A Lesson Learned

First and most importantly we love Sanur and are having a lovely time.  However, I would be lying if I did not say our first couple of days were tainted by a foreign exchange experience at Phuket airport.  After arguing with my bank over the last two days I have learnt just how dodgy changing money at an airport is.  I always teach my students the importance of understanding exchange rates and how easy it is to lose money and even make money. I actually find myself wishing I was teaching right now to use our experience as a teaching moment.  Here is the brief scenario, as it just gets me mad to think about it.  
At the departures we changed our money at our bank's, SCB, foreign exchange counter.  Now I do know rates are worse at the airport but really as never changing loads I did not think it would ever make a significant difference.  However, I was wrong.  It does not make too much difference when it is a strong currency.  For instance, if 1 pound equals 40 Baht, unless you are changing loads and loads if the airport gives you 1 pound to 39 Baht it is not that big of a deal.  BUT, when you travel to a currency that deals in millions it makes a massive deal.  So in this case the airport offered a rate of 0.00371 for IDR, when the actual rate on that day was 0.0026.  Now it is not a currency I deal in, so I had no idea that 0.00371 was not the rate and just trusted my bank.  But when we arrived in Bali we saw the actual exchange rate and how much money we lost.  We changed just over 1000 dollars and they gave us the equivalent of 600 dollars.  The bank took 400 dollars.  This is crazy!! If we had just waited to we had gotten here we would have almost fifty percent more money. The real issue is of course I budgeted on us getting the correct amount.  I have spent two days arguing with my bank, they assure me every bank does this.  That this is their policy.  Basically, making tonnes of money off people that would never think to check the rates closely or assume 0.00371 and 0.0026 are close when it is a huge huge difference when dealing with millions.  A lesson learnt for me and I hope I can help others to realise how crucial it is to check these rates before changing money.
Okay, that is my rant and I am hoping it makes me feel better!
Besides that once again Bali has not disappointed, we just love it!  We are staying in Sanur, a place we have not been before and I will write more about it another day. 

Time to let it go, money gone and really what is important is I am here with my beautiful family in paradise. 
 

Bali Birthday

Birth week continued with us flying to Bali for half term and to celebrate Luis's 35th birthday.  Nothing I planned seemed to go completely to plan.  For instance I ordered a birthday cake for the plane that didn't arrive, we went to the wrong place for breakfast and almost missed the cake and I could not get a good picture to save my life.

The flight over Singapore, I tried to capture the thousands of oil tankers parked but this picture does not do it justice.

 All ready for the flight.

 As the airline messed up the cake we got to choose all these things instead.

 Airplane holiday drinks for everyone!

We finally got in and organised in time for bed and this morning were all up early for the big birthday!!  Sebastian gave Luis a beautiful book of memories

When we found out we were at the wrong restaurant for breakfast I dragged everyone to the other one to make sure Luis had his cake.

The view from our room.  We love Bali! Happy Birthday Amor!

Birth Week Begins!

Every year Luis bangs on about his birthday at least a month before, and don't even get me started on the importance of 'birth week'.  This year he has been, thankfully, distracted by his beautiful son and birth week has been shortened to just a few days.  The beginning was yesterday as he celebrated his birthday with some friends on the island.  The last couple years Luis worked every Sunday so he was very excited to finally go to Cape Panwa for Sunday brunch.  The food is still shocking for vegetarians, but for 10 pounds, it is still the best value on the island.  The location and use of the pool for the day is worth it without any food anyways.

 Sebastian is exactly a year younger than Quinlan, so it is always so interesting to see him as I know that is the stage Sebastian will be in one year (like looking into the future).

 The group

 The View

 I loved the cake.

 The Dads

 Yes I have an umbrella. But my boy is not getting any sun on that precious skin of his!

 It was a lovely afternoon with some wonderful people.  And only a few more days till the real thing!

Oktoberfest Phuket Style

Yesterday we went to Phuket's idea of an Oktoberfest.  I am not sure how they did not learn from last years attempt where they ran out of beer at 8pm but they didn't.  This year they ran out at 7:30 for an event that was meant to go on all night.  No big deal for us as we only stopped in for a couple hours, but my guess is the lack of beer probably killed the rest of the night. 

 Sebastian eyeing up a pretzel.

 Our German neighbour, Rico, who Luis always seems to get together with when I am not around!

 This lady randomly asked to hold Sebastian.

 It definitely needs a little work, but we had a great time with our friends.  But next year, if they are going to hold an Oktoberfest they better had get some beer.

New Peeps for Dinner

We have been trying to get these people over for a long time.  It took us over three years to make it happen.  But I think we made up for it last night!  Our usual Mexican evening, but this time it turned out really well.

Ginny, the only lady in this picture, is my Vice Principal and has made my time here amazing. I could not ask for a more supportive person. She has laughed with me, listened to me and cried with me.  I will be forever thankful for the support she has shown us and wish I got a better picture of us together last night!

 Sara is no stranger to this blog and a women who I connected with the minute I got off the plane. Always happy to spend time with this special lady.

 The crew for the night.  The other lady, Claire (in white) was Luis's boss at boarding.  Another lovely strong female.

 I made them all endure an 'Amanda's Pub Quiz'

 But think it actually went down quite well.

 The winning team.

It was a really good night and am so happy we finally got them over for dinner, I think Sebastian was the draw in the end!

Best Gift

Back in June I had a non baby shower thrown for me by some of the wonderful ladies here.  I had made it very clear I did not want a baby shower, so they made an alternative one for me.  I totally forgot but at the non-baby shower everyone had to colour in letters of the alphabet. Well yesterday I went to school to tutor and was presented with this fantastic present.

What a great present!! I just love it and know Sebastian will as well.  I felt so lucky.  And speaking of Sebastian..

 Yesterday he got all dressed up to spend the morning, with the baby that could be his future wife. 

It is crazy one month ago he was half her size, it is incredible the rate he has grown.  He has more than doubled his birth weight and also to be fair his cuteness level!