JBR 5th September 2005 - 17th September 2005 ++ PHOTOS + LONG
A Massive thanks to Inkjet and Laser Recycle for hosting my pics and Nick for putting them up.
Shameless Plug start.
Before you go on holidays do digital camera training for the perfect shot and learn how to print your digital photos out at home so you only get the ones you want.
www.inkjetandlaser.com.au
88 Cavendish Rd
Coorparoo QLD 4151
07 33943777
Shameless Plug End
Before I begin, please excuse my very poor spelling, even though I wrote this before in Word and spell checked my spelling is atrocious.
Learn some Indonesian before you go, and when you get there, learn some Balinese - they love it when you can speak their language.
Shopping is fantastic if you like shopping. We got so much, had to buy 5 big bags when we were over there to bring things back. Bought a huge painting in Ubud, looks so nice on the wall. Take breakables and painting on the plane don't put under or they get stolen or broken. Customs both sides was a breeze. Don't believe the Bad press about Bali, Just go. Hope you like my JBR.
The night before the trip. Sunday the 4th of September. Couldn't sleep, way to excited. This was going to be our first Bali trip. My girlfriend and I (Narelle & Matt) had been waiting for our first real overseas holiday, together for nearly 8 months. Next time I'm defiantly booking much closer to the leave date so I don't get so anxious. We only took a back pack each, basically the clothes we were wearing, a change of underwear, a camera each, wallets (with chain as we are self confessed clumsy and forgetful) and passports and papers.
Arrived Brisbane Airport 6:40am for an 8:40am Departure with Garuda. I wanted duty free alcohol. Next time I won't bother till I get there, much cheaper on arrival, even cheaper to buy it at the shops in Bali. Is good to have a extra couple of little bottles for the flight because the air hostesses are always so busy they can't always get you your grog! We just grabbed an extra bottle of Baileys, found it nice to drink on the plane.
Arrived in Bali. The smell, the humidity. AWSOME! Walked straight down the stairs to the VOA counter. Paid in Aus $$ got change in Rups, all too easy. We were lucky to get in front of the cue. As we only had back packs as carry-ons we missed the whole porter thing went through customs, didn't get checked. I was making jokes as I went through like '...ha-ha they didn't check me, I get ‘the stuff through'...' Narelle punched me in the arm. (Good punch for a girl) and said 'Shut the F-uck up'. I thought this was the funny part - made it sound and look believable. Any way...
Made our way out to the crazy sea of banner and name holders, waving stuff around. I needed a cigi, sheepishly looking around for a no-smoking sign. A voice behind me said while lighting up a cigi in mouth, 'Mate you can smoke anywhere in Bali it's all cool.' Just another friendly Aussie giving some advice.
We found the guy, rather he found us, the guy who was to give us a lift. Yassa from East Tours. He was ok, but as we found out they all do on Bali, he tried to make a few dollars out of us on the side by selling his associated tours and services, which you can get anywhere and also get discounts this guy wasn't offering. Next time I go to Bali I will not have transfers organized ahead of time, but will do it my self when I'm there, much more fun that way.
Did have a porter thing though, they came up to us and wanted us to change a hand full of Aus $1 and $2 coins. Narelle changed these as such in a bewildered state of awe we were, we would do anything. I thought the change was useless as I had read on here you can't change coins to Indonesian bank notes. But no - you can use them to bargain with. The shop keepers and sellers on the street will offer you something for like 20000 Rups or a $1 coin. (7500 Rups) so something good there.
OMG THE ROADS. Are there no rules? And to think I went out of my way to make sure I had an international driver's license. Ain't no way I'm driven in Bali...yet. The first viewing of the Bali roads and streets, met by eyes wide open, the tour operator on the mic at the front was garbled, carrying on with stuff I knew from the BTF already.
We arrived at the Bali Padma for our 1st week. A nice place, massive gardens around. Nice to have a walk (at any time of day or night). Swimming pool was massive. Nice to have a good swim in it. We dumped out stuff in our room, to our shock we had a delightful view of the junk yard next door and two single beds. I Marched myself back down to the reception and let fly. I said 'nice junk yard next door and what am I supposed to do when I want to jump my girlfriends bones? I haven't slept in a single bed for 20 years! I'm not about to start now.' They apologized and said we would have a better room tomorrow. TOMORROW! I was a little upset. I asked for the manager, who spoke great English. I kindly reminded him I had paid in advance nearly 7 months earlier, I had also paid the more expensive rate as prices had dropped recently (thx SC and knob head nine). I simple said, you have had 8 months to organize this, either do what I want or refund me my money, this is not what I paid for. He assured me there were no more rooms, I said, well I want a free dinner and a bar tab. Bugger me .. I got it too! Not too bad we got the right room the next day, but more about that later. We decided to brave the heat - and go shopping, even though people had warned us stay out of the 12 o'clock sun. We hit the streets, WHOLY SHIZZER what a culture shock. Took a while to get used to. But I really got into the whole shopping bargaining thing, chatting with shop keepers and locals. We found our way to Legian Gardens. Where my Bintang Gullet started to grow. I am a self confessed satay addict at home so I thought I would indulge my self and hoof in. Nice place, but this sneaky dude came in and started rubbing this stinky oil on my neck that burnt. I was pretty pissed off with him stood up pushed him back (sorry dude, I was too aggressive) but my 1st day, a little tired anxious and some guy rubbing stuff on me = grumpy Matt.
