Hi All
What a great start to our holiday we were due to fly out on Sat the 21st July at 5.15 from Perth. I was at work on Friday day the before and my husband called in to say that Garuda had phoned him and asked us if we would be prepared to go to Bali that afternoon we had three hours to get 12 off us organised and to the airport. He said they were going to give us all $100 each and another nights accomadation if we agreed as they had over booked the flight the following day.
I said to Gary for $1200.00 we can do anything. It was just like the amazing race game we sent one son off to pick up the other son from work had to drop cars off at panel beaters pack get bus oranised for trip to airport as we had it booked for the following day. My dad was coming with us but he was out playing golf so sent my nieghbour out in a golf cart to retrieve him. Mum was at shops found her told her to get home and pack we told her she had 30 mins to be ready. We just threw anything in our cases and said what ever we forget we can buy in bali it was quite exciting.
We had to go via Jakarta but that was no problem.
It just added to our already changed return flight an extra 2 full days in Bali. Booked and paid for 14Days and recieved 16 full days great.
Flight over was good booked into Bali Garden Hotel I must say we were very inpressed with all the upgrades they have done there. We stayed there four years ago and was very disappointed very tied and scruffy.
The lobby looks fantastic and Adrian the owner was just putting in new computers for the guest to use. Breakfast was great the only problem was the amount of seats available outside on balcony. I would defently recommend this hotel to anyone of any age group. In our group of 12 ages ranged from 5 to 73. Teenagers had a ball in the games room playing pool and having fire work nights they let them off on the beach with the security guards watching and having a laugh with them.
The only thing I would recommend the hotel to do is install more lights around the pool area at night as it is lovely to sit down there and have a few drinks but it is very dark. More lighting on pathways as very dark trying to get back to rooms.
We noticed a big difference in the gardens they were immaculate Staff were always friendly and helpfull nothing was to much trouble for them.
Anyone thinking of staying here will not be dissapointed saying that some rooms still need a lot of work but you just have to be unlucky to get these rooms. My parents and Daughter for the first night had rooms on bottom floor that were very damp and smelt terrible but they were moved the following day to the best rooms in the hotel Rooms 279 & 277 great views close to lobby and brekky. I will be requesting these rooms next year we had room 284 great walked straight from lobby into our room great when I came back loaded with shopping lol.
Day 1
Straight to the Pub for our fix of satay sticks same people there but was very upset to learn Made has moved on he has been there for 27 years serving us with bloody cold beer and great conversation. He has got a new job as a security guard at the Secret Garden Hotel doing the night shift we really missed him. fist time I met him I was 18 have been back 11 times and he always remembers me. John silver the silver seller is still there with all his wise cracks about everthing very funny man. Pub was very quite it amazes me how they are still going they have added more choice to menu and installed a coffee machine. Satays are still the best in Bali.
Tried to find the S&S bar for the get together but I was under the impression it was near the Kuta Markets but I was wrong found out the next day it is up the beach more.
Well I will stop now so I dont bore you will write more tommorrow.
lots more to write but i need sleep. Back to work tommorrow YUK.