Well we did it.....My wife and I survived our first trip to bali, and by the second day were planning for next year.
I love the people, I love the sights, I love Bali.
Day one, well got up early flew to sydney and contected with AA to Denpasar....got attacked by the porters but since we were up since 430am and customs didnt even looking at our paper work let alone our bags and it took two minutes from bag collection to being greeted by our pickup people we didnt care.....even though we were ripped off.
TIP NUMBER 1...Dont point at your bag on the carosel, just be as casual as possible, but remember they are only trying to make a living too.
So we get into the transfer bus, and off we go to Bakungs Beach Cottages, very clean, very friendly, room was large, nice Gardens....
Yes the "double bed" was two singles pushed together but WHO CARES.....the bathroom was clean, and the fridge was cold. TV worked and along with various, local channels and an inhouse movie channel(that was sometimes a little late in starting the next movie) they had CNN and ESPN.
There was a problem with Hot water on the 3rd day, we told them in the morning, came back that arvo and it was fixed.....not even a concern for them, no second guessing they wanted it fixed and it was.
Safety deposit boxes we available, no charge, and access was freely available. Breakfast was good and fresh every day, although NO MORE BACON and eggs for us for a while.
Menu for Breakie was
#Eggs(how you want them) and a choice of Bacon or Ham
#Tea or Coffee
#Juice
#Plus Choice of Fried rice, Noodles, Toast with Jam, or Pancakes with Honey.
TIP NUMBER 2...Some people go to Bali for a cheap holiday and expect the Hilton dont be concerned by what people say, we will recommend this hotel any day.
We went for a walk, no tans, so everyone knew it was our first day. Spent too much shopping, spent way too much money but hey it happens.
The locals in Gang Samudra, off JL Kartika Plaza, were awesome and we even picked up a great Driver, the uncle of one of the shop owners, Ask in the street for Tony, he is at Annies Shop and speak to him about Asmoro, he speaks great english and showed us a great time, more about this lata, anyway walked to Matahari for some supplies, had people try to sell us drugs on the street, only 15 paces from two police officers holding AK47 rifles,.
Wfter walking back we got ready and went to dinner at Indo National, and LOVED IT....it became our little bit of time out spot. The staff are reat the food is cheap. We loved it. A big well done to Kerry and Milton.
......Anyways more to follow a bit later....