Yesterday morning we awoke early at 5:30 to go on a dolphin cruise. Actually pretty good compared to some guidebook accounts. I was expecting the wild west, with 125 speedboats all following the dolphins at harassing distances. Reality was 12 outrigger canoes with small engines, very slow. Dolphins come close if they want to, and they mostly did. The guides are fisherman out to catch tuna, they follow the dolphins who are following the tuna. Tuna can jump pretty far and high when its being chased by a hungry dolphin. A few of the larger dolphins put on jumping exhibitions that remind one of sea-world. Amazing jumps with 3-4 complete rolls, tail walking, etc. It must have a reason because I doubt the fisherman taught them. I think they are just showing off because they learned that the tourists like it. We also saw mother and child swimming very close, usually touching, with the baby about the size of a big salmon, and looking very slippery. Smaller than Niels for sure. Julia got quite a bit on tape, until the battery ran out, so back in seattle we can all enjoy a dolphin show.

Wayan and I were in one boat, Wendy, Julia and Niels were in the other. Wayan and Neils wore their floaty-suits, which are not easy to get into when the child is cooperating, very difficult when they're asleep. Wayan and I had one of the best guides, kept his distance and watched, then slowly maneuvered to where the tuna were going. We were often surrounded by 30-50 breaching dolphins, large jumps all around us, both dolphin and tuna, and a groups of small silver fish that seemed to skip across the surface of the water touching every 20 feet or so (flying fish?)

Yesterday we got off the bemo in the middle of Lovina. There is a nice upscale backpacker area with good restaurants (and nearly western prices for food, ok, maybe 50% of western but still super expensive.) We had good Thai food, I had steamed Marlin from the local market, with light lemongrass/tamarind/chili sauce. Kids Monstered their Phad Thai, Julia had cashew chicken, which she said wasn't so good.

Sorry, didn't bring my camera, was expecting to get wet. Was calm like a swimming pool, so would not have been a problem. Terrific views of Bali when out on the water, nice sunrise.