hey,
i'm sam, i have just been to bali.. well a few months ago because it took me so long to write it out.
the dates are from the 13th of july to 26th i think...
DAY 1
13th July
Drove 7 hours to Melbourne Airport.
Stayed the night at Holiday day inn, over looking the airport.
Left holiday inn that morning 7.45am to catch our flight to Bali.
Went through customs with no troubles and boarded the plane at 11.00 am (we flew with air paradise)
Flew 6 hours and landed in Dempasar at 5.00 (aussie) 3.00pm Bali time.
The Flight was ok, a little bit squashy but survived.
The waitresses brought round lots of food and drinks, ice-cream, tim tams, chips and lots more.
Got off the plane and sweated from all the heat.
We landed at 31degrees
We lined up for ages to pay our visa.
Then got through customs quickly.
Look out for our driver in the millions of drivers holding up signs with peoples names on them, to make it worse there were 2 drivers with our name on their sign.
Got to the car and had our First taste of the Balinese life.
It was my mums 3rd time and my dad and brothers 1st time.
Went to a 20 min drive to our hotel in Legian.
We stayed at the Puri Raja.
Got settled in and went swimming, after we went down to the beach... well we tried anyway.
Mum and I got swamped by ladies for manicures but we quickly ran and stayed close to the hotel.
As it was my dads 1st time we were scared, because we didn't know how he would react to it all.
But by the end of the day he had millions of friends who sold watches and sunnies down by the beach.
Had tea at the Puri raja as we were too tired to go out that night.
Had a beautiful meal.
Went up to the Padma to visit friends but it was too big so we were walking for ages trying to find there room.
DAY 2
14th July
Had breakfast at hotel.
Then H**** arrived at our hotel with the DVDs that we ordered and we also rented a DVD player.
Mum and I tried to go to the beach again to go for a swim but this time we didn't make it.
Mum got a hand and arm massage, pedicure, manicure and I got a pedicure.
We didn't exactly have the choice though... lol
We ended up paying 150 000 rp for it all.
Went back to the hotel and got my hair braided for 50 000rp.
After that we went to Water Bomb Park.
We went for a walk down to the Matahari thinking it was a few 100m down the road.
Traffic was wild.
Just hopped in a taxi (not realising what we were in for)
We probably spent 45mins in the taxi.
The boys were all busting for the toilet.
Dad was so busting he went in the taxi (but in the towels GROSS)
Our driver was coughing non-stop and was lying down on the steering wheel.
He looked like he was about to have a heart attack.
We finally got home and went out for dinner to the Dolphin.
They had the best food and the best staff.
The 2 ladies that were serving our table were calling my dad Mr. Disgusting lol.
My brother and younger cousins were playing with a man called spider who was out in the street but then he came upstairs and played hide and seek with them.
Had a great night. (Please note my dad usually only drinks about twice a year so this is out of the norm for him to do this)
DAY 3
15th July
Went shopping got a few hats and watches and t-shirts.
Hanged by the pool and then went shopping again.
Then went to Rum Jungle for dinner that night.
Dad drank the whole cocktail list.
We had a beautiful meal once again.
Cost up 473 000 (that's like $70 wow (cheap)
DAY 4
16th July
Had breakfast and ran into people we know from back at home.
Sat around the pool and got manicure then went into Kuta to do some shopping.
We brought 11 billabong and quicksilver t-shirts.
2 singlet and 2 hats for only 430 000 (around 60 bucks)
The younger boys wanted Mc Donald's so we went there for lunch.
Went to Le Monde for tea.
It was good as well.
Mum ordered a Pinacalada, it was MASSIVE!!!
Went shopping on the way home.
DAY 5
17th July
Slept in so watched a movie in the morning.
Mum and Dad went to Poppies 1 and 2 in the morning in Kuta.
Me and my brother ordered room service.
It wasn't the hottest day so we were just sitting around the pool and watching a few DVDs.
We had lunch at the corner bar and for 6 people it cost 157 000rp ($24aus)
Sat around the pool and swam for the afternoon.
4.30 we left for jimbarran bay, drivers name was Billy (Wayan) it cost us 100 000 ($14)
It took us 1\2 and hour to get there and Billy even waited 4 hours for us.
We went to Sharkey's Restaurant.
I brought a watch from one of the beach sellers.
30 000rp.
Mum took photos of 5 Balinese kids and gave then some tennis balls so they were happy.
My brother and cousin were playing around with the boys even though they couldn't speak English or we couldn't speak Indonesian.
We had tea and it cost us 370 000 with drinks (around $52)
We all brought laser lights.
We went home and played table tennis and went to bed.
DAY 6
Woke up, Dad and brother went for a surf.
My aunty and I went shopping brought thongs 25 000rp each.
Brought a few singlets 50 000rp.
3 Louie Verton coin purse 50 000
4 cds 40 000
and a top for 20 000
Went to the pool for the afternoon.
Mum and I went shopping for some runner tomorrow on our bike ride.
We went to the chemist to buy some band aids and we walked past a nice shop and we went inside and we brought a few things but he was barging us down not the other way around.
Mum said 25 000 for a shirt and he said 'no 20 000'
We brought 3 singlet 2 t-shirts 1 skirt and a sarong with a top and it all cost 130 000 (around $17)
We walked back to our hotel and we saw all these Balinese ladies wearing the traditional costumes and all these lights and cameras... they were filming a movie next door!
We ordered room service that night and watched a movie.
DAY 7
Woke up at 6.30am and went to reception and hopped on a bus to Ubud at 7:00am
Arrived at Kunga at about 9.00am
Had breakfast over looking a hot spring, volcano and 3100m mountain.
