children made for JPh was in French colors and the largest...

the children explaining the timeline on the cake

Everyone at the party

We then made our way to Puteri Marina,
leaving Our Rose and heading to Singapore for a few days...
WHAT A CULTURE SHOCK, after Indonesia!

Back to Our Rose again, and what do we find at Pureri Marina...
A New Zealand Restaurant - it was frequented rather well by us all!

Darryl and his friend Jim who was visiting from Canada - Really great to meet you Jim!

From here it was off to Pangkor Marina.
On a rainy Sunday, what better thing to do
than have Harvey from Wakanui come over and make Peach and Apple Turnovers...





followed by his sister Melia, who made beautiful Apple Roses



Darryl, Jim and Us headed off to Penang for a week.
Richard and I both had extensive medical checks done while in Penang,
including ECG's, Chest Xrays, Abdominal Scans,
many blood/urine tests as a general total all over health check - total cost... $200NZ

We really enjoy Penang, fabulous food, great walks, temples, and being a World Heritage Site the architecture and history is amazing, as is the street art!..

This one of Bruce Lee is quite old

Back to Our Rose and time to Haul Out for her preventative maintence...