Day 13 - balloon ride and Mount Popa

Today is the last day that the whole group is together and that I'll be with my roomie Helen as tomorrow morning the group splits into those who go home and those off to the beach for a few days. I'm off to the beach which I am looking forward to. It will be nice just to chill and do nothing for a couple of days.

This morning I was up at 4:30am to get ready for a dawn balloon ride. We were picked up by an old bus and taken to a field. In the field the balloons were laid out in the dark and we were offered tea and coffee and seats. After introductions and being told which groups we were in we went to the side of our balloon for a safety talk. Our pilot was called Nobby (great name!) and he was from Bath. We then went back to our seats while they raised the balloons up.

Once in the balloon gently lifted up and away :-) We flew over all the temples that we saw yesterday. We watched the sun rising over the temples and the mist around them. It was a wonderful trip.

After a quick breakfast we travelled by coach to Mount Popa a mountain with a temple at the top. We walked the 777 steps to the top. On route were loads of monkeys and when we walked down one grabbed one of our parties hat and glasses. He managed to get his glasses back but the hat is gone for ever..... The monkeys were actually quite scary 😒

Lunch was at the Popa Mountain Resort which was a beautiful hotel with wonderful food. It was one of those places you would love to stay at - very Eco friendly and clean with lovely views. 

Back at the hotel ( where a merry Christmas) sign had appeared at reception!) we popped back to our room and the beds had been covered with beautiful flowers in a pattern and we had a note from the cleaners. We sat around the pool for a bit and at 5pm when Christmas music started with 'We wish you a merry Christmas'. It's very odd when the sun is shining. I have to say it's been odd not being at home during the build up to Christmas.  

Our last meal as a group was in a local restaurant. We were given a complimentary flaming banana with rum for pudding. One of the group made a thank you speech for Sit hu who was our guide and gave him an envelope with a big tip in it from the group. On the way to the restaurant he had suddenly shouted at one of the party to watch out and pushed her. She was just about to step on a small scorpion ! I didn't know they had them here ......