Aug 1st Wed
Well here we go, first timers to Bali and left Perth 8am 1st August.
I'm not a good flyer so I start to worry the week before, still awake at 2.30am, hubby wakes me at 4.20am after numerous attempts. I finally crawl out of bed, only 25mins to get dressed, coffee, smoke etc before we leave for airport. No time to panic hahaha. Flight OK but can't recline the seats as in Exit Door row. Hubby very tall, oh well only 3.5 hours. Arrive Bali 11.40, no probs with VOA or customs. Taxi vouchure for Rp30th A$3.75 to Ramada Bintang in Tuban.
To our room, unpack and go for supplies. Walk up to Centro buy 2 beach towels and smell a bakery yyuumm Breadtalk. I think I will eat here every day. New wallet to carry Rp, coffee and back to hotel with supplies. Crash for a few hours and back out by 7.30pm. Over to Febris for dinner as family will be staying there. (remember to put batteries in camera on arrival, not when you want to take a photo and batteries in hotel room).
Aug 2nd Thur
Bit cool last night, no need for air con. Hubby bad night, hay fever (or too many bintang). Still a little cool this am (but then I do feel the cold). Email family coming from Sydney to pack some warmish clothes. Off to explore Kuta. Walked all the way to Poppies Lane and back again. Caps, back pack and purse bag. Hotel by 2.30pm and feet are burning.
Got some hay fever tablets (we think) so hopefully a better night for all. Off to the pool, swim, read and relax. Buffet for dinner. After dinner went to the main bar, him Guinness at A$6.50 and me full Baileys A$15, will not do that again in a hurry. To room chats and bed.
Aug 3rd Fri
Back to Centro today after 11am as toilet x 4 (what does forum say DON'T EAT OFF THE BUFFETS), back to room by 2pm as hubby's turn on the loo. Both agree NO MORE BUFFETS. Me to tour shop to get some brochures. More R&R.
To the Wharf for dinner, yyuumm, right on the beach, watch the planes come in. One nearly every 5 mins.
10pm off to the Febris to meet family arriving at 11pm. Get some supplies for them, water, bintamg, pringles etc. Coffee for me, Bintang for him. Midnight and family still not here. Leave supplies with security and a note.
Aug 4th Sat
Cousin rings at 7.45am. In our lobby, go to meet them. Hugs, chats and off for supplies and morning tea at Breadtalk and some shopping. Their flight late, did not get in till 1am Bali time, 3am Sydney time. Have a look at their Hotel Febris, connecting rooms, lovely BIG fridge (hubby has fridge envy, will hold lots of Bintang), big bathroom, lovely rooms all for A$50 each room per night.
Back to our hotel for swim and R&R. Both our hubby's find the swim up bar and send the kids to get MORE MONEY for MORE BINTANG. All to our rooms for arvo nap before meeting for dinner and sort out tours.
Sunday Waterbom Park and girls want shopping.
Monday Bali Hai cruise to Lembongan Island and girls want shopping.
Cousin and family shopping minus me and him.
Wednesday Cycle ride and Elephant Park and girls want shopping.
Thursday Shopping trip just the girls.
Friday Driver for 10 hours to do Bird Park, Zoo and Monkey Forrest and girls want shopping.
Saturday Collect goods ordered and shopping for rellies not in Bali.
Sunday last minute shopping as cousin and family leave tonight.
Aug 5th Sun
Book and pay for tours and off to Waterbom Park. What a great day, slides, rapids, kids and adults, great food, great day. Back to Febris for 4pm for free foot massage, hubby's to bed or bar, girls have nails done and ladies massage. Great.
Meet at 7pm, walk to Poppies lane and every surf shop we have to go in, finally find Poppies for a really nice meal. Walk towards Legian as cousin been to Bali 17 years ago and wants to see if leather man was still there. She said the place has changed sooooo much. Did not find the shop and Taxi back to Febris for coffee and bed as done all the surf, roxy, shoes shops for the girls.
Aug 6th Mon HAPPY 43rd BIRTHDAY ME
Off for great day at Lembongan Island, snorkel, banana rides, swimming, Pearl farm (hubby buys me pearl ear rings for my birthday A$140). Back to hotels for shower and meet at the Wharf for my birthday. Cousin organised a black forest birthday cake YYUUMM and the girls bought me a beautiful mother of pearl bracelet. Everyone including staff sing Happy Birthday. Very pleasant evening.
Aug 7th Tues
Cousin and girls want shopping again today. Hubby and me pass. Him and me to Centro, replace my toe rings that I lost yesterday snokelling. Got him some linen 1 x shorts, 2 x trousers and 1 shirt. All A$12 or under each. Breadtalk for lunch, star bucks coffee and back to hotel. Him for arvo nap me to Wharf for quiet time coffee and reading.
Meet cousin at 7pm , Grace Kelly's for dinner, yyuumm. Buy 1 guinness A$10 and get one free, so works out at only A$5 each, even better. Great band, I could have stayed there all night, but kids tired from shopping and 26km ride tomorrow. Back to Febris for coffee and birthday cake.
