Hi everyone,
Sorry this is going to be fairly long!!.
Left Brisbane at 5.00pm on Saturday 10th June. Half an hour late, but was thoroughly entertained by a young Balinese girl throwing the best tantrum I have ever seen, (and no I don't have kids!) Thankfully she had calmed down by the time we boarded the plane. Anyway, landed in Bali in it seemed no time, small wait for VOA paid in Aussie dollars and got change in Rupiah. Got bags and out we went and found our transfers straight away.
We stayed at Ubud village Hotel for the first time and were put in Room 152 which is right down the back with the most lovely quiet sitting area outside and outdoor bathroom. (The first one I have ever got!) Loved it all, the room, the bathroom, the little outdoor courtyard. I felt the service was really good, the only complaint I would have would be the breakfast was cold! Good range for brekkie and if you ordered eggs they were hot but everything in the bain maries was cold.
First day we went for a walk down Jl. Hanoman looking for a particular tailor recommended from here but couldn't find her and it started to rain quite heavily so we tooked refuge under an awning until it died down a bit then walked back up to Deli Cat, next to football fields, and had a drink, looked at the menu and would have loved to come back for something to eat but ran out of time.Went to Kenkos for reflexology and full body massage. The massage was a bit too rough for me as I have a fractured spine but the reflexology was goodand it cost 75,000rp for the hour.For dinner we went to what was Bali Pesto but is now called Barberkya(sp?). We had Nasi Goreng (average), Garden salad (Fantastic), Calamari Lemongrass, and Tuna, both great, 2 large Bintang and 2 cokes came to 191,600RP. Not bad I thought.
Next day walked along Jl Raya to Murnis Warung, pouring rain the whole way, finally got back to room soaked to the skin. Went to Cafe Wayans, a favourite of ours, had green salad, Sauteed chicken, Cap Cai & Grilled Marlin, 2 large Bintangs and 1 sprite, 236,900RP. All the meals were great again. No wonder this place is so popular!
On Tuesday I went to Bliss which is just across the road for a Hair cream bath, & Pedicure, 85,000RP, again went to Barberkyu for dinner, had Spring Rolls and 2 Pizzas, 1 large bintang and a water, 111,100RP.
The next day went to Nur salon as I had heard so much about it, had a facial, hair cream bath and Hubbie had an hour cleansing back massage, I didn't think it was all that great and it cost 320,000RP.
Went to Bennis for dinner that night, TERRIBLE, but cheap. I wouldnt recommend it at all.
We bought 2 painting off a really nice guy right next to the art markets, this is the second time we have bought paintings off him and will continue to do so in the future. They are about 1.5mt long and about a mt wide each and it cost 1.1 million RP, about $160 Aussie. Met a lovely couple from Perth (Hi Barry and Karen) who just pay for their flights and first 2 nights accomodation, and we have decided to do that next time, the rates they got were unbelievable!!! and if the weather was crap they are not stuck they can just move on. They told us about a nice little place that has a few rooms and a restaurant, so we went! It is called Toko Toko. We had dinner there, Mixed salad, spring rolls, grilled fish, grilled chicken, 2 large bintangs and a latge water, just under150,000. Went to look at the rooms, the biggest is only 250,000 including breakfast and includes air con, huge bed, large bathroom with bidet, TV and mini bar. We will send a night ot two here next time. They will even come and collect you for a meal and bring you back for nothing.
Friday, went to the laundry down the road, 30,000, (the same amount of washing in the hotel cost me 120,000) the few days before. Went to Monkey Forest, a guide arttached himself to us and was quite informative until he took us to a small temple near the cemetary and showed us some really small paintings that he does. We wern't interested in such small ones and when we said no, but gave him 10,000RP for showing us around we got the silent treatment!!! Anyway I found a massage place called Milano Salon, which is down a small alley next to Football fields, had half hour massage, best I have had in a while, 30,000. Went to Cinta bar and grill, new place in Ubud, Green Salad, Beef Stroganoff, chips, stir fry Beef and Basil, 3 mixed juices and 1 coke, bill came to 225,000. Bit more expensive that others but the food was good! Over the next few days got a few more massages at Milano, ate at Cafe Wayans again, then we were transferred to Sanur at Gazebo Cottages, But I will leave that for the next JBR......
Cheers.