Bali Trip 8th June - 16th June
Part Two
Saturday (Day 3)
We were supposed to go to Waterbom Park today but none of us could be bothered. So we went shopping in Kuta instead. We bought a pair of men's thongs for 30 000RP (very desperate as BF's other pair were giving him blisters.) and had a laugh when the lady who sold them to us asked him for his old ones!! 3 sarongs and a wrap around skirt for 100 000RP, 2 ladies Bali Shirts and one skirt for 100 000. 1 men's digital watch and straw hand bag for 80 000 and two men's singlets for 50 000RP. I think we're getting the hang of this bartering thing!
We then went to Centro (or Discovery Plaza) the air-conditioning here is absolutely wonderful. We bought a smaller back pack for 29 000 lovely to get a bargain without bartering! A nice shirt for work for me - 112 000. And I did the Bali thing and got my hair braided. I bartered with them for 90 000 and then after two girls worked non stop for an hour and a half on my hair I felt bad for scraggling to get them down the last 10 000 and gave them 100 000 anyway. Not sure how much I should have paid for hair braiding and probably would have got cheaper on the beach or in the markets but it was lovely to be able to sit in the air-conditioned comfort and have it done. Even if though I did have to put up with everybody standing around and watching me and me almost shouting 'We're in Bali this is what you do!!!' The name of the place that did it was Bull Dogs and it is on the second floor of Centro. My hair is really thick and long and was quite knotty at the time the girls were so gentle it didn't hurt at all and stayed in all week.
We had lunch at Centro food court at 'Meal Box' Yaki Soba (noodles) and Chicken Teriyaki and 2 Coca Cola's 41 000RP.
Walked down to a laundry near the Bali Hai and dropped our dirties in at 900RP per item how could you go wrong - and we were running out of clean clothes - must do more shopping! The laundry is called Kanter Laundry. Some of the whites had a few dirty marks on them (lucky they were just Bali shirts) and the clothes were hand washed not machine washed but who cares you didn't have to do them yourself and they came back clean, ironed, folded and smelling lovely.
Had dinner at Papa's Café in Legian tonight. We all agreed our waitress was the BEST waitress/waiter any of us had ever had anywhere. Not only did she speak very good English but she knew the lingo. Grandpa who likes to stir the pot a bit was throwing smart remarks to her all evening and she'd throw something back at him that rendered him speechless - and that is saying something!! There was light hearted banter all through the night. She even came up to us and told us that happy hour was finishing in five minutes and if we'd like to order our next round of drinks now (we'd had only just got our last round of drinks delivered) she would hold them until we had finished this lot and we'd still get the happy hour price. As soon as the last of us had taken the last sip of our drink she was at the table asking if we'd like our next round.
BF ordered the Kintamani volcano pizza - wow what a spectacle we wished we'd brought the camera (we're not very good tourists we kept leaving our camera at hotel!!)
TIP: go to Papa's and get the Volcano pizza!! You will be impressed!
TOILET REPORT: Toilets were immaculate.
Sunday (day 4)
White Water Rafting with Sobek Adventure Specialists. We booked this through the agent at home - at the time of booking we were yet to discover the BTF and paid too much for all of our tours.
TIP: Don't book anything except airfares and accommodation with the agents at home. I am not sure exactly how to book over in Bali but there is a tour desk in our hotel and I presume in every holiday. In a country where everything is for sale I am sure you will find someone who will organize a tour for you.
The WWR was great but not enough Boom Boom for the boys (only BF, Dad, Little Bro and I went). Lunch was included and was a buffet and beautiful! It rained a little the guides were excellent and really tried to make the whole experience as fun as possible for you. Remember to take $ for drinks but tea, coffee and water are provided. We were unsure about what to do with our valuables but they ask you take out anything from your back packs that is valuable and they put it in a waterproof bag that actually goes on the raft with you while the rest is put in another bag and is waiting for you at the showers. Towels are also provided so don't stress about not having any.
TIP: unless you are very fit already I suggest you train for the stairs down and up from the river - they are a killer and I suffered for three days afterwards but who cares because 'How many sleeps till Bali?'
We got back to hotel about 2pm where we had a nap and woke up just in time for a dip in the pool and happy hour at the Lotus Pool Bar - then we went for our free 15 minute massage the Bali Hai Spa.
Uncle, Aunty and kids all went to Waterbom today and stayed from 10am till closing at 6pm. We were all too tired to figure out where to go for dinner and then actually go so BF, Little Bro and I had dinner at the pizza place at the Bali Hai and the others had dinner at the main restaurant. Dinner cost 201 000 for three pizzas and drinks and side chips.
Monday (day 5)
Had our Bali Belly scare for the trip today - Dad spent the night keeping close company with the toilet and decided to give today a miss.
Another early start (by holiday standards) for the Bali Hai Lemongan Island Cruise. Not to enthusiastic about this because all I wanted to do was shop shop shop but ended up loving it and would definitely go again. Everyone really enjoyed the day - it really has something for everyone and is great for kids. The staff were fantastic and Miss 10 had most of them wrapped around her little finger with her witty remarks and cheerfulness.
I got a little sea sick with Miss 14 on the way over. As soon as the staff saw you looking a little green they would advise you to go outside in the fresh air and then as you made your way up there with the rocking and the rolling their were always at least two staff members ready to catch you or help you up the stairs or open the door.
Activities on the boat/pontoon include banana boat rides, Lembongan Island tours, snorkeling, semi submarine underwater tour and parasailing (an additional $20US or 190 000RP). We did it all!
On the Lembongan Island trip we learnt a lot about the culture of not just the locals but Balinese in general. The main income for the island is seaweed farming and apparently they used to get 7000RP per kg of seaweed whereas now they only get 4000RP per kg. It was great there were no hawkers on the island. It was very quiet. The guide did take us to a few shops. We bought a few sarongs and a tablecloth in one. They were all handmade (they actually were!) and hand painted and beautiful. We didn't barter really for the sarongs etc because we were happy to pay their asking price (which was quite low anyway) and saw it as helping the island economy.
Parasailing was excellent value and you get a breath taking view of Kintamani in the clouds and the island from up there.
TIP: Take a disposable water proof camera - not just for parasailing but for snorkeling etc as well.
Finally got our act together for dinner tonight and went to Kori's. We were not disappointed. This restaurant is first class and still such value for money. Eleven of us (Dad stayed at the hotel) included 3 kids with garlic breads, drinks, mains and seven desserts the bill came to 1 400 000RP. A bit pricey for Bali I think but you really pay for the quality of the food, service and ambience of the restaurant.
Got back to the hotel and Dad is still close to the toilet but feeling okay. We figured if he had the dreaded BB he'd know by now so we put it down to a case of 'too much you buy you buy and hustle and bustle.'
Tuesday (Day 6)
The 'Who likes Pina Colada's' has turned into a dull mumble now that reality has set in and we are actually in Bali and only have two more days left - already missing it!
We planned to go to Legian today. Why? To shop of course! It was very quiet and so the shop owners were out in full force - lucky Dad stayed at home.
But wait there is more...to be continued...