Left about 10.00am and went to a plantation.
It was a massive fruit place, Wayan showed us Paw paw, coffee, coconut, bananas, pineapple and heaps more fruits.
After the plantation we went to get fitted with our bikes and rode off!
1st stop: A village famous for bamboo.
They lived off their cows and pigs(there long service leave)
On the was we saw lots of school children cleaning as it was the 2nd day of there new year.
As we rode out they would come up for HI5's and to say hello.
2nd Stop: Was a temple the man talked for ages but also more school kids walked past as they had finished school at 11:30!!!
3rd Stop: Was at the rice patties, we saw lots of rice fields on the way.
4th Stop: Was at a big tree with hanging vines all over it.
We had some Bananas at this stop!
Might I add the best Bananas I have ever eaten!!
Last stop: Was beside a river.
We had the choice to ride the rest of the way or drive... the boys kept going and we drove.
We rode about 30km all together! It sure didn't seem that far!
We went to have lunch at a little restaurant thing!
They had the best food!
Duck, chicken, satay sticks.
After lunch we went to someone else's village just to look around.
They had 3 kids there(boys)
13, who could make kites.
11 who could paint.
9 who can play the bamboo xylophones.
We gave the boys our hats, and they were happy!
Next stop was the monkey forest.
As soon as we walked in, they graped onto my brother and nearly bit him! lol.
So the rest of the way we stayed close to our guides.
We saw lots of monkeys!
After we went home.
That was a full day tour with an aussie called Steve.
It was around about $52 adult and $45 child. With breakfast, lunch and transport included.
That night we went out for tea just to the corner bar.
Mum and I went wondering and brought a few more DVDs.
And I brought a Louis Vutton overnight bag for 130,000.
DAY 8
Went to water Bomb Park again.
We had heaps of fun!
And to anyone that goes there...make sure you try there corn on the cob!! It's the best ever!!!
My brother went on the trampoline but with the harness and bounced about 20m high! It looked fun but I didn't go on it.
We went across the road to the Discovery Mall.
We didn't buy anything because we didn't want to spend our money on the real things when they look pretty much the same as what they sell out in the streets!
We went out the back way and it was beautiful out on Kuta beach.
That night we were talking to our friend Rocco from the hotel.
DAY 9
Woke up early for a big day again!
Went to Ullawatu!
We stopped at Padang Padang.
It was beautiful down on the beach!
There was good surf to but we didn't bring our boards today!
There were wild monkeys sitting in the trees eating the offerings then coming right onto the beach!
After we went to the Blue Point Villa resort.
It was soo kool! They had a pool and u look over the edge and it's a big drop off into the ocean! The waves were about 10 feet that day!
They also had a beautiful wedding chapel looking over the water!
That day it started to rain, but that didn't matter, it was still hot!
We also walked right down to the reef, it was really kool walking through all the caves and walking on a reef for the first time.
That night we went back to the Dolphin.
But unfortunately spider wasn't there tonight but the girls played hide and go seek with my little cousins and brother.
After dinner they taught us to make origami out of the napkins...lol
DAY 10
Lazed around the pool all day... got burnt.
Didn't really leave the pool all day.
Went to Poco Locos for dinner, it was a really good Mexican restaurant.
There was a little man with a big Mexican hat and a belt with all shot glasses in there.
Went home and watched a DVD but kinda fell asleep half way through it.
DAY 11
Casey brought a really good board cover with army pattern on it, for $30.
Mum and I went shopping a bit more.
Lazed around the pool again.
Went shopping in the arvo again.
Went to legends for tea.
Had a beautiful meal, and really friendly staff.
They had a show on tonite, a traditional Balinese dancer and then drag queen came out.
At the start of the night my dad was mucking around with one of the staff and he said he will get my dad back.....
Well he got my dad up dancing with him!
How embarrassing!
DAY 12
Took my braids out today to get them re-done tomorrow before I go home.
Sat around the pool.
Went to the corner bar for tea again.
My aunty was leaving tonight, to go back to there original holiday in Cairns.
DAY 13
Went shopping in Kuta, like to all the big shops, Surfer girl and quicksilver.
Then we went and visited the Bali memorial, for the Bali bombings.
Then went to Poppys 1 & 2.
Brought LOTS!
Went to dolphin for tea again! Had a really great night again!
I discovered there Pork ribs.... That was the best meal I had had so far!!!
We swapped mobile numbers and went home.
DAY 14
DEPARTURE DAY!!! NOOOOOOOOOO!
Worst day of all!
Spent the last day doing the finishing touches to our suit cases (shopping)
Got hair done again, manicures, pedicures, massages. The full works that day!
Said goodbye to all our Bali friends.
We gave 150,000rp to our friend Rocco to help him with his truck.
Went for our last dinner to the other Le Monde.
Left Demparsar at 11.00pm on Tuesday night.
Arrived in Sydney at 6.00am on Wednesday.
Feeling horrible!
We brought a sausage roll and 2 drinks and a sandwich for $30!!! That's how much dinner costs us!!
OPPS... nearly missed our flight to Melbourne!
Calling Gilbert family, final call your plane is ready to take off.
We just made it to the plane!
Landed in Melbourne at 10.00am.
While I was waiting for our bags this little girl came up to me and my mum, and was showing us this stick she took off someone's bag.
But we didn't realize that this was Kate Ceberano's daughter!!!
So we were talking to her about our trip to Bali for a while until we found our baggage.
Unfortunately we drove back to New South Wales that day!
Now we are planning for our next trip!
thanks
sam.