Monday 9th July
White Water Rafting Day. Telaga Waja River. We booked with Bali Action Adventure, they have a shop near the beach entrance to the Jayakata, they give a discount on the listed price like most do but they seemed the cheapest. We ended up paying $US 89 for the four of us, we did the afternoon ride as we didn't want the lunch included. All I can say is FANTASTIC!! We all loved it. Great scenery, few small waterfalls on the way, we stopped at one about halfway along the river to have a drink and take some photos. They give you a waterproof bag to put cameras and wallets in. I took a disposable waterproof camera, which was good, as it didn't matter if it got bumped around and wet. Much easier than trying to get your camera out of the bag because by the time you did you would have missed the shot. I took the video camera as well but didn't use if for this reason, plus it would have got when if you tried to use it anyway.
It is the dry season so the river is quite low, so it is fine for young kids, don't know about the wet season may be too much for very young kids.
The ride is for 14km and it goes very quickly, there are stairs at the end but they weren't that bad. We would highly recommended white water rafting to anyone, so much fun.
Went to the beach and brought some caps 15000rp, kids brought a silver ring each 40000rp for both. I brought an unusual Guess watch that I hadn't seen before paid 50000rp too much I know but I really liked it, so I was happy to pay the 50000.
Had tea at the Fookin Pub. Met the new owner, nice lady Food was fantastic great prices, They have the BEST vanilla milkshakes according to the kids. Had a great day.
Tuesday 10th July
Time to brave the beach sellers! Roxy singlets 4 for 60000rp caps 4 for 50000rp bracelet with a name on it 50000rp sunnies Dior Oakley 25000rp each. Quicksilver cotton shirt 50000rp get sick of ladies calling me trying to sell me stuff I don't want so we get a cab to Indigograph.
We wanted to get some business cards printed they said they needed 7 working days and need a minimum of 500 business cards. We don't have enough time so we don't worry about them.
We looked at some gongs on the way back and I decide I need one for home, will have a look around at some more first. Get in another cab and head for Geneva, brought heaps of stuff and still only spent just over $100. So much cheaper than buying at the markets. There are heaps of taxis around Geneva so no worries getting one back to motel.
Went to Gado Gado for lunch, it's part of Belaka Beach Resort (I think?) great food great prices, actually I can't think of a bad meal the whole time we were there, kids play pool while we wait for our food.
Go back for a swim and wait for Made to pick us up to go to Tannah Lot. Again he is right on time we left at 4.00pm, it takes about an hour to get there. Lots of tourists there. There are market stalls before you go thru the entrance. 35000rp for the four of us to go in. There are heaps of market stalls on the way down to the temple too. But an elephant tea set, so cute the teapot is in the shape of an elephant and the spout is his trunk, the cups handle is an elephants head and trunk, the lady says 180000rp I say 80000rp she says okay I say okay I'll take two!!! Everyone's happy, theres another present for someone!!! We keep walking down to the temple, pay donation to see the sacred snake, daughter right in there touching the snake, we walk out to the main temple it does look amazing with the sun starting to go down behind it. Found the python!! Had to get a photo of us all holding him, amazed at how heavy and how strong it is, you can feel it contracting around your shoulders. It was 20000rp to hold it and they take photos with your camera for you, well worth it, would have paid heaps more. We start heading back to meet Gede and see a Billabong store with heaps of clearance items, of coarse we buy more stuff. We see lots of things that we brought at Geneva earlier and they are way more expensive than what we paid.
Finally get to the car Made there smiling and waiting for us, lucky the back of the car is empty to fit all our stuff in!! On the way back the phone rings and it is Dewa, the original guy I booked to drive us around. He is ringing to make sure we happy with Made and if we are enjoying our holiday, and to apoligise because he couldn't drive us. How nice is that!!! I will definitely keep there number and use them next year. If anyone would like his detail just ask.
So glad we went to Tannah Lot, we hadn't planned on going but it is so worth the trip, it is great to see and we will go back next time.
