Hi...we left Perth 17th June and arrived back on 1st July. Flew AA on the way up and Qantas on the way home. Great service, food, drinks plentiful, movie good...so no complaints.(3hrs-15min to get there and 3hrs-5mins to come home.)
VOA...no problems.
We had 10 days in UBUD and 4 in KUTA.
We stayed at the Yulia Inn Ubud which is about 200 metres down from the soccer field if you are walking towards the Monkey Forrest. 19 room family run hotel. Very friendly staff and comfortable rooms. They have an Australian booking office in Perth and if you book through them you get a special rate of $32USD (300,000rp.)You pay once you checkout, no deposit required. (08) 9296 1745 and speak with Julie if you are interested. She will handle everything for you.
We stayed at The Secret Garden in Poppies 1 Kuta...what a find. (180,000rp) per night including breakfast. Big comfortable rooms, great location.
Touring
Went on a Village Cycling tour with Wayan and Gusti. Incredible day out with these guys. This is the other Bali, some say the real Bali. To see the people in there every day life, the happy children, the farmers in the rice fields, the clean mountain air...4 hours of gentle cycling. The boys pick you up from anywhere in Bali and return you safely. A must do in my opinion. (300,000rp each)They also hire bicyles from there office in UBUD at 25,000rp per day...all brand new and you can have helmets and gloves if you wish.
We had such a great day we booked another tour with them out to Candi Dasa and the east side of Bali. We saw the Klungkung markets which is huge and is where all the locals shop. We went to the Bat Cave next. The temple here was built in the 11th century. Next stop Kusamba where the beach sand is actually black. Then a little further up we stopped at Padang Bai where the sand is a beautiful white. Then we stopped at Candi Dasa for lunch. After lunch you have a choice of going back via the scenic route or you can take the new highway and go to Sanur for a wine tasting at the Wine of the Gods. (we chose this) Wines are quite good as most of the fruit comes from the Swan Valley in WA. A great day out.(330,000rp each)
You can contact Wayan on 0361 7474142
Eating in UBUD
Aashiana - walk across the soccer field. This is a large building. They have 2 menu's. Indian and Chinese. We had the Indian. Magnificent food and great service. Large beer, glass of wine, 2 main course and 1 entree 100,000rp.
Deli Cat - next door to above. Great place for lunch or dinner. They have a good little wine/liquor store attached and if you are craving decent vintage cheese they have the best selection. Meals are in that 25,000rp range and we had a great afternoon here.
Dian - in Monkey Forrest Road. Beautiful, quality meals and again 25,000- 30,000 for mains.
Berbekyu - just up from Dian on the same side of the road...as above.
Ubud restaurant - opposite side of the road to the 2 above and down a little. Our favourite and again same price range as above.
Warung Enak - they have a pick up and drop off service in central Ubud. This is first class dining and service. Our bill was 240,000rp for dinner - $35AUD , the most we paid, but do not be put off, this is a special place.
Lotus - in Monkey Forrest Rd. has been there a long time and is still a great setting with great meals.
Shopping
Bali Becak for beads...River Valley for pashmina shawls, shoes, beaded tops, Fatama for jewellery, t-shirts, knick knacks....all of these are quite close together in Monkey Forrest Rd.
Eating out in KUTA
Fat Yogi's in Poppies 1...try the mozzarella garlic bread. Large Beer 10,000 all day.
The Secret Garden in Poppies 1...9,000 Large beer all day...great pizza's.
Lanai on the beach in Legian...magnificent.
Batan Waru near Kuta square...try the toasted Panini's.
Exchange rate for the 2 weeks was 6800 to each AUD.
There were lot's of tourist's in my view....not like the old days of course, but it was getting better.
A lot of the stores around Kuta square seemed to be lacking in stock and sizes - Matahari included. On the other hand we went to Ramayana in Denpasar and got everything we needed.
Weather was quite mild. Lots of rain while we were in Ubud and gentle breezes blowing whilst in Kuta.
Still plenty of security about. We felt safe. We loved it. Saving now to go back for xmas.