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Bali: Sanur beach

Miaster Bijou's first trip to Bali was too short and he hopes to return to explore more. This first time there were the undeniable pleasures of a five-star hotel (!) with its two swimming pools and several restaurants.

Not forgetting the firm and comfy bed, complimentary local fresh fruit, tea and coffee. Thirty TV channels, for those that care. And staff who knew my name. Out the window: manicured gardens and coconut trees.

Plus bike hire.

So, in between conference sessions, meals, swimming and sleeping, Mister B cycled along the beach path from one end of the bay to the other.

And also get a pedicure.

Then ventured into the "back country" and finally came upon a busy road and a taste of the other Bali: the Indonesian Bali.

Meantime, back at the hotel met some old friends and made some new ones.

Travel note: go wheel-chair assisted at airports and thereby avoid all queues for check-in and immigration. It's quicker, hassle-free, and if you fly Cathay Pacific they also give you a badge.

Ah, but home, sweet home. Having disconnected the computer and modem before departure, it was with some enthusiasm that Mister B fired everything up upon return. To no purpose. After much trouble and a day's hair-pulling, the problem was pinned down: a now dodgy graphics card.

Which meant on Wednesday a trip to Wanchai Computer Centre. Where someone sold me a new, superdooper GeForce memory-enhanced, state-of-the art graphics card.

Slot that in, up and running, back on-line, and the machine fair zips along. Though boot-up currently requires press F8 and choose Last Previous Set Up of Windows XP That Worked. . .

Anyway, so far, so good. Ta-rah!