Mmmm

So even if you haven't missed us I certainly missed my husband (ooh that's still strange). He swanned off to Komodo for a week (likely to see those big M.... fish - without me) while I discover the true delights of food shopping at Hardy's. There still seems to be absolutely no logic in how they've laid the shop out so it takes about an hour to find the half a dozen "basics" to live on - looking forward to a tasty, fresh stir fry with a pile of fluffy rice.

Basic number one is of course rice. How complicated could that be? Not surprisingly an entire aisle is dedicated to this staple. Which one do I get? The cheapest one in the smallest packet obviously. Beras ketan putih. Go on, look it up, Google translator does Bahasa....

...at least the stir fry was tasty.

Made friends with a bunch of French diving folk so I have managed to get some plongeing in while Adrian was away. Can now name most of the equipment and a few fish en Francais. (good job too as my CV says I can speak French).

Fab time back in Tulamben: ribbon eels, baracuda, jackfish, nudis a gogo. And then to Nusa Penida. OMG. We have been diving for 15 years. Chased all over the world, I check where we go, what time of year to be right to see them. And have we? Must be jinxed. But now here we are. A mere stonesthrow from my back yard I can sit in the swell for an hour at 10m of slightly chilly sea while 1/2 dozen or more of these magnificent creatures enjoy the services of the cleaner wrasse. I've seen them, MANTA!!! Then a second dive in search of the other M. Not disappointed. 2 mola-mola come up from the depths but are too soon frightened off by some other inconsiderate divers - b****y amateur photographers.

Small pangs of guilt now enter my head. What if Adrian's little trip hasn't been as productive...