Just sitting down to write my just back report, and it depresses me. I wish I was back in Bali now instead of work, but oh well, will just have to save to go back again next Jan.
We left on Monday 10th Jan and flew with air paradise. The flight over was good, we flew from Melbourne to Sydney first, once on the plane we were given a bottle of water and a small sort of breakfast meal. The stop in Sydney was not to bad, there for about 1 hour, then back on the plane, and heading to Bali. The service on the plane was good, watched Taxi ( a new movie) and was given food all the time, ice-cream, chips and drinks. Got into Bali early and started to get ready for the run to VIP line, we were the last ones on the bus that took us over to the terminal, we had to stand up so therefore we were the first ones off, and the first ones through VIP, it took a total of 5 mins, but then had to wait awhile for the bags as they were last off, all the Sydney bags had been placed on top. We went through customs and the guy wanted to search our bags, I started to have thoughts about drugs being placed into my bag, he only questioned what the cd case was for. So after about half an hour we were through and in Bali. And the heat and smells heat you and all the memories of Bali coming flooding back. We headed off to the Bounty stayed there for 5 nights. The bounty was a nice hotel and even though we are young I felt it was more of a singles hotel that you go with a group of friends, it was not really a couples hotel. The Bounty had a great breakfast and always had something on in the afternoons at the main pool, on arvo they had a pillow fighting contest. Which was great to watch, looks like it would of hurt a lot.
While in Kuta we shopped and did everything possible. We tried a few restaurants suggested by the forum, Bali Bagus, Warang 96, Kori's and the Secret Garden. Our favourite was the Secret Garden just off Poppies 1, it is a nice restaurant hided away, it is opposite a restaurant named Fat Yogi, the beers at Secret Garden were so cheap only 6000 I think. I had chicken satays for about 20 000 and they were the best I tried all holidays. Koris was ok, but not what I thought it would be like and restaurant was lovely and we sat around a pond, but I think you can get better food for value for money somewhere else.
We spent a day a waterbom which is a must, the bf had a great time and loved the whole day did not want to leave, had to drag him out of the pool. I would suggest you go early to get a good sunlounge, even one of those little huts, they looked very relaxing but were all taken by the time we got there.
The best thing we did on our holiday was go to the Elephant Park in Toro, we had arranged a driver who we meet on Kuta beach, his name was Ketut and he said he would pick us up at 9am at the Bounty. We were waiting there at 9am and a strange guy came up to us and said I am your driver for the day. He said Ketut was his cousin but did not know the Ubud area so he would take us. This guy who's name I could not understand did not speak much English and just laughed at his own jokes. He also said that he would take us to a different park, I got annoyed thinking he was in it for the commission and politely no we wanted to go to the one in Toro. It took about 1 and a half hours but it was worth it. We arrived thinking we would just go to the park with no ride. The park admission is only about 14 US dollars but all u get to do is feed to baby elephants and watch the elephant show which is on at 11:30 I think. We paid extra and went on the ride. It was the best thing we did. Completely different from anything we ever did in Australia. I felt a bit sorry for the elephants, but they were looked after ok, I guess. Our guide was lovely and Pat and I both thought he was great. He was happy to tell us anything, he lived just near the elephant park and his family lived in west bali he only got to go home one day a week, both apt and I wanted to give him a huge tip but it was not really appropriate and there was never really an opportunity. The elephants were quite calm and only wondered off to eat. The ride lasted about 45 mins and I had a blast, even though I was worried about doing it in the first place.
I went and had a few hours of relaxation at Margi's just next to the Bounty. I had a massage which was a least an hour and maybe a half, I cant remember I was that relaxed. The girl was very good and asked if the massage was too hard, but it was great, the only thing I wish she had down was given me a damp face washer after she finished so I could wipe off the oil, she only gave me a towel, but the hotel was close I did it myself. I then had a hair crème treatment which also had a neck massage. This was fantastic as my hair was so dry from the pool and my hair smelt great, even the bf commented on it. The massage cost 75 000 which is just over $10 and the hair treatment was 65 000 about $9 it was so good and cheap I wanted to get one the very next day!
That's part one will add part two later, which I promise to discuss the shopping and our stay in Sanur. Hope it was not too long!