Aug 8th Wed
8am pick up and 2 hours later at the top of Batum Volcano. VERY COLD, 5 time long sleeved tops purchased at the shop for Rp200th.
10.30 and we set off for the 26km ride down the hill, through 2000yld village still lived in, visit the oldest temple in Bali. All along the way kids calling HELLO, HELLO (wish I had taken some pencils, lollies etc to hand out), back yard bali coffee factory and the bush loo with the cows watching hahaha. End up at the Elephant Park for YES BUFFET lunch, but I stick to salad and rice only. 13yld has full buffet. Back to the hotel for 4.30pm. What a great day. Will do that ride again when back in Bali, this time I will take some crayons, pencils etc.
Showers and Daddy's for dinner, food OK, service great. Back to Febris for coffee and finish birthday cake.
Woken at 1.30am whole building shaking, we are on the forth floor and bed shaking, cups rattleling, very scary. Wake hubby. Once building stops shaking I say "what will we do", "go back to sleep" was his response. Next day heard earth quake 7.2 off Jayakata.
Aug 9th Thurs
Hubby decides to stay at Hotel, does NOT want another shopping trip. 13yld has toilet run since 1am, no more Buffets for her. Taxi to Melasti st Rp20th and to Garlic Lane to Miss Debbies for again NO barter Billabong etc Rp40th, sun glasses Rp40th. Small lane off Garlic Lane, Melasti street end shop called Ketut again NO barter Bali bags Rp25th, long sleeved Bintang tops Rp30th, Bintang T shirts Rp25th, Holden and Ford button shirts Rp75th A9.50, Holden/Ford caps Rp15th A$2, Cotton jumper Rp50th A$6.30. Shop opposite Miss Debbies, Same Same but Different, some VERY nice items in here. Dolphin Leather goods up from Miss Debbies, Cousin ordered boots made to measure here on Tuesday, A$70, should be ready Saturday. Lunch at the Bali Rock on Melasti st. Very nice hamburgers here. Satrt tyo walk back along :egian st and 13yld has to dash to loos again. Poor bugger. Me and her back to Centro by Taxi while cousin and her other 11yld shop. Breadtalk and ice coffee and back to hotel, shower and meet at Febris again for tea. All toooooo tired to go far. Plan Friday's trip.
Aug 10th Fri
9am, off to Barong dance at Ubud, Bali Bird Park, Bali Zoo and Monkey Forrest. Another GREAT day. Bird park beautiful, with amazing birds of prey demo, had early lunch here. Girls to gift shop. Bali zoo very clean and some of the animals bought off the black market to ensure their safety and survival. Lots of orphaned moneys here only about 4 months old and all they want to do is sit or fall asleep on you, I could have stayed there all day just nursing the baby monkey's, girls to gift shop. Then off to monkey forrest (note: if you buy banana's HIDE THEM, or monkey's will use you as a climbing frame to get to the banana's that you are holding above your head) as one did with me and sat on my head until I gave over the prized possession. The temple here was built in the 1500's and the monkey's have been there since that time. Go down to the natural spring water area, beautiful and all the carvings in the rocks. Walk along the paths that go nowhere and take a good look around. An amazing place.
Back to the hotel at 6pm. Hubby not feeling to well, has started a flu. Shower and leave him at hotel and me to meet cousin and to Centro as girls want to go late night shopping (as we have not done enough of that while in Bali, late night that is) get some cold and flu tablets for him.
Aug 11th Sat
Hubby a little better today, so he comes with us. Off to side road near Ramada Bintang, NO barter. About the 5th shop from the very end of this lane, Art Rama I think it was called. Got Billabong, Roxy, Quick Silver, Body and soul tops all Rp40th A$5, Bags Rp25th A$3.20, Shoes Rp20th A$2.50. Taix to Melasti st to collect boots from Dophin Leather and hubby to Miss Debbies and Ketut to get some long sleeved tops. Back to Bali Rock for lunch, most order the hambugers yum again. More walking and catch taxi back for 4pm massage, girls mini facial, ladies full facial and back massage, hubby Daddy's delight massage with the hot stones, great, wonderful, over by 6pm and ready for bed. Hotel for showers and meet for dinner, DVD shopping for cousin and family. About A$12 per hour for massage.
Aug 12th Sun
Cousins last day in Bali, has gone slow on some days and fast on others. Morning last few shopping items for non Bali family, pack as check out for them at 12. Poor hubby, flu back so he stays in Hotel while I lunch with cousin and send them on their way for last shopping trip together. Meet at 6pm for last supper and 9pm departure. We decide that we will all meet here again next year with us also staying at the Febris. Cousin will chat to non Bali family to see if they also wish to meet up in August 2008. Some tears and then they are gone. Back to our Hotel and our last 3 days of no cousin and no 13yld and 11yld shopping. Sit on our verandha and watch the planes go, which one was theirs?.
