Hi guys & gals.. Flew on the 17th and back home on the 25th of June. Been flat out at work and with kids since then and a touch of the lurgy that everyone seems to have here.
Had to get from Gold Coast to Sydney then onto Bali so up at 3.30am, out the door 4.30am check in at Coolangatta at 5am arrive Sydney 7.30, taxi to International then onward and upward - NOT! While Garuda had the door shut 7 mins early it seems several large planes in front of us had not been on time. We were in a queue for 1 hour and three minutes. My blood was boiling. I had people to meet at the other end and as usual had tried to pack way too much in right from the moment I arrived.
When we got to Bali the airport was chokkers so very slow. Can't remember the last time I saw it this full. Being a Sunday the roads were at a crawl or stop so our Bus ride to Hard Rock took for ever. I was with a group of 150 Travel Agents from all over Australia. this is called a Mega Famil and mostly for first timers. I went for a variety of reasons. One, I just wanted to, two there were many hotels that I had not been to or had been refurbed since I last inspected and three because I'd not yet been to Nusa Lembongan and this was a good chance to really suss it out. Four I just really wanted to.
Upon our very late check in at HR I literally through my case in the door and started to run down Jalan Pantai as it was so busy I couldn't get a taxi. Not being very fit my run lasted about 10 metres. I then begged a guy to take me to S&S which of course is so close hardly worth getting his van out. 20.000rp changed his mind and I was away.
I met a bunch of people down there and it was the biggest gathering I've ever seen for Sammy and Suzie. Sammy wasn't there. Hello to all I met there but while I can remember your actaul names I don't know your BTF names. Any ways I made it even though I could only stay one hour. Just really wanted to do face to face with you guys so it was all worth the rushing and that first Bintang and cheap cigarette was sensational. The weather was sunny and once I had clamed down it was just a joy to realise how super busy Bali was... People every where. A great sunset for my first day to so that was soothing.
The group was supposed to have free time for our first night (so I had dinner plans of my own ) but at the last minute we had been changed to a dinner function at Dynasty. So as I had already gained permission from the group leader I made my own way there - motor bike - and was about 40 min late. After a few drinks more I decided to have a migrane and walked myself home to Hard Rock. A taxi would have made me ill so the fresh air was better. What a first day.
Now the next three days were lots of hotel inspections and a breakfast , luch and dinner some where different each time. I'll go over hotels that impressed me later. Some of these meals and functions were just amazing and our organisers had not seen such grand effort before on the Megas. Ramayana and the Legian beach Hotel just blew us all away. I'm hoping to get a DVD of the Function at Legian Beach Hotel as it had a big stage set up and bands and dignataries from Bali and JKT and just a big deal. Media every whre. Cameras in our faces constantly. Felt like the MTV awards.
After those two really big fucntions a handful of us went to Hard Rock Cafe and saw a fantastic band. We meant to go for one drink but stayed until they finished. Hard core rock band but was just what the doctor ordered. Of course as is my tradition I requested Sweet Child of mine by the gunners and an empty dance floor filled up quick and stayed that way. When will they ever learn... That's the song to get the party started! After the other function we went to the restaurant bar out the front of Kuta Seaview Cottages and the free drinks continued there until about 3am. They are part of the Rama group so it was the Rama people who grabbed those of us who stayed for the entire fucntion. Many others took off as early as they could for shopping. Their loss we partied on and had a ripper night. Ripper hang over again too!
Now while I was only going to do one JBR seems I raved too much and not even left Kuta yet. I'll finish Kuta now do another JBR for the rest as there's heaps more to tell including my big night out....5.10am home - not bad for an old boiler. All in the name of research though!
The hotels that I liked in Kuta were Ida Hotel directly behind Mataharis. What a little gem this place is. If you want great value for money take one of their better rooms and you'll be very pleasantly surprised. Liked it heaps better than Oasis and Bakung Sari which are all very close to each other. Ida has great lane access to either Bemo corner so Kuta, or same lane but other direction to Kuta square and Tuban. Loved it. Prices up a bit higher than say Matahari Bungalows but I think worth the few extra bucks.
The next one I love love love is Kuta Seaview Cottages. Two room types now Superior and Deluxe and they are great. They had a refurb a while back but still fresh as a daisy. Grounds are excellent and the fact that they have put the new restauarant and bar and big fancy looking rendered wall at the front has put the place on the map. It was not on our list of hotels to look at but I took myself down to meet the manager and have a look. Was funny when we eneded up there about 16 hours later... Is located beach facing between Poppies one and two. Great location if you need some days in kuta. Prices up higher than say Puri Raja in Legian but seeing as that hotel is full house until about the year 2020 - Ok maybe until about November - it's a good plan B. Great people watching area by the bar on their very comfy and trendy day beds. Great sunsets too. Loved it and will stay there myself for sure.
Now I'll finish up on Villas. In my opinion Villa De Dawn in central Kuta on Jalan Legian in fact is a well kept secret and has one two and three bedroom Villas - Very nice. If you drift down to Legian/Seminyak my picks are one and two bedroom villas - Aston Sun Ilsand, just sensational place. Three bedroom villas has to go to The Villas and the four bedroom Villa that remains my favourite is at Sienna Villas. For location I belive that Aston Sun Island has it over all the others as there are no lanes to get down...It fronts onto Jalan Legian while feeling far removed from the noise of where you actaully are. 40 steps from Bintang supermarket so close to money changer, phone card etc. Well located to double 6 so close to my FAVOURITE spa Sicila. The agents I took there were so impressed they had to send out for another box of cards and brochures. I felt pleased with that. I didn't give away all of my little dos and don'ts to these people but happy to help a great joint like Sicilia.
So in closing my next installment will cover Nusa Lembongan, Sanur, Nusa dua, a big function and top night out, the Bekchams, Real Madrid and a nice morning at Ku De Ta.
happy Travels
Nicno