Welcome.....

Welcome to my blog....

This is my first attempt at blogging and I am sure mistakes will be made.  I created this blog primarily to document our trip to Singapore and Bali.  There are two families traveling from Minnesota to Singapore, to visit another family in Singapore.  Then, all three families will travel onward to Bali.  Ten people all together in our group.  I'm certain it will be the adventure of a lifetime.  My family consists of me (age: older than I care to be in calendar years, but much younger at heart), my husband, and my 12 year old boy/girl twins. 

The two Minnesota families will start by spending a couple of days in my favorite US city, San Francisco (where I lived for many years), and from there, flying on to Singapore via Singapore Airlines.  This is a 19.5 hour flight, with a one hour stop in Hong Kong for refueling....I cannot say that I am looking forward to that plane trip, although I am assured that the service we will experience is far superior to that of cattle class on US airlines.  We are beginning the packing process and my husband tells me that we are bringing FAR too much...and accuses me of packing small farm animals into the bags.  I am not.  Just the required clothing and assorted bug repellants, sunscreens, sandals and swimsuits for a trip of this length (26 days).  He is bringing one smallish carryon.  The other three are bringing three large bags, plus carryons.  :-)

We will spend three days in Singapore...hoping to see the zoo, the botanical gardens, and eat some amazing food.  And, of course, catching up with our friends, who moved from Minnesota in the fall of 2010.   I'm sure we will be jet lagged, but I am sure we will muster through somehow.

And, then on to Bali...where we have divided our time into three different private villas.  The first is Villa Teresa in Canggu:

It is on the beach, about 10-15 minutes from the famed Echo Beach House, which we definitely hope to sample.

For our second leg, we will travel to the much less visited North part of the island...we are looking forward to the peace and calm of this area, and sampling something of the "real" Bali.  We will be renting all three villas at the small resort of Agung Bali Nirwana:

Hoping we get the chance to snorkel at the reef you can see just off shore:

I am also hoping that my children get the chance to visit a local Balinese school...the resort talks about this possibility on their website.  I'll bet it's just a little different from their school.

Our final leg will be spent in the famed Ubud...one of the cultural and spiritual centers of Bali.  It is famous for it's arts and crafts, as well as restaurants and spas.  We hope to sample some of each of these, particularly the spas.  :-D  We will be staying at Villa Bukit Naga, which looks amazing:

 I hope to be able to update this blog during our trip...sort of a diary if you will...depending on the reliability of internet service.