Well I'll try this again did it last week and lost the whole lot before I could post it.
FLIGHTS
Flew out of Perth with Garuda Business Class 8am. Only one drama getting on the plane as hubby had put some wire cutters in my handbag to cut the cable ties off when we got to Bali. Security was quick to take those off our hands along with the cable ties. Business class itself is really nothing to rave about, the only significant difference was obviously the size of the seats and the leg room which is great and you get glass for your drinks and a menu to order from which for breakfast was quite ordinary. Movie wasn't working so put my feet up and had a sleep.
Landed in Bali on time and got straight through VOA and immigration wihtin 10 mins. Collected bags and through customs no worries , they just had a look at our duty free. I must admit waiting for our bags on the carousel was very funny with all the home done glad wrapped bags that were going around. Some of the bags were even duct taped and danger taped. Funny as hell.
Took taxi straight to the hotel Rp20,000.
HOTELS
Stayed our first 7 days at the Kartika Plaza in Tuban. Very nice hotel I think the pool area is one of the best I've seen. Rooms were quite spacious, we had an Ocean Facing Room on the 3rd floor. We actually had a view of the ocean and over the pool area. Breakfast there was good with quite a bit to choose from. Didn't eat any other meals there even though on arrival we were given 2 meals vouchers for one of there buffet nites. Great place to be at the pool area for sunset because the hotel backs on to the beach. 1/2 price cocktails are on at sunset which is also another encouragement to be there as well. Hawkers are along the boundary to the hotel but the people who were buying from them said they wern't too aggressive.
For our last 3 nites we went over to the Conrad Hilton in Benoa which was just beautiful. The rooms were very spacious and well decorated with modern bali being it's theme. We had a Delux Lagoon Rm on the 1st floor which mean't you walked out on to your patio then 2 steps down into the meandering lagoon that weaved it's way aroung the hotel and up towards the beach. A bigger pool was located in the middle. Pool is open 24hrs a day which is really great. As many pool towels as one can carry, no signing in and out. OOH I could go on for hours about this hotel, it was what the doctor ordered.
EATING
Well we have our few fav's that we always go back to, one being Kori's. It's just a great place to eat and relax the staff is brilliant as well as the food and maybe it is a little expensive for Bali but it's certainly worth a try. went to Papa's again this time and was a little disappointed. The menu isn't as extensive and I do think it's getting very over priced. Went to a new place(I think) Neros on Jl Legian. Food very good and drinks were priced reasonably. One place we were put on to this time was a place over the rood from the Kuta Paradiso called Asian Spice. What a great little place. You order of the menu board up at the counter go and find a seat and they bring it to you. Choice of food ranged from Indo, Japanese and Thai(all of my favourites). You can see chef cooking and how clean the kitchen is. Very quick and easy. Had to have a meal at Bubba Gumps, we went there the 2nd week it opened last year ande thought it was a fun place and very generous with the portions of food. Still the same this time although alot busier. Ordered too much food but had a great time. Free soft drink refills all nite but I think the alcoholic drinks are a little on the steep side.
ACTIVITIES
I wont bore you too much with my shopping expeditions only to say I saved money on some things and got ripped off on others, but to me thay are still cheaper than here at home. I did find the quality of what we were buying as in surf clothes out of the back rooms to be the best I've ever seen. Just pay close attention to the sizing I bought XL for the boys at home and the arm holes were very tight.Went up to AWA blinds and had 1 blind made 2.5m x 2.5m in sandalwood made for $35.00, briiliant. Also had some pictures painted at Syra in seminyak 1.4m x 1.2m for $40.00. Great job and just what I wanted.
Before we left MIL gave us 2 tickets for the Bali Hai Arisocat. We chose to this on the saturday. Left hotel at about 7.45am off to Benoa Harbour.A 2hr trip later we ended up on Lembongan Island at the Hai Tides resort. The sea's I thought were quite rough and found myself getting sea sick half way through so put my feet up and closed my eyes and thought happy things for an hour. The resort itself is free to use all thier ammenities,BBQ lunch cooked for us and activites going on through the day, snorkling , banana boats, glass bottom boats etc all free. Not feeling like another 2 hr sail back I remembered reading on the brochur you get when boarding, that if space is availiable you can return on the Ocean Rafting tour. So enquired about that and got the last 2 seats on the boat. Well talk about a ride, this thing hammers in the surf and you actually don't get time to even think about getting sick. The boats goes up to speeds of 45knots and takes 25 mins to get back to port. Would thoroughly recommened this to anyone for a great thrill. Definitly book all these Bali Hai things over there as it works out to be much cheaper.
Next day we did quad biking with Paddy adventure. I think we picked the wrong ones to go with but anyhow it was a good day out. Only thing with the photo's was that this time of the year in the rice paddy's, it was harvesting so everything was a little brown and dead not lush and green as we have seen before. Lost of people in the fields and all are so friendly.
Hired a bike in Benoa for a couple of days, charged us Rp100,000 per day which is good. Got to drive around and see a little more of Nusa Dua and the hotels, wouldn't like to drive the streets of kuta though.
Flight home was fine service from Garuda was much better took 4 hrs. Got caught with 8 kgs over in luggage which was going to cost us $104US. wasn't happy so went to complain to the money man and he said if I wanted a discount to go to customer service which we did and much to our surprise he waivered the whole lot, which were very thankful for. Home to perth and straight through immigration and on to our luggage which again was last of the carousel. Declared all our wood things and had to undo all the blinds for them to check to see if there were reeds in it. Customs took about 1/2 hr. All good.
Thankyou for reading, hope I haven't bored you for too long any questions just ask. J.