Got back on Monday, 21 days at BGH. Travelled with my husband, & 2 sons 19 & 16.
Flew with AP. 3rd trip
AP. Everthing ok, no problems except we thought we had to come home via Sydney & found out when we checked in to leave that the flight was now direct, so that stuffed up all our arrangements for pick-up in brisbane. Had to quickly sms my daughter (at 2am Brisbane time) to tell her to collect us at 8.30am not 11.30 as planned. We were really sweating at the luggage check in about excess baggage, we thought they would charge us heaps, our bags weighted 19kg, 29kg, 29kg & 35kg. no excess charges, we had to check a rolled up painting that was 1m long in to luggage, we had planned to carry it on but they guy told us it was too long, but we were so happy there was no excess, we forgot about the big wait at the other end for over sized luggage - oh well.
BGH. Excellent location, waterbom park across the road, atm in front of hotel, laundry turn right outside hotel and walk 5 mins down to discovery hotel & laundry out front, 50,000 rp for a washing machine full (washed & dried) 15,000 extra if you want them to fold it for you. (beware the driers shrink t-shirts!!) centro next door (everything you need in there, supermarket on bottom floor). Rooms ok, a bit old, but everything works (sort of) we enquired about an upgrade and there was a bit of confusion cause they put us straight into deluxe rooms by mistake & then tried to get us to move, well I said no way we already unpacked and been there for a day before they realised the mistake, so the hotel management decided to leave us where we were, we had rooms 135 & 139. pool was good, big enough and right on the beach front (pizzas for about 30,000rp & try the lime gelato for 8000 rp- yum) there was a bit of shortage of sun lounges but that because some people are a bit selfish. Pity about that, anyway all in all, the hotel was good. (breakys ok - typical bali style)
BIMC. Got sick when I was there, 2nd week, really bad sinus, couldn't buy any sinutab or similar in the apotik, only hopeless natural medication - so decided to go to the medical centre. Called through from hotel & made an appointment for same day, got a taxi there 15,000rp & waited 25 mins for the doctor. Very clean place, nice aircon, 3 aussie staff from what I saw. Had a Balinese doctor who spoke perfect English, most through examination I've every had, she prescribed clarinase & augemantim & was told to wait out front for a min, receptionist called me up after a few mins charged 1,000,067 rp for consultation & medication (which I collected there from the pharmacy) They said I can claim it from my travel insurance (paid on my visa) works out about $170 aud I think. Even if the insurance doesn't pay up, it was money well spent cause I was better in 3 days. - also met a family from BGH who experienced a health emergency, after consulting doctors in melb, they decided to have an operation in bali (due to urgency of the situation & patient to dangerous to travel) mum said she had nothing for praise for all parties involved, it was a nerve racking time for the whole family, but the operation was a success and everything went well, mum told me the insurance company paid for everything. I wish them all well, they are very brave people. I don't know what I would have done in that situation.
Restaurants.
We liked: Black Canyon Coffee & Blue Colorado in Centro, Batu Wayan right next door to BGH, bamboo corner in padma st and bread talk (centro) for snacks.
We also ate at poco loco, wayan & friends, indo national, aromas (jimbaren bay), bamboo corner in poppies, tropical view café in ubud and probably heaps of other but cant remember. Didn't have any bad meals, no bali belly or other problems.
Shopping - taking into account that I'm not a good barterer & don't think I got the best prices on anything:) I shop with the old balinese moto of 'good for you, good for me' so heres what we got
Billabong shirts from 40,000 - 60,000 rp market stalls
Watches from 40,000 market stalls
Havianas & rip curl thongs (surfer girl) 85,000 each
D size bra from centro from 85,000 - 125,000
Briefs to match (microfibre) from 30,000 - 49,000
Revlon colour stay foundation centro 85,000
Revlon translucent pwd 100,000
Revlon lip gloss 85,000
Revlon top coat (i cant remember the price but the girl said $4.80 aud)
2 chanel bags, leather (better quality) stall in centro 345,000 & 245,000
dior purse leather outside/vinyl inside 85,000 rp,
chanel leather purse good quality 160,000
chanel purse smaller 65,000
leather harley Davidson wallet 80,000 (stall in centro)
belt leather harley Davidson 120,000 (stall in centro)
sunglasses chopper from stalls 35,000 & better quality from centro 120,000
roxy bikini size 12 (and it fits) from the curl legian st (just near secret garden) 310,000 rp (heaps of bikinis in this shop, probably biggest range in real size 12 that I found, watch the floor tiles in the changing rooms, my husband said they are like a mirror you can see everything:)
paintings 1 from ubud 1m x 1.2m abstract started at 750,000 we paid 400,000 & one from the kuta art markets on the corner near milo (dress shop, right near matahari - sorry don't know street name) huge variety here, lots to choose from we got a 90 x 70 cm for 260,000 (I think)
sequin thongs stalls 40,000
beads - almas enterprises in padma street on the dogs bend - wow spent heaps there, crystals, pearls, & all those little silver things you use, also had beautiful necklaces & bracelets, fixed prices, & I overheard a lady talking about a tiara for her daughters wedding - well worth a look
box things with silver statue in the middle to hang on wall - we got 2 about 25cm square and paid 220,000 for the 2
drivers. We went to ubud for the full day 9am-4pm paid 200,000 booked through bali garden hotel, taxi to tana lot (return trip for sunset) paid 100,000 used adam from bemo corner, used blue taxis or silver taxi had no problems but had to remind a couple of times to take us straight back to bgh, no sight seeing, lol.
Hair.
Went to secret garden for hair cuts, ladies with blow dry 60,000, mens 50,000 also had a crème hair bath (wonderful head massage, shoulder & arm massage while the boys got hair cuts) 75,000, got a tub of the advocado hair cream 60,000 (great stuff- my hair is really soft.) we all were really happy with the hair cuts, very professional and the boys got their hair washed 2 times, once before the cut & once after (they were happy)
That's all for now, still recovering and cant think straight yet - never again will we do that
awful 1am flight home - yuk it takes to long to get over it. Any questions please ask