Firstly, my thanks to all the people who posted such useful & helpful information on this forum, which helped me to make the most of my trip to Bali.
This is our 4th trip and everytime we go we enjoy Bali and all it has to offer more & more. We went on the 16th June and returned on JUly 1st.
Flew with garuda, no problems and on time. We went to the Maya in Ubud for the first 2 days for its amazing location and day spa. We both had the herbal treatment and reflexology. The reflexology was so painful and they explained to me that it only hurt so much as I needed so much work! We have been to this hotel before for the day spa and it is just beautiful.
We then moved down to Seminyak and stayed at The Legian. First time here and it was a fabulous hotel. Rooms are like an apartment,complimentary champagne & canapes in the room on arrival, how nice. The security is very well done. Including sniffer dogs at the entrance to the hotel at all times.Staff very attentive and wonderful service at all times.New head chef here was Australian.
Shopping in Seminyak was wonderful. Two fabulous ladies shoe shops, Papillion & ET Club. Bought many pairs in both. Shoes different to what we have here and can't wait for summer to come to wear all the summer sandles etc I bought.
Clothes were good as well. Two beautiful boutiques where I bought dresses, Magali Pascal and Lulu. Stunning silk dresses & linen dresses, in the style of Collette Dinnigan. Also bought mens shirts in Biasa & Pauls loft.
Sarongs on the beach at Seminayak pretty with sequins and pearls embroidered on them 40000 each.
Dining in Seminyak also good
Kafe Warisan- French restaurant easily the best food all trip went twice 5 star service and food.
Ku De ta- always good and the lounges after dinner overlooking the beach are such a treat after a meal.
La Lucciolas - not as good as last year
Also had some printing done at indographics. Big posters 1.5m x 1m etc different sizes, beautiful work and they put eyelets in the top for hanging as well. Business cards & address stickers as well. Had I taken other things with me I would have had them printed to. Husband also had 10 banners made for his business. Yes we did have excess luggage but it is only $8.00 per kilo and it is still cheaper than the freight would have been. They did fabulous work and are very precise and attentive in what they are doing. Next time I will bring more things to be done.
After 5 days in Seminyak we moved to Nusa Dua Beach Hotel for our second week we stayed there last year and it is lovley as always and a bit more relaxed & casual than the Legian.
Due to football the chess bar was open 24 hours with big screen set up to watch the games.Also food available 24 hours at this bar.
Hotel only 30% full and swim up bar not attented at all times.
Walked up to the new Conrads hotel and had lunch there. Very nice Hotel with some rooms stepping directly into the pool. Well appointed hotel but like some at this time seem to be only about 30% full.
Went to Discovery Mall and had glasses made. They advised me to have gravitational glasses. Sounded good at the time but wearing them makes me want to throw up, I can't seem to find my focus with them at all. They were double the price of reading glasses as well. Perhaps these work for other people but as yet I can't seem to manage them, it is like being seasick when I put them on.
Bread talk at discovery is always a treat.
Bought some nice copy bage from a couple of shops in Kuta as presents and they were about $50.00 Australian each but leather and really good copies of Balenciago, prada & Louis vitton. I was most pleased with these and so were the girls I gave them to. Good quality zips etc. So hope they will last longer than what I have previously bought on the markets.
Had 2 leather jackets made at Bali Brumby and husband had 1 as well.
Choose this one after forum recommendations, very friendly people and nicley made jackets. Markets near by very quiet and when we would walk past these to Bali Brumby I can only describe it as a feeding frenzy as everyones wants to sell you something. One guy even offered to make my husband a suit overnight as we were leaving the next day. It was quite a surreal scene to be in. So sad to see so many so desperate for business.
Money changers were tricky this time, several times they tried to short change me , moving money about etc. Each time I asked them to stop it, but I was dissapointed that several were doing it when I hadn't experienced it before.
Did the usual DVD & CD shopping as well. Mostly good but a few duds. Watched one last night but it stopped half way through.Will have to wait till it comes out here on DVD to watch the ending.
Also ate at a few local places can't remember the sames and had delicious Nasi Goreng etc and Bintang, always a favourite combination whilst in Bali.
We had good weather a couple of overcast days but used them for the shopping days so as not waste the sunny ones. We had a wonderful time, it was relaxing, the people are always wonderful and it was hard to come home. Now we can't wait to plan outr ntrip for next year.
Thanks again for all the useful tips on the forum!