Well its finally time. The count down has been going since last October and finally it's time for us to go back to beautiful Bali!!! Me, husband, son 10 and daughter 8. I booked the flights and all accommodation over the Internet, I was a bit worried that we might get to the motels and have them say, sorry I don't have your reservation but I had confirmed them all a week before we left so hopefully all would be good. I shouldn't have worried because all was fine and I will definitely book the same way next time.
Saturday 30th June
Jetstar 6.45pm flight from Melbourne, no worries, on time, service was good, seats comfortable, nothing to complain about we got the seats I have picked on the internet as well.. Get off the plane and savior the first smells and warmth of Bali, we are all so happy to be back. Through customs Husband got asked for money, he just laughed as he doesn't carry any money, I have it all and I'm already through, so the custom guy missed out this time.
Driver from Green Garden there waiting for us, into the car and off to the motel. Have to say very happy with our room, had the family room (number 44) excellent, in room safe, bunks and king size bed, cable TV, kids love cartoon channel. Upstairs overlooking the pool. Go to the circle K, out the front to the left grab some drinks and chips, have some drinks and off to bed, it's 4.30am at home!!!!!!!!!
Sunday 1st July
Up at 6.30, too excited to sleep!! Down for breakfast, was a little disappointed with the selection but was still okay. Went across the road to Diannes, she wasn't there but we met her husband who was very sweet, he kept apologizing because he couldn't speak much English. Brought heaps of stuff.
Bintang Singlets 25000rp
Girls tops 25000rp
Tshirts 30000rp
AFL Singlets 25000rp
We went back later to meet Dianne; she gave Daughter a free cap!!! She didn't have any StKilda stuff so is going to get some for my daughter.
Head off to Bali Brumby, I had emailed Putu before we left with a picture of the dress we needed to get made so I already knew how much it would cost. I had also emailed Anika Tailor but the price they quoted I could have got it made cheaper in Melbourne!!
I took the material with me, could have got it in Bali but it is expensive and not as good quality as the material I had brought.
Daughter dress $75.00
Suit for husband $135.00 including material
Suit for Son $55.00 including material
French Cuff Shirt for son $26 including material
Got son measured up for an Aladdin Costume as he is in a production in September. Just took pictures of what he wanted.
All measured up, call in next week for fitting. No worries. Time to go back to Green Garden for a swim.
Ring Gede from Lembi leather. Freak out shop is not there anymore. Try the mobile, Woo Hoo it's Gede!!! He was at the motel within half an hour warm greeting he remembered us from last time (any wonder we spent a fortune with him last time) Measured kids up for jackets, again they had a picture of what they wanted.
One Harley jacket 750000rp
and a long black jacket and a suede skirt for daughter.1100000rp.
Go to the supermarket for more supplies
Lge Bintang 13000rp
Bali Cooler 8500rp
Bintang stubby holders 3500rp
Place next door DVDs buy 10 get 7 free brought Married with Children season 1 -3 all work even better!!!!!
Went to Krispy Kreme at Discovery mall to see what all the fuss is about, thought they were pretty average much prefer Bead Talk myself but kids are happy finally got to try them.
Head to Impala for dinner, just up on the left from Green Garden. Food excellent, was quite busy service was pretty slow, but doesn't matter we're on holidays so there is no rush. Very cheap. They also had the best Tropical Moon cocktails; trust me I had quite a few while we away and Impala made the best ones!!
Exchange Rate was 7575rp
Weather overcast but still warm enough to swim.
Monday 2nd July
Woke up at 5.00am!! Breakfast much better today. Much more selection. Off to Waterbom, loved the new Boomerang ride. Got there just before 10.00 no queues. By about 11.30 long wait for the Boomerang ride, all other slides not too bad. Noticed a lot more Japanese and European tourists this time compared to last time. Had a great day, kids love this place. They give you a bracelet that you credit money too and just use that to charge anything too so you don't have to carry money around with you, good idea.
Call into Bali Brumby on the way back to motel to get a dress copied
Kids and Husband back to motel for a swim, like they haven't had enough swimming today already??? I head up to Black & White next to the circle K Brought 2 Gucci Handbags 100000rp each
LV Wallets 40000rp
LV 3 Coin Purses 25000rp
Wanted to get LV Carry on case with wheels but out of cash, no worries back to the motel, kids happy in the pool husband happy with Bintang, me happy spending money!!!! Everyone happy!!!!!!!!!Back to Black & White to get my case
LV carry on Case 180000rp
Leather Billabong & Quicksilver Wallets 40000rp, brought five nephews will love them.
Back at motel phone rings guess what we filled in a holiday survey and won first prize!!!!!! 7 nights free accommodation in Bali. Woo Hoo how lucky are we????? All we have to do is Get picked up tomorrow and go to Nusa Dua have free lunch free drinks, kids get free Jet ski, they will then drop us off at Sanur as we are staying there for the next 2 nights. Sounds good to me wanted to have a look at Nusa Dua anyway. I knew they were going to try and sell us timeshare, so we new what we were getting into.
Rang Febris Spa, Kids had massage, body scrub, body mask. I had body scrub and body mask Husband had 1 ½ hour massage all up 500000rp, all loved it. Son informs me he wants one every day!
