Well as i always do, i got to airport 3 hours early rather than 2, to get good seats and i got row 7.Exit seats were still taken even that early. Being up the front means first for most things haha and that includes getting off the plane. I was off and out of the airport being picked up within 20 minutes.
They must have thought i looked a bit suss though cause they asked me to unlock my bag and then he went through it....funny that it appeared he was just looking to see what interested him and then showed interest in a wildflower calender that i had in there....be buggered if i was going to give to him , so i smiled sweetly and was out.
After i was picked up by a friend from the forum and her driver, we got through airport but was picked up by police and as he was not a taxi driver....yeah right....he had to pay 20 000rp.
I thought hell this is good what will be the third thing.
Met AngieC and her wedding planner partner and another girl that lives there and also Shazperth and we all headed out for dinner. Dinner turned into drinks at expresso bar and at 2.00am i left for bed.....too much for this old tart lol. Good band there and was great.
After getting to sleep about 2.20am the bloody mobile messaged at 6.30am from my new dad saying good morning blahhhhhhhhhhhh.
DAY 2
Had brekkie with Angie and then headed out shopping for the day. I spent this day in a car with a driver,all other days on motobikes as was just me and much quicker.
Stopped at supernova to get another zip bag that gets bigger...again worked out to be $15 aust, this one is for husband.
Went first to Bali Hai jewellers,(Toko first jewellers), this is where i got my OM made in July and they are fabulous. I had 3 of my late mothers rings that were a bit old fashioned and in them were 12 tiny diamonds, saphires and a ruby. I told them i wanted a ring with a wide band and they designed this ring for me and said no worries would be ready friday evening (this was wednesday morning).Cost was 500 000rp which was $65 aust.
Well i have never seen anything more beautiful and i am stoked, i just keep looking at it.
I can't praise these Jewellers enough.If anyone uses them tell them Leonie sent you, they look after me now.
Next stop was in Legian to have business cards made for a girlfriend. Dropped them to nengah and after all day i got a message that night to say he was too busy and could not do....ruddy hell, i was cross because i had wasted a whole day missing the chance to go somewhere else.This was the third thing to go wrong i figured !!
Never the less he gave me the name of another place just around the corner in a laneway, Deka graffika and so i went to them thursday morning and they did them for me and i picked them up on the Friday night, no mistakes and 300 000rp for 600 cards.Not bad as i gave him little time.
Then to ketuts in Legian, nothing like saving time from not having to talk price.
Next stop was Ramayanas in denpasar as husband wanted some particular shoes.From there on to the markets to buy some umbal umbals (bali flags).
Over to Tootsies and i never go to Bali without going there as she is fixed price and i love her range of shoes, they have them made and are really different.I have some friends with wide feet and can no longer wear heels, Tootsies shoes are excellent for them as many are comfy with little wedges but dressy being in gold or sequence etc.
Then to Animale factory outlet.
Back to hotel at 3.40pm and i had left at 9.40pm so the bulk of my shopping got done then.
Jumped into the pool and had some spring rolls and a bintang at the swim up bar and i was in heaven.The staff at this hotel are so friendly.Then it was time to go upstairs for a massage.
Went to friends salon and had my heels done and toes painted with some gorgeous frangipanis, Out to dinner with Shaz then we picked up our balinese friend Neeya and went to Billys for a drink and then up to Seminyak....once again at 2am i figured this old tart had had it so we left and they dropped me back and they continued on until 4am i believe..norty gals.
DAY 3
Shaz leaves today.
After brekkie, Nicno called and we arranged to meet up later that day.
Got a bike up to Legian to sort out business cards at new place....picked up a few things for Husband and then called in to legian garden for a mango lassi yummo.
Got a bike back to hotel and had a swim and some lunch at the swim up bar and then upstairs for another massage.
Later i met Nicki at Kubuku's in poppies 1 for dinner.After dinner i went back to her hotel (The Lokha) to have a look and it was lovely. Really impressed with this hotel.Anyway we got yakking and another late night was to be had......bed about midnight again.
Must have all been catching up cause i slept for 7 hours haha, got up for brekkie and spotted a balinese man in a white sports jacket walking through the garden....i thought, got what an odd way for him to be dressed......but then i spotted a little nurse with a hat on walking behind him and i thought uh oh some poor soul needs a doctor.
Had brekkie and then on a bike and down to Mataharis.Got a message from Nicno and we planned to hook up at Sami and Susi's about 5 ish and then for dinner which we did....
From Mataharis over to my friends salon and had a massage and my nails done, this time instead of little tiny flowers painted on them, i have frangipanis, gorgeous.
Back to hotel and down to S&S to meet Nicno for a beer and Smudge was also there, also met Jules2, was lovely to catch up with smudge again and to meet Jules.
Nicki and I went onto dinner at Bobbies in padma street after picking up my business cards and then i went back to my hotel.Was swimming at 10pm....pool and bar closes at 11pm.Bed about midnight.
Didn't have to pack as i do that when i come back from shopping, straight into bag or case.
Up at 6am and to airport at 7am for a very rough flight home after being delayed an hour and then no bags.(They came next morning at 8.30am and 40 of us had them delivered in total).
Won't go into the drama at airport with baggage, suffice to say that I will not over shop again.......only reason i bought too much this time was because of my new family.....and even then i was buying stuff that didn't weigh too much.....
I managed to talk my way out of excess though and that was because i told them i didn't have a credit card.
Had enough of working up a cold sweat and seeing the office.
I know this trip (as most of mine) sounds jam packed...but when you think that nothing closes until about 11pm.....you have many hours to spread things out.
I have a massage every single day that i am in bali , no matter how long i am there for.
I swim every day too.
For the women travelling alone, it works if you have lunch in the pool at the swim up bar as you aren't sitting at a table somewhere alone looking 'out there'.....
For dinner, well there are always forumites up there and i am usually lucky enough to meet up with them for dinner, if not then i take a book and that is my friend.This was my second trip flying alone.
If i ever get a bike at night, i look for a woman with a helmet and i pay her.....seems safer using a woman at night.Truly is much quicker than wasting time in a traffic jam.
I think staying central location so you can walk to all the shops etc if you prefer to do that.
I loved matahari bungalows.
Things that i purchased
over the shoulder silk type/pouch shoulder bags (new designs)30 000rp
black and white checkered belts (great for chef husband)...new design out. 40 000rp
Double layer silk thread long scarves (new design out).20 000rp
Shoes from tootsies 25 000rp
Paul frank bags in a small tote style(new style out)20 000rp
silk/satin kimono type dressing gowns for girls(seem to be fairly new out)40 000 and 50000 rp depending on the size.
few pieces of the jewellery that you can put onto the silver chokers.30 000rp each.
3 strand pearl necklace on wire (got a lovely burnt orange this time) 30 000rp.
Fila shoes for husband in Ramayana for 213 000rp on sale.
Jeans and pants for daughter in Mataharis, most were half price.
Polo ralph lauren overnight bag for a xmas gift for dad, souvenire section downstairs in mataharis for 108 000rp
dvd's of course and the holders....noticed now that as well as the zippered files you can little dvd size ring clip files and they suited me as the zips are sometimes annoying.These were 40 000rp and the zippered ones were 50 000rp although i am sure in July they were 40 000rp.
Surf caps 20 000rp
pack of 4 bintang stubby holders for 15 000rp
Peasant skirts and tops 40 000rp each.
Watches 30 000rp batteries 10 000rp a pack.
Matahari toileteries, talcs, deodorants, shower gels etc and medications.
Any questions ask or email.
Cheers
Tuberose.