OK this is a long time coming I said we would promise you a JBR and here it is as The Kop and Fisho girl remember.
We arrived ahead of time from Darwin ( top of Australia ) and went straight to our driver with no hassels at all, took us about 10 min to get outside, we had to drop several people off at 2 other hotels but once they where gone, it was Sanur Paradise Plaza Hotel all the way.
We were given our room which was on the Non mosque side room 445 ( Family Room ) , this room was lovely, we also received with the room ( as a surprise ) A fruit platter, a welcome card, 2 free massage and a discount on optional massage's ( 75000 RP for 1 hour ).
We then went to bed as it was 1:00 am Bali time.
Next day we decided to get a discount card. This is 50% off all Food and 25% off all Drinks.
I would recommend this to all families this cost 320000 RP per week.
Had breakfast in the restaurant down stairs ( buffet ), then went shopping down at Sanur beach. Not much tell you but bought to much and spent to much. Had a ball bartering loved it.
Went to dinner with a work mate to plant Hollywood, had a lovely meal for a very cheap price.
Next few days we went shopping in Sanur and Kuta not much to tell you there but like above bought a heap more gear, ( DVD's PS 2 games and clothes. ) Also went to Ramyana and bought a PS 2 game consul for the kids. Has chip, 10 free games and 2 controllers, as mentioned on the forum before. This was a really good bye as we could try all the games and movies we bought and if they didn't work we could just bye another one later.
On day 3 we did more shopping and headed down to S&S in the arvo caught up with Stormy, Smudge, and yoyo and family, was a great evening and very nice company.
We then went to Bubba Gumps with yoyo and family as mentioned in yoyo's JBR, very nice meal and great for kids, my wife mentioned before we went into Bubba Gumps that someone down at the S&S said if you go there mention to them that its your birthday. WELL once yoyo's husband and I had killed a bucket of corona, fisho girl was in for a surprise, ( it wasn't her birthday ) but I decided to see what would happen, as I recall it the whole of the staff at Bubba Gumps came out smashing empty buckets, pots and pans singing Happy Birthday to Fisho girl, lights where flickering on and off and it was a very joy full experience, ( I just sat back and laughed ). She also received a free ice cream Sunday, ( I was in a bit of trouble later on ).
After the meal yoyo's family and ours decided to meet at waterbom on Wednesday.
The next day we decided to go to the Discovery Mall, in one word WOW we have nothing like this in little old Darwin this place was great, I recommend the restaurant on the 2nd floor looking out over the sea, great food and big serves. The Cafe is called Celsius.
Then the young fella got crook, ( not BB ), had a temp of 38.9 so we went down stairs in Discovery and on the 1st floor there was a very nice chemist, the pharmacist spoke very good English and sold us a bottle of paracitamal and a thermometer. We then decided we should go back to the hotel, we decided to catch a Blue Taxi as our driver had a Moon ceremony so couldn't use him for the day. But let me tell you this from Kuta to Sanur in a Blue Cab, ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM, 10 min traveling at mach 1 and only costing 30000 RP, I was very impressed. Nothing much for the rest of the day but Drink lots of Bintang and have a swim, young fella had a sleep woke up next morning fine.
On Wednesday we went to waterbom with yoyo and family, the kids ( and I ) had a ball, so did yoyo as I recall, ( once you got her on the slides there was no stopping her ) we had a great day. Later that evening we went to Planet Hollywood for a meal, nice food and well priced.
Went shopping in Denpasar on the Thursday to all the stores, Ramayana, Matahri, and Robinson. We spent a lot of our holiday at the 3 stores mentioned above, but Ramayana is the best.
I asked my Driver to take us on Saturday to the Volcano very good trip and well worth it, I asked him to take me to a silver smith, this place was great, cheap and very delicate artmanship, The shops name was called " MAR'S " very nice place. The prices in the shop are all for japenise so ask for Aussie price and then barter.
We then went to the volcano and down to Ubud, I asked my driver to take us to a really nice restaurant he took us to a Hotel called CAHAYA DEWATA Hotel we had lunch there looking out over the rice fields and river rafting great meals, cheap and lots for the kids.
Then back to Ubud central for a shop, didn't bye much as was starting to feel a bit shopped out. Back to Sanur and had room service for a big day.
Next day went to the reptile park, paid $350000 RP to get in and wasn't that overly impressed, they had a few animals that where interesting but didn't think it was all cracked up to what people have told me. ( this is my version ). Then my driver asked if we would like to go to the Zoo as the kids were winging about going into the bird park, so off to Bali zoo.
Well if I was told about this before the reptile park I would of only gone there, not only did they have nearly all the same reptiles but lions, tigers and many other animals was well worth the trip inside.
Over the next week we went shopping in Sanur, Kuta and Denpasar, I found Poppies 1 to be the best buys, and then next the Sanur Beach Markets. I did find a department store call Hardy's in Sanur this place you could barter even on the set prices great little shopping centre, it also had a heap of top brand make up for a fraction of the price you would pay here, fisho girl had a ball as you can imagine.
We had meals at several restaurants on Sanur Beach but one that stands out is a restaurant in a hotel called Respati Bali, the Hotel has just changed owner's, we had a look at the individual bungalows and would probably stay there if we didn't take the kids, this was a very nice hotel and cheap on the budget.
The last night we took our driver his wife and his new daughter ( 5 months ) down for dinner in the Komodo Cafe in PP hotel.
Well that's about all I can say about our trip with the family. Fisho girl and my self ( no kids ) will be heading back in October for a week and will be happy to meet up at S&S, one thing I would like to say and I have said it before but I would really like to recommend my Driver I Made Sukarma he was great for the two weeks we where there, his number is 081 835 4088.
To yoyo and family it was great to meet you and maybe one day we may meet again in Bali.
If you would like to see photo's of the Family suite in Paradise Plaza Hotel please feel free to e-mail myself or fisho girl.
Hope you enjoyed this JBR. Salamat Jalan.