Then we started to buy, at 1st I got a RED bag. Boohoo EASY MARK that means. I gave a young shop keeper 10000rups to tell me what all his coloured bags were for he said 'red means you easy mark - black means look for Japanese tourist - forget you'
So I wanted black bags from now on. I got so bloody ripped off for shorts. But I got my own back. Bargaining for items and always getting 2 or 3 at least to sweeten the deal. Then back to the hotel where I got my free dinner and bar tab, mmm more Bintang. We were lucky we got the Japanese resteraunt near the pool, where they flick the egg at you and throw rice about. Was a nice evening seeing though we were tired from day one and all.
Day two: The next day, I got up early to the massive Padma Breakfast. And went shopping. Morning Price Morning Price. We made it to poppies for lunch. Great nice place expensive, for Bali, also one of those places that ad on the 21% extra at the end. But oh well, place was lovely. More shopping, got it up by guys on street for tailor, 'Tailor 21' actully. Since one of wishes was for a Leather jacket we went in. We ended up Getting 4 Jackets of different types, they ended out awesome. All of them. I ended up paying $80 Aus each jacket, which after reading BTF I knew it was a good price. We couldn't handle much so opted for pub searching till we back to the pool bar.
Bloody Lounger hogs, would put a towel on before breakfast near 7am and not return for hours. I simply removed the towels of one pair of prime positioned loungers and sat down for at least half a day of sun baking, pool barring and cocktails. No one even came back! *humph*. Any way, we racked up a huge (not really huge) bar tab. Met some really nice people and decided to have a quick nap, then to a nice pub on the corner near the Padma for more Bintang then went for a walk and found a nice place to eat. It was empty. More staff than customers, but it was nice food good cheep, cold Bintang. I'm sorry I can't remember them name. We walked up JL Padma then turned left after a while and walked for about 20 minutes. Seemed like a real busy road. Went Past a couple of clubs. Wandered back did a Matt special Pub crawl. 1 beer at the 1st - 2 beers at the 2nd 3 beers at the 3rd. By the time it was for leaving the 6th pub I was very very wobbly and decided to go back to the Padma and have more Bintang. I love Bali; they never stop serving you no matter how drunk you are. So after a drunken session of debauchery we went for a swim - no one in the pool at night, so we pwn3d it. (Owned for non nerds) pwn3d the p007.
Day three: did the Nusa Dua thing. $60 Aus for a go on the Jetski, paraglide, a banana boat, snorkeling and Turtle Island.
WHAT A CROCK OF SHI.T! A little 2 minute Paraglide. Sit and wait an hour. Snorkel Water was so chopped up could see anything. Fish were dull. (Suppose I'm spoilt living in cairns for a year snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef. Turtle Island - LOL pity we didn't have cameras or shirts for that matter, they just whip you over. Not telling you its all mega inflated prices over there. Caged Turtles. A tired snake feeding thing. I suppose we all have to do it once. But never again. Had to have the guy on the jetski with us. So Boring. And I found out later the guys were sleazy and felt the girls up on the jetski.
Banana Boat was lame. Then we sat around and waited for ages till they had lunch till we could go home. My Advise... don't bother. Felt like a waste of a day at some parts.
After that lame day we went to Jimboranen Bay for dinner. Our table had many Kilos of Lobster many kilos of prawns dozens of mussels lots of Bintang. The bands came up singing songs to us was cool shi.t for my birthday. Came back to the hotel. Had drinks at the piano bar before a nice long walk along the beach then back to the room.
Day four: Pool for a few hours with many cocktails, then DVD shopping bought heaps. No worries with customs. They just want to know about wood and food and drugs... he-he got my ephedrine back j/k ;) We went to this place near Padma where you will see the pictures of the coconut drinks. Very wasted this night - went out after dinner, but I can't remember any of it, but I know I had a great time though ;). Hired a DVD player from reception at 3am to start watching movies, LOL!
Day Five: This was my day on the beach. Went down got a massage (no happy ending thank you... LOL!! ! ) they also would bring me a Bintang if I wanted it. Sun baked played some beach soccer with the young fellas before it got too hot. (My rule was I had play while always having a Bintang in hand) Narelle went out shopping I met some Blokes and we decided to give the pool bar a go. (again again). This was day Five and a Friday, so we went to watch the Sydney V Geelong game at the Stadium Padma. Like any old sports bar at home. But the jugs of beer were massive I mean MASSIVE I got 8 glasses to a jug for 60000rups. Had the steak, nice expensive but nice. And we all know the results of that match with Sydney taking the title on Saturday. Narelle picked the margin, and won her self 100,000rups which helped pay the bill. Actully funny story, we counted out our money and were short like 80000 for the bill, so I have hot footed it back to the room in the Padma, missed the last goal by Sydney to come back with money to pay, and she has won the pick the margin I didn't have to go back any way. ! LOL!