Aug 13th Mon
Up to Centro for him for book shop and supplies. He is not a happy chappy, can't shake this flu. Up to Paradiso to confirm our return flights to Perth on 16th. Flights changed from 1.30am to 00.40am. No probs. Back to Hotel for him to sleep and me to R&R.
Aug 14th Tues
Up and must have rained all night, started about 11ish last night and grounds are still wet. Very muggy. Up to Centro as he wants Jim Boots, has umed and ared about them so I say lets just get them. Rp199th A$25 under. To book shop for last book and Breadtalk and coffee. Back to Hotel, I start sore throat BUGGER. To Febris for dinner to say bye to the nice staff there, book our last massage, me back for a hour and him 2 hour foot and back. To hotel and bed.
Aug 15th Wed HAPPY 45th BIRTHDAY HUBBY
We have late check out 6pm. Slow morning, exchange last A$100, last massage 11am. I finish at noon and order lunch and coffee while I wait for him. 1pm he comes out all relaxed. Say our good byes and back to our hotel. Pack and have nap. Down to the Wharf for 4pm for last coffee and food for him. Back to room for showers and final packing. Check out at 6pm. Me NOT a good flyer and we have to sit outside hotel for the next hour while I have a minor panic attack. Get taxi at 7pm and go straight to air port Rp16400 A$2.50. Check in at 9.30pm and find a VIP lounge, Rp100th A$12.50 and all the food, coffee, bintang, water, smoking room you can handle, TV to watch but most important comfy chairs. Wait for our flight to be called. Board at 00.40am and flight leaves at 1.20am. Again in Exit Door row seats, so no recline, no dinner as we were both asleep, OK flight back and arrive 5.05am Perth buy duty free and through customsand and outside in the fresh Perth morning air by 5.30am. Buy 2 x coffee, 1 x water and 1 x muffin A$17 back to the real world. Arrange for 6.30am pick up as thinking customs would be at least an hour.
Yes we will be going back next year for probably 14 to 15 nights again. We will stay at the Febris as very clean, friendly staff, big rooms, great massages and value for money 3 to 4 star.
Some Prices in Bali depending on where you buy. Exchange was between Rp7700 and Rp7900 for the A$1. We only exchanged at the Kodak shops.
The weather was mild and cloudy but the sun still gets through those clouds so becareful for sun burn which we got. Had to buy cheese cloth long sleeved tops, by the arvo the cloud had gone and we could still swim in the pool. Most nights we wore jeans as a little cool, and I had to buy a cotton jumper (bugger) or wear my cardigan. Cool came in about 4pm then warmed up again for a nice evening breeze. We did not have the air con on once in the 15 days we were there.
Please check bill and see if they include SERVICE TAX, if they don't it would be nice to tip the wait staff. I noticed that this is NOT expected but appreciated. 20% of the bill is recommended.
Tops Rp25th A$3.00 upwards
Sun glassed Rp10th A$1.20 upwards
Caps Rp10th A$1.20 upwards
Bintang 500ml Rp12,500th A$1.50 1ltr Rp20,500th A$2.50 at Febris
Bintang Supermaret 1ltr Rp14th to 17th A$1.50
Carlsberg Rp12th A$1.50
Kilkenny Rp62th A$8.00
Sprite or coke Rp4th to 6th A$0.50 to A$0.80
Ice Coffee/chocolate Rp15 to Rp18 A$2 to A$2.20
Silver rings Rp62,400 A$7.50
Nescafe at the Febris pot of coffee 3 cups Rp8th A$1.00
Bali coffee Febris Rp8th A$1.00
Panadol 8 tablets Rp11th A$1.40
Water 4ltr Rp9600th A$1.20 600mls Rp2th A$0.25
Smokes about A$2 per pack, cheaper for local smokes
Meals, most meals for the two of us about Rp100th A$12.50 to
Rp200th A$25 including, entree, main, 2 large bintang, sprite and coffee.
Monkey Forrest Rp10th A$1.20 each
Bali Zoo A$21 each
Bali Hai cruise A$105 each
Bali Adventure Tours Cycle and Elephant Park A$65 each
Barong Dance A$6 each
Bali Bird Park A$16
BALI ROCK
Cheese burger Rp28th A$3.20
BLT sandwich Rp50th A$6.15
Ham tom toastie Rp20th A$2.50
FEBRIS PRICES
grilled chicken Rp20th A$2,50
spring rolls x 4 Rp12th A$1.50
thai shrimp Rp17th A$2.20
fries Rp11th A$1.40
garlic prawns Rp70th A$8.40
GRACE KELLY'S
seafood chowder Rp33th A$4.50
garlic bread Rp19th A$2.30
beef & guinness pie Rp38th A$5
fish & chips Rp41th A$5.20
caesar salad Rp33th A$4.50
Well I hope this helps someone out there. To all those going to Bali have a great time and for those thinking about it, just do it.