JBR.. a bit more


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Posted by Bali_dreamin on Tuesday, 7. August 2007 at 15:45 Bali Time:

Day 4
Tanjung Benoa, water sports, we hired a car outside hotel and K did the jet ski-ing and flying fish, rather her than me and we both snorkeled, most of the discount offers around town were for 3 activities so saved on mine.
I discovered why she was keen to disappear off on her own each day surfing, she was doing later lesson today and I followed her out to grab a taxi and god love her there she is taking off on back of motorbike, apparently I discovered later, the boys wait for her up the road from hotel and one of them takes her and comes back for her couple of hours later. She didn't think I would approve as I had vetoed the idea of her hiring a bike for a couple of days.
And then at the beach she hired board and instructor and it's quiet enough that there were often 2-3 of them teaching her. Girl's in heaven at all this male attention
After the Secret Garden disappointment I tried the in house spa at Vira, brilliant, I went with the facial, really nice ambient area, very clean and fresh looking with wonderful aroma therapy fountain at reception. I asked about the products and they did say that for long term use for my skin the MT brand would be good and suggested that I get it from Supernova, didn't have to do that they could have just sold me the stuff they were using. The following day I had massage and Kate did the cream bath hair thing... one of the best spa experiences of the trip, nothing was hurried , the staff were sensitive and really caring.

Gonna have a whinge here .....The Pool... I had planned a nice relaxing afternoon by pool, was going well, cocktail (actually 2), Harry Potter, new book I couldn't resist buying in Bali even though it weighs a ton, a nibble or two, just thinking about another dip in the water and then the family from hell arrived . Now in this nice quiet hotel there is a small pool, there are no diving boards so the less than lovely Australian teenage boys clambered up the water feature and dive bombed off the top shrieking obscenities when they hit the water and Mum, bless her she just ordered another Bintang. The small child who had been swimming with her father was forced out of pool and gradually we all left area .... Grrrrrrrr sometimes I wish I could make some biting comment that fixes things but I usually end up stuttering in rage, so just kept up the stink eye.

Kin Khoa for dinner, highly recommend this, as well as more traditional Thai dishes there are things from the BBQ out front ......I ordered fish... came perfectly cooked, thick and juicy with garlic, onion and tomato sauce with just the right amount of chilli.


Tomorrow its Ubud.....

Ubud
K seemed overwhelmed by Ubud first day, enjoyed the trip up but this felt very different to her. We stayed at Honeymoon Guesthouse which is more traditional designed hotel and complete contrast to Kuta area.
To be honest I was bitterly disappointed by HGH, I had organized it online and specified two beds, agreed I would take one of the cheaper rooms as they are larger but when we arrived only one bed and they argued about putting up the other until I produced email.....glad I kept copies of these sort of things, useful in lots of places and another great forum suggestion
Room was spacious, beds had mossie nets, lovely, and a really, really, noisy overhead fan. Service was poor, staff couldn't be bothered until you were leaving and then all sorts were hanging around for a tip, we didn't experience this in any other hotel. . The food?, well everything comes from Casa Luna kitchen and more often than not its cold, the coffee from the jar on table was undrinkable. Breakfast OK first day but no real choice we ordered toast for one and croissants for one they sent two of each and charged us extra for croissants. We did try one in house dinner, should have guessed it would be pretty ordinary. Everything came at once after very, very long wait, no covers to plates so food cold we were too tired and sore to argue.
Janet the Australian owner was apparently away and several comments made by other guests and at restaurants over next few days indicate that service deteriorates at these times. Spoke with a few people who had moved up road to Nicks Hidden Cottages and said the service was brilliant.... might try there next time.

Took donations to Ibu Robin's and was shown round the Birthing Centre, very basic but spotlessly clean, they have the only spa baths for use during labor in area so this attracts wealthier Balinese and expats. which helps with fund raising. There are quite a few volunteers particularly alternative therapy practitioners that donate their time here and a local doctor that comes up from Denpasar to look over the children who come into the clinic. The Stotts Emulsion caused a great deal of excitement, they hadn't been able to get any for a while and I came away feeling I had made a small difference.

First night we did the Legong dance, was of course great, loved the gamelan band and those wonderfully graceful hand movements, Dinner at Miro's Garden, corner of JL Bisma, the steps up to restaurant were lined with frangipani flowers and lit by candles, tables set amongst soft lights and water features, very attentive staff, really good food. Had Nasi Campur, excellent and Kate had chicken dish that she point blank refused to share.

Next day white water rafting, we booked with a small local owned group, the rafting experience was absolutely fantastic so glad I did it. But the steps!!!! Long, long, long way down the gorge at beginning and the same at other end, I dragged myself up last in the group with promise of lift half way up and wouldn't you know it , it had broken just before I got there, many profanities muttered under breath. So staggered up to the top, Kate raised camera, I must have had that look on my face , she put it away real quick.

Dinner that night of the real highlight restaurant of the whole trip for us Café Des Artistes just down road from HGH... the food was incredible. My Chicken Cordon Blue, succulent with luscious melting cheese on a creamy mushroom sauce, the owner chef made a point about it being under the chicken to not overpower the taste. A fresh tomato salad, parsley potatoes so simple, but again excellent. Every mouthful was a joy. K went with the steak in garlic sauce, local meat and really tender, it's about where you buy from we were told.

Last day started with promise of rain. I loved the peace, and the sound of the rooster and the birds and water and soft sounds of gamelan in the distance, even the barking dogs. Over breakfast watched huge silky black butterflies around the lily pond.
We spent the day pottering around Ubud walked down Monkey Forest Road to Sacred Monkey Forest and up Jl Hanuman.. Lunch at Dirty Duck, the food just OK but the location fantastic
Stopped at Bali Healing Centre in Jl Hanuman, just a spontaneous thing, Kate did hot stones, she said it was blissful, I went with reflexology. Without a doubt this was the best massage of trip, the staff focus on it being a healing thing not just standard massage. The massage was at a completely different level and a real sense of spirit in the place, I lay back and could feel things shifting and moving and my masseuse would breathe a soft ah! every so often when she felt a shift, loved it, left large tip which bless her she didn't want to take.
The market, Kate excelled here I left her to it, they really did grab and hold on, too much for me, she came back with several watches, I missed out on silk sarongs because it was all too hard.
Café Lotus for afternoon drinks, service really shonky but I suppose they know we all come just for the view.
Back to Puri Raja for last few days.



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