Day 6: Transfer to Ubud. We got picked up at Lunch for our transfer to Kamandalu in Ubud. Bloody nice place. Got a free upgrade to a Jacuzzi Villa was so awesome. Could hear Monkeys doing their 'ooo oo ooooo' thing from our room.
Ubud was so nice. I loved Ubud so much more that Kuta. Actully if I had stayed all our trip in Kuta like some people had I would of gone absolutely crazy, I wanted to see more of the real Bali and get out a bit, found our selves getting really stuck in Kuta to easy. Ubud so many good places to eat - nice bars, Jazz Café' was cool. Dirty Duck was unbelievable.
We decided to have dinner at the hotel for the 1st night. After a little bit of shopping we felt a little tired and wanted to relax in out Jacuzzi.
The next day, day 7. We had out breakfast, did some shopping were I bought a few painting and bongo drums. And went to a day spa, Narelle talked me into going. I felt all so girly. But was nice. LOL we got in trouble for not wearing silly paper undies. LOL was so funny, I was like, 'do you have a big pair, I got large Jatz Crackers and Franks a good size too and my ass is so big it won't fit. And it didn't it ripped and me old fella was hanging free anyway. LOL the lady doing the massage was haven a great time laughing away. We had this massive treatment that hurt my credit card, 180 minutes each. Walked out no, I mean Floated out. And went to the Dirty Duck for Dinner. This place was so unbelievable. Got to sit at these cool little opium smoking things. I was feeling really good as I had gone to the 'Apotek' Chemist and got my self some Real Ephedrine (over the counter - all legal in Bali) had this massive massage session and quite a few Bintangs sat there felt like a pig in shi.t :D
Day 8: Monkey Forest Day - Little monkeys are so cute, Smelly, but cute. Hold up the Banana and they will climb up your arm. I was told bananas we ridicules price at the forest - and they were at like 50000rups. I bought them from the day market for a whole huge bunch for 2000rups. We went early when the monkeys were hungry and would play up and act funny for food. By the time we finished they weren't hungry and were not going up to people. We had a good guide this day.
Day 9: Up the Volcano. Left our Hotel at 2am with our guide Puja from Bali Insite travels. They were expensive but his English was awesome and his knowledge was fantastic. Might only really be a few dollars more but so worth it. He also came up the volcano with us. He nearly died getting up there. He even had phone calls from his mates asking if he made it. He was quite proud and so were we. To get to the right place to start the 3 hour climb we were on the back of a motor bike for a while, till we got to this place. Lucky it was dark or I wouldn't have climbed it if I had seen how large that bloody thing was. We started into the darkness, man I was all gun hoe! I was like ‘Why are we walking so slowly'. Let's get up this mountain lets go go go. Bloody hell what a knob I was. We did the Long trip around the volcano. We were there for a good time not a short time. These little blighters even carried bloody coke and fanta and sprite up the mountain to sell to you when you get there. I was like sorry dude, I got water.
What a view - so amazing to see the sun rise over Mt Agung. I'd like to climb Agung, but it's an 8 hour journey up. Maybe Next time. I'm addicted to climbing mountains. Much more to come now. The guide told us about the European Tourists that were killed in 2002 near the current creator. Could smell the sulfur. They cooked us eggs in the ground and we each had an egg and banana roll. Quite yummy and was needed by then to regain energy levels. Was so fresh, air a little thinner, what did I do Light a cigi. LOL! Walked around the Volcano some parts were so freaky, I mean Bali Quality Control. No like OH&S or safety ropes. Have a look at the photos with Narelle holding here arms out. LOL Funny and scary.
After our huge trip. Puja took us to the hot springs down in the lake. We could swim for free in the lake or for $5.00 go to the resort and have a swim, where there was a shower and a Flushing loo not a poo box on the ground. And a bar, so as you properly guessed I took the bar option.
From there we were real tired wanted to head home, but had paid puja already and he was very keen to show me Lovina Beach where we could take some awesome photo's. We were so tired. But managed to stay awake for most of the trip. Went to a clove town, where funnily enough they grow cloves, the smell is beautiful. Took some nice pics. The Town up north we went through which was the capitol when it was Dutch rule was quite modern looking compared to Dempasar and Ubud. We were so tired when we got to Lovina beach we couldn't handle the attack of the screaming sarong banshee machine. Took a few pics and jumped back in the Bemo.
Puja driver took us back to Ubud and we collapsed. Thanks Puja you are a Bloody Legend mate ;)
Spent a few more nights in Ubud, getting about shopping and meeting the locals. I can't believe how much dribble I have just gone on with. But I won't bore you with more as I have gone on long enough as it is... unless you ask for more. Also I will answer any question about anything I have written just ask.
Thanks for reading.
Photo's are here.
http://www.inkjetandlaser.com.au/bali.php