Sambolo week

We just arrived home from our week long vacation at Sambolo and it was great.

Sambolo is a string of beach bungalows surrounding a sandy cresent shaped beach. Each bungalow is, literally, only a stone's throw from the ocean with tide pools for hermit crab hunting and clear waves just big enough for body surfing and boogie-boarding, Several other families we knew and newly met were also staying in the other bungalows and since the units were all full, we welcomed one of my friends to join us in ours with her hubby, 2 children, and parents from New Zealand. Lucky they brought a tent. :-)

Tia and Sara spent ALL their time enjoying the sand and sea with their friends. We adults mostly relaxed but two separate afternoons, Quyen drove us to the markets nearby to buy some fresh seafood. Mmmm... we ate well. Monster prawns on the BBQ, squid cooked two different ways, and steamed fish cooked by my favorite chef and hubby.

The week long vacation was to recognize the end of the Muslim fasting month, Ramadan, and Wednesday was Idul Fitri. Most all Indonesians travel back home to their Kampung (village) to celebrate with relatives for a week and many travel to vacation sites such as the surrounding beaches over the weekend. Luckily our beach was private so we were only treated to fireworks each night, and a special all-night "call to prayer" Tuesday night broadcast from the adjacent Muslim mosque. Only children completely worn out from beach play could sleep through that. :-)All the public beaches were PACKED and the resulting traffic was gridlocked.

We drove home early in the day Saturday so had no problems but did we see the crowds headed the other direction. Hundreds of motorbikes, many of them carrying families of 4, buses overloaded with to the point people were hanging out the door, and of course, cars, cars, cars. Crazy. :-)

This was our fourth Sambolo vacation and I think we'll try to head somewhere in another country next time, but who knows.... :-) Wish everyone was closer so they could have joined us!

P.S. Our house helper, Ibu Anis, just finished telling me about her 11 hour return bus ride complete with no AC, crying babies, and only one seat she shared with her nephew while they took turns standing. I guess it's kinda like all the craziness we Americans go through at the airports to be home for the holidays. :-)