I arrived back at Padang Bai after my R&R at Gili Air. Pena, my dependable driver, was there to pick me up and bring me back to Matahari. He sincerely feels like it is his responsibility to take care of me when I'm in Indonesia .. like the Mother he never really had.
All smiles and welcoming me back to Matahari, which felt great. I thought I'd start diving the next day, but Delon, my Guide and Eyes, said he had a prayer day. That was the day before Nyepi, and it is typical. And of course, the next day was Nyepi, so no diving that day ... or anything else, as you learned from my Nyepi Blog.
I have been getting to know Carol and Neil from Australia. A very interesting couple, he is 85, she is 70+. I have seen them here before the last 3 times. They are legends here and everyone calls the "Mama and Papa'. They basically live here at Matahari for several months. They are both long-time divers, with big cameras, and lots of photography experience. They don't even have a Guide when they dive! They do have help getting to the Dive Site and getting in and out of the water. They don't dive very deep. And they don't hesitate to cancel if the weather isn't good, there is current or waves, or they just aren't up to it. Carol is actually a professional photographer and even has a Nudi named after her!!!!!!! This is a photo of them at the Nyepi parade. They give me hope that I can continue to dive into my 80's !
And, they are 'cat people', and have been feeding the several cats here. One of the striped Ginger cats has new born kittens that she is nursing, and, she is still nursing her last litter! I saw the Tiger one getting *ucked a couple days ago. She is working on trying to get a vet to come a neuter them. Look at the Ginger cat that isn't striped. Doesn't she have a beautiful coat? ...like a Mountain Lion.
OK, back to diving. Delon and I dove for the next 3 days, 2 dives a day. He really is amazing at finding the critters. And I am lucky to have him, the owners use him too. They told me that they 'let me have him' while I am here. Very thankful for that.
I really want to know the names of these beauties. Delon was 'on fire' for 3 days showing me very special things! Like this beauty. Eubranchus ocellatus (Dunga ocellata), I think :)
I can tell he gets really excited when he finds something special and won't let me stop taking photos. And I feel bad if I don't get a good one. This was one of those. Purple Eubranchus sp.
This one is really hard to see, there is so much there. Virgin Eubranchus - Eubranchus virginalis
This is a Doto, but not sure which one. They are so tiny !
Another new one for me. Awaiting confirmation on name, Ercolania sp. ?
Eubranchus ocellatus
There were actually two of them together ... which of course, I didn't notice until I saw the photos. No wonder I didn't know where to look !
Everyone was very excited that Delon found this one. A Bornella hermanni ??? As I've mentioned before, it is important to photograph the eyes, face, rhinophores to be a 'great' photo. So I keep trying.
But then you can't see what it looks like. So this is my 'great' photo.
I can see what all the 'fuss' is about... they are a bit strange looking
This is a cute little Indian Sea Hare - Notarchus indicuss. So difficult to see, can you find his eyes.
Here is a side view.
These Zanzibar Whip Coral Shrimp - Dasycaris zanzibarica are not my favorite, but...
All Nudibranchs are Sea Slugs, but not all Sea Slugs are Nudibranch. This is a Sea Slug, Siphoteron sp. Strange little creature.
There are many different Dotos, this one is a Christmas Tree Doto - Doto sp.
Not sure where it's going here, but I like the photo
A Sakuraeolis nungunoides nudi... pretty color
A Ceratoasoma nudi
Delon found another Siphoteron sp. This one with 2 little eyes !
Mexichromis multituberculata nudi
This day Delon said he wanted to find a Oxynoe for me ... and so he found several of them, eating.
This little one has eggs in the algae
They are strange looking, with all those 'bumps', and then a pretty green and blue 'blotch', ...and with big eyes, for a Nudi
And, he found a Cycerce, the beautiful ButterFly Nudi
I am requesting ID on this, there were 2 of them, and they were laying eggs.
The eggs
One we've seen before Aegires villosus
Another crab I'm not usually interested in, but this one, a Wire coral crab - Xenocarcinus tuberculatus... WoW. Look at those long legs, and long nose, and what is that growing out the top of it ? Very striking creature, look at the markings !
At the end of this dive, I saw a Mushroom Coral. I know that there is a Nudi that lives in there sometimes. Very small, and hiding among the long 'arms' of the coral which are swaying back and forth in the current. I was sure I didn't get anything. But I did ! It is called a PopCorn Shrimp (because it looks like popcorn), aka Mushroom Coral Ghost Shrimp (Cuapetes kororensis)
The next day was my last dive day. I said I had not seen a PomPom Crab .. or Boxer Crab. So, ask and though shalt receive. I took a lot of photos, but it was not interested in doing any PomPom routine for me.
After Delon left to find something else for me to see, I hung around a bit, and finally saw him move his Pom Poms, a little.
This is a nudi that I used to know, as Okenia, now it's name is Bermudella brunneomaculata. I could remember, and even pronounce Okenia ... There are actually 2 of them here, and those are their eggs, trailing down.
Again, the 'face' with this Dendronotrus regius
A short video with a lot of activity around this pretty anemone
A Goniobranchus something ... really pretty
Finally I remembered to get a photo with Delon.
The morning I left I was finally able to see almost the top of Mt Agung
It was a beautiful calm morning, unlike the ocean most of the time I was there.
I said my goodbyes to everyone at Matahari, and told them I would see them next year, God Willing, and the creek don't rise, (where do those old sayings come from?). At 8am Pena drove me the 3.5hr back to Palm Beach Hotel by the airport. I've stayed there every year before my flight. It's 5min from the airport. His son came along for the ride.
I had an entire day to hang out, and do a little shopping. Then I looked for somewhere nice for dinner with a sunset. I found the perfect place, Sands Restaurant, at Anvaya Resort Hotel, with great service. My new $6 dress.
Classy, free bread and oil, and a welcome drink.
Even a bit of entertainment.
And the SunSet just kept getting better and better.
My flights home were horrendous, I left Bali on 24 March at 1pm, 4hr flight to Malaysia, 7hr layover, then 6hr flight to Japan, with a 10hr layover, then 13hr flight to Chicago, with a 7hr layover before getting on the plane to Kzoo, arriving at midnight. I did 'rent a nap' in a capsule at the Narita Airport. I've spent the night in them before, but this was the first time for a 'nap'. I cannot recommend them enough. It was what I needed, a nice bed, with fluffy comforter, and quiet sleep. Oh, while I was waiting to get into my room, they had a PlayList going. I listened to 'Duke of Earl', 'Born to Late', and other Oldies!!!!!!! What a surprise!
Once in Chicago, most of my layover time was taken up at Immigration, and ...looking for my shoe! I paid extra for a 'front' seat, the only drawback is that there is no where to put your 'stuff', it has to go in the overhead bin. I put on my Decompression Socks (which I highly recommend, no swollen ankles), and put my shoes in the overhead bin. When I left, there was only ONE shoe! How could you not notice an ORANGE shoe ?
The nice Japanese flight attendant and I looked everywhere, from the plane to the Immigration line, to the Baggage carousel. No shoe ! WTF?
But, happy to be home, even if with only one shoe.
This concludes my 2026 Winter Adventure Blog. Thank you for following along. I hope you learned a few new things, I know I did.
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