Spent 23 days in beautiful Bali, me + No.1 son (15) and No.2 son (8).
Stayed at Bali Hai hotel again. Very quiet this year compared to last time, Nov/Dec 2005, probably because kids had just gone back to school in Oz. The boys missed having lots of other kids around this time but they got by, although I did want to send them home a couple of times.
Places we went:
Waterbom Park 3 times (3 day pass). Food is great there, love the corn on a stick for 6,000, they have great coffee, the pizza was the best in Bali(according to No.1) and so is the park. Kids loved the new Boomerang ride but too scary for me. Lazy river is about my comfort zone but at a push I will ride Maccaroni. The rest is just too gut churning.
Geneva - spent 2 hours shopping here, very hot, thirsty work. Bought some nice things for gifts such as silver and bead bangles for 8,000 (seen later at Discovery for 15,000).
Many beautiful beaded, sequinned and tasselled cushion covers ranging from 17,500-22,000 each. Soap dish/jewellery, knikknak bowl/plates from 10,000-35,000 each, outdoor candle lanterns - glass and stone 37,000, mosaic glass 20,000.
Nusa Dua - 1st time for the kids there. Turtle Island, snorkelling, glass bottom boat and 1 x 15min jet ski was 650,000. No.1 loved the jet ski so much had to go again and that was another 140,000 for 15 mins. Thought later that we may have payed a bit too much for this but hey, we had fun and I was happy with the price at the time so not to worry. Our friend Ayu came with us and she loved the jet ski with No.1 too, so it was all good.
Things we bought:
DVD player for 275,000 (on special) top floor Discovery electrical store and gave away after. Heaps of DVD's . Had a few 'brummies' this time, they freeze a bit then move on but played some at the hotel and the shop was happy to exchange. Most places get from same supplier anyway so unless you want to sit through them all before you leave it's a bit like the watches 'you win some, you lose some'.
Friend already there gave us their sim card when they left. Top up cost 10,000, 25,000 and 50,000 at different times. Got phone unlocked from Matahari 2nd floor cost 90,000. They have great rate for i'national calls there of 2,500rp per min but you must remember to put some digits (000 i think) before the number, I forgot and used all my cedit quick smart. Didn't do that again!!
Places we ate:
Green Garden - No.1 son loved the chicken parma and mashed potato for 25,000 but after playing basketball with the locals most nights had to have two serves. Febri's is the same menu/same price.
Stadium - kids loved it here, the staff were lining up to play pool with them and I got to eat and have a Bintang and relax. Great food. Toilets are very good here by the way.
SA Café Tuban - had lunch here most days, great Nasi Goreng, Mee Goreng and club s'wiches and icy cold Bintang!!
McDonald's - No.2 is a very fussy eater!!! After he ate the cheese and Ritz crackers and BBQ shapes brought from home it was McD's every other day. Don't eat it myself but kids say it is better than home and it is much cheaper.
KFC - cheaper than home but not as good.
Top floor Discovery Mall - up here is where the electrical store is and also Amazone which is like Time Zone at home. You can get 45 coins for 50,000 and keep the kids busy for ages and there are heaps of little shops up there that have great Indo food and pizza, pasta, chinese on sizzle or hot plate, fresh fruit juices etc. etc. It is a great atmosphere here and the food is fantastic and so cheap. Lots of Javanese on holidays when we were there and all just relaxing and watching their children having fun. I loved it there and so did my boys, we went there many nights.
Stocked up at Matahari on skim milk (for me), full cream milk (for kids), yummy red delicious apples from US, strawberry Big M milk, Liptons tea bags, crackers, chips and many other supplies mostly all cheaper than home.
Had two leather jackets made, both in brown but different shades, one long and one short. The tailor came to the hotel and measured up there and delivered back to hotel in about 5 days. No.1 had a leather belt made for 80,000 and he bought a Rusty buckle in the surfshop in Kuta for 75,000. I also had a wallet copied for 90,000 and a bag made for 250,000. Very happy with all items.
Bought many other things like good quality surf brand tshirts and shorts, a beautiful Queen size quilt, but too much to list all.
We had a wonderful time and I am a bit down as usual after coming home which is why the delay in writing this but its time to "buck up" now and start planning for next year.