Well here is my best recollection for a JBR.
My wife and I on out 8th trip and my son and partner and friend and her husband. Other two couples were their first trip.
Left Sydney on 8th Jetstar. Got to Kuta at 9pm. Through customs quickly and met by our driver who we use every time. My son could not believe that when we got into the transport we were handed longnecks to cure our thirst. All from a text that I sent before our flight. Arrived at Baleka by 10.30pm. Check in and up to Rickys to see my old mate for a couple of quick drinks before bed.
Saturday Quick look in JL Legian before a dentist appointment with Doctor Rudy at 12 midday. Out of there by 2 and off to Carefour to buy a few things. Lib stocked up on Martha and we bought a few necessities. Back to Baleka for a swim and then another Jalang Jalang to Wayans and Ketuts in Garlic lane for all or clothes shopping (only took over undies and one set of clothes), and coin jewellery order from Annie at Aussie Bali before dinner at Indonational. Dinner sensational as I have found it each time. Caught up with Kerry and Milton and 'darling' before back for early night.
Sunday Breakfast at La Lucciolla, sensational then back to motel to meet Sofi and place orders for glasses for Lib and our two friends. That over and more shopping and dinner that night at Glorys. Ribs were great.
Monday. Driver picked us up at 8am and off to Safari Park. Great day, got there at 9am and in total there would have been no more than a hundred visitors at the park. Unbelievable, without any people around. Plenty of time to go at your own pace. Son and I had our photos with the baby lion and Lib and Trace had photos with orang-utans. I had my photo with the baby lion later than my son and the lion was a bit stroppy up until he found my beard and then he treated it like fairy floss and got some great shots. Had a break for a swim in the water centre. No other people using it. Back to Baleka to meet Sofi who had some of the glasses ready in one day. Great quality and Lib and others stated that they were as good a quality if not better than the ones they had brought from home. Sofi will attempt to get contacts for me . Picked up to take the newbies to Jimbaran Bay. It's changed a lot since I went a number of years ago. Cyclonic and sat inside Melastis for what I believe was the worst meal and the worst value for money I have had in Bali. We moved from the front section overlooking the beach (enclosed) into the main part after a piece of tin blew from the roof. They restaurant was continually filled and emptied by busloads of tourists who had set meals, ate in a hurry and left again so that the next lot could move in. Never, never, will I be seen at Jimbaran again.
Tuesday Shopped at Centro. Tried a Crispy Crème. Never had one before and you can have them. Everyone to their own. Tried for contacts but no one could get them in less than four weeks. Walked back past Matahari and got software needs and a few things from Matahari then back to motel for quiet afternoon around the pool with a few Bintangs and great wood fired pizza cooked next to the pool. Dinner was great from La Petit next to Rickys and cheap. Thanks to Pete resident at Baleka for recommendation.
Wednesday. Picked up at 8am by driver for move to Greenfields for three nights. Great reception and staff as usual. Lunch at warung just above Tegal Sari Good food and value once again. Went up town centre and reconfirmed booking for Scott and I for cooking at Casa Luna and Batic painting for Lib and Trace at Nirvana on Friday. All Ok Back to Greenfields for swim, drinks and relaxation overlooking paddie fields. This area is just the greatest to relax and everyone was in agreeance that next time it is straight to Ubud, Greenfields and spend our time there with a night or two at Baleka before our flight home. Dinner tonight at Pizza Bagus. One of the best white pizzas I have found anywhere.
Thursday Picked up at 8.30am to Bagus Elephant Park Klungklung for one hour elephant safari. Bit dubious at first but after talking to our elephant attendant and hear his story with his elephant I was happy with their treatment and well worth the time and effort. Back to Greenfields and up to market for a bit of shopping before more swimming and relaxation. Dinner tonight at Naughty Nuri's for ribs. My opinion and that of my son is that they were better ribs at Nuris than Glorys and half the price.
Friday Cooking school for me and my son. Good time and cook recognised me from a class 7 years ago. Left there and went to Nirvana to visit girls doing Batic. Reacquainted with Nyoman, one of the coolest dudes in Bali and nattered with him for ages before we left the girls who were having the time of their life. Lib states that she is doing a five day course there next visit. Tonight is pizza and Bintang on the balcony and total relax as the rain poured down. It only really rained on three occasions whilst in Bali for a couple of hours each time. No problem at all.
Saturday Picked up by our driver and taken back to Baleka for the last night. On the way bought some more umble umbles for the farm. Back to Wayans and Ketuts for last minute clothes shopping. To Agus at Star Disco for DVD's and PS2 games and to Ausie Bali to pick up coin jewellery from Annie. Midday at Dr Rudy's to pick up the new teeth. Very happy. Great bloke. Back to Baleka to meet Sofi at 2.30pm and pick up glasses. She also had contacts for me and we all are very happy. Had lunch at Zanzibar and picked up cook book. Wind is blowing onshore but not that bad but the seas are high and well up the beach.
Sunday. Had a touch of BB over night but seem to be OK. Lib and I went to TOKO Central to get some beads and sewing requirements only to find it closed on Sundays so a leisurely walk back along JL Legian and found a bead shop which fulfilled our requirements. To Lanais, next to Zanzibar for lunch. The owner, an American lady was out to anyone that stoped to look at the menu and did the big American sell to everyone to get them into the restaurant but once inside we found after the initial order was taken that was the end of the service. The waiters/waitresses were having a good time sitting and talking in the back corner. I suppose if you put the Zanzibar and Lanais side to side, meals similar from menu, good food but Zanzibar is all over Lanais with regard to service. Walk along the beach to JL Padma to say farewell to a few people and collect last items from Star Disco and back to the Baleka for a late check out and to airport. Slept all the way home waking with 30 m ins to go. Greeted on Monday morning by an overcast sky and the great peak hour.
Recommendations
Dentist Dr Rudy. Went out of his way. Partial dentures $300 and $600 One week No problems. Better than previous made in Australia. My mate had 8 crowns and other work done for $2400
Glasses Sofi My wife had reading lenses replaced in a pair of her frames. One new pair of reading glasses and one pair of long distance driving glasses for the princely sum of $123-00. I had two pair of 9 month contact lenses and all the supporting cleaning gear supplied for $72.00
Nuris Ribs
Zanzibar
Indonational
La Petit Next to Rickys
In fact all places we ate at except for Jimbaran
Great time not long enough this time. Very quiet with not the usual number of tourists around. Very few from Europe.
Absolutely no pool hogs at Baleka. Always a number of lounges available and in the whole time there would have been no more than six in the pool at the one time and that was us. It might not be three, four or five star, but Tony Blair on the front desk did his usual above and beyond the call of duty again in a number of things. We wouldn't stay anywhere else. Sorry if this sounds like an add but it is just what we experienced. Don't want any increase in patronage as it suits us fine.
Anyway, that's about it in a nutshell. Don't know when we will go again, either later this year mid next year or both. Sorry if it was a bit long and rambling.