Let me just say I have been reading these JBR's for the past 6 months leading up to my first holiday to Bali and don't know where I would be without it... A friend and I kept looking at eachother when a good or bad thing would happen to us on our holiday and and say "Thats going in my JBR" so here goes....
Flew out of Adelaide on Sunday morning 19th June, and was probably the most nervous I have ever been in my life! Partly because my trip had finally arrived and partly cause I HATE FLYING!!! Lined up to check in and everything went really quick. The woman from Air Paradise checking us in had the personality of a rattle snake and couldn't get rid of us quick enough! Went through customs without a trouble in the world. Straight through and had about 15 minutes to browse through Duty Free and relax for a minute.
On the plane and had really good seats just behind the wing, got settle in and took off.. 2 minutes into the flight and out came the food! I have seriously never been fed so much on a flight and it was all really good!! Beef with noodles, Bread Rolls, Ice Cream, Chocolate, Chips, mints, Drinks,Drinks,Drinks!! So by the time we finished eating we where there!! Off the plane and straight away the weather.. A fantastic 33 degrees with a light breeze, through customs in Bali without a hassle and no line ups. Walking out of customs and my hand luggage was grabbed from my hand before I even had the chance to see it and whisked away by a rude little balinese porter who carried it about 5 feet, then, held it randsom and was waiting for a tip for carrying the bag! Boy did he get his head bitten off! and 2 bucks to shut him up.
Straight outside to Creative Holidays, where we where taken to our bus and straight to the HARD ROCK HOTEL. I cannot tell you how nice this hotel is. It was absolutle AMAZING we checked in to a loft suite for 2 nights. The room was huge, the beds where cumfy, the serive was great and the POOL!! The biggest bloody pool I have ever seen!!! Had room service here a few times and was very happy both times, very quick to bring it up to us and not that badly priced either, we ordered 2 Club Sandwiches and Chips (HUGE) and paid Rp80,000 for both including taxes and was very happy with it.
Shopping.....
Nearly all of our shopping was done in a small lane to the left of Kartika Plaza in a little shop half way down owned by a man by the name of "Ricky Martin" very nice guy, but can be a little pushy at times... But in the end we got what we wanted. Visited him 4 times over the week and each time it got cheaper and cheaper.
Our first visit I paid Rp70,000 per Billabong/Ripcurl shirt
But by the end we where paying Rp35,000 each (we got better at bartering)
All of our food shopping (chips, water etc) was done in either the Matahari or Centro (I personally found Centro to have a better range and a little cheaper too) Plus that mall is easier to get in and out of, It still has shop owners arond it but they aren't as persistent!
DVD's ALL of our DVD's where bought at the Softcomp DVD store on Poppies Lane 2, just to the left of the Sari Bombing site.
Very friendly staff and a really big range of DVD titles, However they sell their DVD's in plastic cases which makes them hard to bring them home in so you have to unpack them all into folders before you come home, but I have tested them and they all work very well. Some work better than expected. Paid Rp600,000 for 60 and got 26 for free.
Tailor - This was my best Bali experience! I went to JANAKO tailors which is also in Poppies 2, very nice lady who quotes everything in Australian. And made me the best mens black suit I have ever seen! all lined and fits like a glove! for RP400,000 and I also had 2 pairs of black pants for work made for Rp125,000 which where also great! and all made and finished in 4 days.
Massage - Only had one massage done while I was away in the new Salon that has just opened in Waterbomb Park (on the left as you walk in) They where having a 50% off opening sale while I was there and I had a full body massage done for Rp40,000 I had a quick look at their other prices, which looked quite good too Most of them where aroud Rp120,000 for a few hours I think??
Hair Cuts - This was a little scary, but I was looking a like a Beatle and needed it done and found a little shop in Seminyak on the same street that leads to the Sofitel Hotel off Legian Street. only about 50 metres down on the right side was a very nice lady who cut it exaclty how I wanted in and only charged me Rp30,000 she did try and sell me massages etc, But I told her hair cut and thats it! and she was really good about it.
Our next hotel after 3 days was RAMA BEACH SPA & RESORT in Tuban, about 5 minutes walk along the beach from The Rimada Bintang. A very nice (basic) hotel. That has a very nice pool and very clean and tidy rooms. My only problem with this hotel was the size of their beds, I am about 6 ft and was put into a double room with a friend of mine on a very small single bed. A little uncomfortable but I put up with it and we didnt spend much time in the room anyway, very good Air Con their too! They also make The Best Wood Oven Pizza's there too! But if you order one, tell them NO GARLIC. I like my garli, but the amount on this pizza was unbelieveable, there where huge chunks of it all over it!
Food - The BEST place we ate in while in Bali would have to be SA CAFE, directly opposite RAMA BEACH HOTEL in Tuban, The service is great, the prices are really cheap and the food is AMAZING! We liked it so much we had dinner their and then went back about an hour later for takeaway! (Try the Satay Chicken) Rp22,000
Thats about it from me for now, I'm sure I have left out heaps. But any questions. Please leave a post and I'll get back to ya.