Been back a month and only just found the motivation to share my trip with BTF.
Traumatic start to trip. My friend slid down the stairs on the mormning of departurs and the rest of us had our hearts in our mouths, expecting the worst as we all do. However apart from a bruised ego all was well. Booked a cab early cause they are always late. Haha came early 5.30am so we were off and away before the birds were up. Unfortunately the airpory was fogged in and our flight was 1 1/2 hours late leaving. Had just enough time to get to international airport and board the plane after arriving in Perth.At last on our way to paradise.
We were met at the airport by hotel driver and quickly dispatched to Sanur Paradise Plaza Suites. Oh what bliss to be back in Bali with the sights , sounds and smells I love. My three friends had not been to Bali so all was quiet on the way to the hotel as they took in the sights.THe Suites were nice 3 bedroom apartment two bathroom, second floor overlooking the pool. Clean , spacious and so Bali.Settled in had coffe and went to hotel restaraunt for tea, and first Bintang, yum . Food and service were excellent.Not many australians, but a lot of Japanese and europeans.Had an early night first night due to ridiculous hour we were awake in the morning.
Day two, awoke early, love Bali early morning, (love Bali any time really), had early breakfast, yum again, and met Herry our driver at 8.30.First stop Ubud and Barong and Kris dance, great as always. Love the music.Continued on to Kintamani and Mount Batur.A little misty but beatiful as always. First chance to got at by vendors.Bought some t-shirts. Friends stood boogle eyed at the whole batering process. Just one more of the great things about Bali.From Kintamani to coffee plantation for tasting and demonstration of roasting.Had lunch overlooing rice fields, lovely scenery and food was good. Herry joined us for lunch and we found out a lot about Bali culture and family expectations.Bought some Bali flags on the way back to Sanur.Freshened up and then into a taxi to back of Bonsai Cafe. On familiar ground now. Have always stayed at Grand Bali Beach so know the Sanur beach area, that end well.However changed heaps since I was last there 8 years ago and all for the better.Had a lovely meal at the Bonsai, had a number of cocktails and a couple of Bintangs, not doing too bad for someone who rarely drinks at home haha.Walked down to Grand Bali Beach to have a look and catch a cab back to our hotel. Long way round but nice walk.Bed early again.
Day 3 I was up early again.Just sat on the balcony listening to the music fron the restaraunt, smelling the Bali perfume and watching the people going about their days work.Wish I could bottle that feeling and bring it home, to be metered out in small dose frequently throughout the year.Others decided to go for a walk along the busy by-pass road, Now anyone who has stayed in Sanur knows this raod was not made for walking, footpaths non existant mostly and the drains that run either side of the road have covers missing in a lot of places. I did try to tell them that it would be a dangerous and wasted exercise to go for a walk however majority rules and off we went. After about 15 mins walking toward Tamblingan Road, the others decided I may have been right and we turned around to retrace our steps. All was going well, me in front eyes down as usual another friend behind me , when I heard a russle , turned around and saw the stair slider up to her waist in a hole. OH great, the rest of the day at BMIC thought I.Retrieved her from the hole with difficulty, she is tall and well built and I an 60 my other hauling friend 58. A young Balinese man sitting in his truch by the side of the hole took one look, jumped out of his truck and took off into a car repair shop.Don't blame him not a pretty sight.Fortunately friend was not badly injured only a few nasty grazes and some skin missing. As we are all nurse it was back to hotel and first aid administeted.Met Herry at 11am and off to Seminyak for lunch at Made's.Lovely place food great.Had an hour to have a look around before meeting Herry again.Walked down the streeta fair way got a lot of CDs and a couple of bags.Another of my friend tripped on the footpath. Had a hasty conference and told them to keep their eyes down and if they wanted to look left or right to stop before they did so.Bought some Hatten cask wine, Nice as anything we buy at home.Went to take some photos of a temple opposite Bintang shop and you guessed it no camers. Left it at Mades I thought, so told the others to keep walking and when they found Herry to tell him where I was, Hitailed it back to Mades, hot as you know what.Asked if anyone had found my camera. No sorry we not see.Ok one lost camera, husbands, but worse still photos already taken gone. Oh well we won't dwell on this .Got back to my friends looking a little worse for wear and told them the camera was gone. The pavement tripper said I wonder if I picked it up by mistake and rummaged in her cavernous bag, Sure enough,one lost camera found.Met up with Herry and off to Matahari square for a well earned drink and a little look around before travelling to Uluwata temple to see Kecat and Fire dance.
Obsevation re hotel. Even though the hotel was lovely there is nothing quite as nice as stolling out of your door and there is the beach or just a short walk a lovely boardwalk, cafes and markets.From the Suites it was a taxi ride to anywhere. Cheap, 50000 rp to Bonsai or Hardy's, but just a bit of a hassle.