Went for a walk down the street when we got back and found a place that does printing, it's called Redline the owner is a (Scottish?) guy very helpful he shows us different styles and some different designs. We decide to get stickers instead of business cards and we also order stubby holders with the same design. Stubby holders were 8000rp each minimum order is 50,stickers were 3000rp each minimum order is 100. Will call in tomorrow to check the sample and if we are happy they will be ready Friday. Too Easy!!! Finally let the kids but their lasers, very happy with themselves, they spend most of the night shining all the different shapes on the roof.
Wednesday 11th July
Went to the dentist even husband said he would have a clean. That is truly amazing as he hates the dentist and will normally only go if he is in pain. Rooms were spotless, very gentle, very happy with the results. I had 2 outside filling and a clean 450000rp per filing 400000rp for each clean. Even Happier!!!!!!!! Also there was no waiting, had made an appointment for 12.00, walked straight in and was out in about 45minutes. We went to Dr Ruby at the Bali Galleria.
At first I was a bit unsure whether to go to the dentist in Bali, but after reading how lots of people had been to Dr Rudy and were happy I thought I'd give it a go, very glad I did. We had a quick look around the Mall while we were there but we don't really like shopping in them while we are away as you may as well be at home.
We went to Planet Hollywood for a late lunch while we were there, we were the only people in the whole restaurant, don't know how they manage to keep it running. It is very expensive for Bali too. Nice to have a look around but I wouldn't make a special trip to go there.
Stopped in at Redline on the way back to check the stickers and study holders. Very impressed they are going to be great.
Thursday 12th July
Free shuttle to Kuta square, walk down to Bali Brumby to check our stuff. All perfect except my dress needs to be taken in a bit. Jade dress for her first communion is amazing, still needs to have the beads sewn on, but it is just beautiful, exactly what we wanted and a fraction of the price it would have cost me to buy it at home. Very Happy! Go back Saturday to pick it all up. Then head back to Kuta Square more Dolce & Gabanna , Armarni, and Versarce. Found some great D&G bikinis 75000rp. Brought Sims gameboy advance game and a 125 games in one cartridge for sons DS all works one happy boy. Stop at KFC for lunch.
Head back to the beach, pretty overcast so not many people today. Wyan comes to give husband a massage, daughter gets her hair braided.
Friday 13th July
Do some shopping in Seminyak went to get some money changed, the rate was a bit higher so I was ready to be ripped off, sure enough he tried, so did the next guy, then went to a lady who was a bit lower, no worries here. Brought more D&G stuff. Kids have enough shopping so we head back to the motel. Hire 2 boogie boards 30000rp for 2 husband waits to hire 2 beech lounges while I go, watch the kids and take more photos. Surf is pretty rough, tell the kids to come in for a bit. Try to find husband amongst all the lounges. Find him surrounded by beach sellers, then realize, as I get closer he is having a manicure!!!!! Soo funny, had to take a photo. My husband is such a boys boy, would never have thought he would have a manicure!!!!!
Picked up Stubby holders and stickers, so happy with them.
Go to Garlic lane for a look and have tea at Dolphin, Spider is still there and the food is still good. Found Ketuts shop, must say I wasn't that impressed a lot of stock looked very old, and not very good quality. Walk back to the motel we followed the beach from Padma to the Jayakata, so much quicker.
Decide to pack up some of our things HOLY COW where did all this stuff come from, finish packing one case too depressing as it means our holiday is coming to an end.
Husband had his massage last night, said it was the most painful massage he had ever had, but he back is great today so we would highly recommend Wyan for a therapeutic massage. He is taught by an old Chinese guy and has been studying Chinese massage for over 15 years.
Saturday 14th Mission today Buy a gong! After breakfast catch a cab to corner of Melasti and Legian street walk down Legian next street on the left to the shop that I first saw the gongs they had the best prices that I had seen. Got the lucky early morning price 150000rp, some shops wanted over 350000rp. Very happy with myself. We were going to catch a cab straight back but because Legian street is one way thought we would walk for a bit. Found more D&G and Versace stores all have big sales at the moment, had to buy more stuff. 4 hours later we arrive back to the motel, had to go back because we couldn't carry any more things. Kids were very good, just kept stopping for them to buy drinks or ice creams. Everyone happy.