Daddy Café for dinner Husband has mixed meat kebab 60000rp all meals great quick service cheap. No madori or local equivalent, really wanted Tropical Moon, settle for Pina Colada okay but not as good.
Stop at Jenny's 2 doors down from Dianne's, daughter brought heaps
Paul Frank Bag 20000rp
Paul Frank Wallet 10000rp
Frangipani Hair Clips10000rp
How can you say no?
Back into Diannes B
Billabong Tshirts 35000rp
Von Dutch Denim skirt 40000rp
Into Supermarket more Bintang, Bali Coolers, drinks for kids, Tim Tams, Chips. Also brought Olay Serum 104000rp
Tuesday 3rd July
Exchange rate 7600rp
Have breakfast pack up to go to Sanur via Nusa Dua. Who brought all this stuff!!!!! Only been here 2 days already filled extra suitcase and big stripy bag, did we really buy all this stuff already? Oh well. Get picked up 11.30 to go to Peninsula Beach Resort. The resort is stunning, rooms brilliant have a beautiful lunch, could order whatever we wanted, kids hit the pool and husband & I listen to the spiel. I new I shouldn't have come now I want to sign up!! Kids love it end up staying all afternoon, Kids don't want to leave! Gavin ( the sales man) is great not too pushy gives us a better price for an apartment still a lot of money to commit to, gives us his final price, if the kids were older we would definitely consider the offer, but not at the moment. Finally get the kids out of the pool and get taken to Bumi Ayu in Sanur. Our driver was lovely, he also does massage, fancy that! Ian makes an appointment for Thusday night, he does traditional Chinese reflexology massage.
The time share talk was worth the time, great lunch kids had a great day, transport was free, got vouchers for the jets king as we run out of time today, and best of all get 7 nights free holiday back to Bali next year!!!!
Bumi Ayu good got room 40 as requested, kids happy; they measure how far to the pool from our door, 12 steps, Mum your ace good choice of room!! Rooms okay, nothing to rave about. Kids jump in the pool, they have been in a pool afternoon but in they go again..
Went for a walk to the beach and have some tea. End up at Beach Café, food great especially the steak. Beach Café was busy but most restaurants lucky to have a table taken. Most market shops close early, as it is so quiet. Back to motel plate of fresh fruit waiting for us Nice!! TV bad all in Indonesian, no worries plug in portable DVD Player and watch a movie. Will check out the full details of our free holiday when we get home. Guess what we are coming back to Bali in about 360 sleeps!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yee Ha!!!!!!!!
Wednesday 4th July
Wake up at about 5.00 again!! What is going on?? Kids still asleep, having too much fun. Daughter is exhausted each night about 7.00 she is almost sleep on her feet. Go for breakfast. Food is excellent best scrambled eggs and bacon. Had continental Breakfast included just paid extra for bacon and eggs, no big deal only about 24000rp extra.
Walk down Hardy's, found Matha Tilaar stuff, had to buy some to try after all I had heard about it on this forum. Went to the beach markets, got hassled so quiet they all remember our names from last night and drag us into their shops, go to Jennies and Tootsies (shop 28 & 29) fixed price so much easier, can't be bothered bargaining anymore.
Buy LV Wallet 40000rp
Denim Billabong Shorts 90000rp
More tshirts
Polo carry on case 280000rp
Went into some other shops to stop them hassling us. Buy some more things don't need to bargain as they know what shops we have been in so they just match the prices, too easy!! Each shop we buy something from we get the lucky morning price, must be why we won the holiday?
Sanur was very quiet and the sellers were very persistent.
Went to Benno's for lunch great food and cheap.
Went to change some money at a money changer close to Bumi Ayu, the guy was trying so hard to confuse me. I was still holding my $100 note so I let him go and try all the tricks (dropping notes into the drawer, asking me for smaller notes and swapping notes as I was looking in my purse for other notes, miscounting, the list goes on) actually quite funny because I new what he was going, I just wanted to see how many tricks he had. When I had seen enough I said no thanks I'll go somewhere else, he just looked at me. Then I went to the next money changer along the street, I ask if he charges commission, he says no but the rate is 200 less?? Isn't that commission?? Oh well off to the next money changer to try. Lovely lady all good, no tricks just straight exchange of $100 into 765000rp, see it's not that hard!!!! Was beginning to think I wouldn't be able to shop anymore! Go to some shops, lady so excited someone is looking at her stuff, I ask for some Billabong stuff, she tells me you can't get Billabong in Bali anymore! No wonder noone is buying from her.
Head to the beach thru the back of Bonsai Café, heaps of Bonsai trees there, they are amazing. Try some glasses on, is it just me or are all the sunglasses crooked, they never seem to feel comfortable. Brought a Coke lighter in the shape of a can, has flashing light when lit I offered 25000 I thought he would ask for more but he said yes.
Back to check on husband, sound asleep.
Have tea at motel, kids to tired to do anything else, food was beautiful and cheap. No one else in the restaurant, pretty sad. Bumi Ayu is very quiet only about 5 rooms occupied.
Next stop Lovina
Thanks for reading hope your not asleep.
Will post more later