Picked all our stuff up from Puta at Bali Brumby, all excellent, daughters dress is amazing I have to email Putu a photo of her wearing it.
Stopped in at Bubba Gumps for a drink, it is very expensive compared to most places in Bali, for a beer a cocktail in one of their glasses to take home, and 2 milkshakes it was more expensive than most of our dinner bills!!! Oh well we wanted to have a look as we had never been there before.
Went to Yut'z for dinner, very busy we were lucky to get a table. This would probably be the best meal we had in Bali, steak was fantastic, tortellini was also fantastic, frozen margaritas also dam nice. Would definitely recommend Yutz
Sunday 15th
Our last day. Have to pick up more photos, took heaps while we were there, so much cheaper having them printed in Bali as opposed to home, also had some enlargements done. Also got photos printed with next years calendar around them, they make great presents. Pack up all our stuff and borrow some scales from reception to see what the luggage is weighing in at, you guessed it we were over by about 10kg. Oh well thought it may have been more, at least I will be expecting to pay so I will have extra money handy at checkin.Get transport to the Green Garden.
Our flight leaves really late so I had booked a room at the Green Garden for the last day, that way we can relax have a shower and get changed just before going to the airport, also having a room means that we don't have to leave our bags anywhere. Arrive back to a warm welcome at the Green Garden. We really like this motel, we prefer to stay in Legian over Tuban, but if the Green Garden was in Legian we would stay there all the time. Staff all laugh at the number of bags we have. Go and say goodbye to Dianne and her husband, of coarse we buy a few more tshirts, she is such a nice lady. If you are near the Green Garden go and see her she has heaps of good quality stuff.
Have lunch at the Green Garden, great food.
Take the kids to timezone and go to Krispy Kreme, then back for a swim. Before we know it, it's time for tea and a shower and off to the airport. Another bonus for the Green Garden is that they give you free airport transfers. We check our bags in, we are over so I have money ready to pay but he lets us thru, our hand luggage was over the limit too but it wasn't weighed. Between the four of us our hand luggage was 2 handbags, 2 garment bags, two camera bags, four backpacks. So I guess it just depends on the person serving you as I had read how strict Jetstar are with there limits but we were very lucky.
We went to buy duty free and were told that you can't take duty free liquids over 100mls onto Jetstar flights. No idea why because Melbourne to Bali we carried on our duty free no worries but no go from Bali home.
We went to one of the airport lounges, not sure which one but it was 200000rp for the four of us and worth every cent. Could sit relax, kids played on the internet. Free food and drinks, made the waiting so much easier. The flight was delayed by about an hour but the time was made up during the flight, we went via Sydney so we could have brought duty free there but we couldn't be bothered and we didn't have much time to collect our bags clear customs and get to the domestic terminal to catch our connecting flight.
We declared all our wooden and shell stuff. Had it all packed in one case, none of our other bags were looked at and we had about 12 in all. I had brought a small bongo drum at Geneva and thought they may have taken it off me but it was okay so I'll buy a bigger one next year. The only thing that was taken off me was some necklaces we had brought from the kids at Git Git falls. I thought they were made from shells and beads but they were actually grass seeds. No worries the customs guy was great, he said we could get them treated for $60 or he would need to take them. Of coarse we chose to let him have them.
It was a rush but we made our connecting Qantas flight to Melbourne, only just but we made it. Have to say the service was better on Jetstar than Qantas, staff seemed so much happier and friendly on Jetstar. Get off the plane in Melbourne it's 6 degrees!!!! Let me back on the plane I want to go back!!!!!!
Overall we had an awesome holiday, can't wait to go back next year. The highlights were white water rafting, The Melka, Tanah Lot, the food, (we didn't really have one bad meal, although by the last few days we were sick of eating.) the people, Penninsula Beach Resort Nusa Dua, (such a beautiful place), and of coarse the shopping.
Must remember next time for the flight home to book seats in isles A & B, the sunrise from the plane is truly amazing.
Kuta was quite busy as it was the school holidays over there as well as here, we did notice many more European and Japanese tourists than our previous holidays in Bali. Sanur was extremely quiet as well as Lovina.
Well that's it until next year.
Thanks for reading