NIGHT BEFORE AND DAY 1
Sat 9th
This was the 5th trip for myself (Jason) wife (Wanita) and two kids 4 (Tiana) and 5 (Ethan) as well as first timers my brother in law (Shanon) and his girlfriend (Monique) all staying in two bedroom apartment at the Peninsula Beach Resort Tanjung Benoa.
The holiday really started the night before we left. My BIL and GF were staying at our place so we could all head to the airport together. I decided to do the right thing and get a six pack of Bintang ($18) so he could try the local beverage. The beer went down fast so we thought we should stay up a bit longer and hit the bourbon, we couldn't sleep anyway. After a bottle bourbon the six pack of Bintang and numerous shooters we went to bed as we had to be up at 0530 and it was already 0200.
Get up at 0530 hang over has not hit yet as the alcohol is still running through the system. Get the kids up and of to the airport. We were due out on Garuda flight GA727 leaving 0900 from Perth. We got to the airport right on 0700 and checked through security etc. Hit the duty free and bought our grog
Canadian Club 100 proof
Cointreau
Tequila
Vodka
If you spend $50.00 or more you can buy 200ml bottles for $4.00 after reading recent reports about the drink service on Garuda we thought we should grab a couple for the flight.
Flight left early and was pretty much uneventful food was acceptable (hey it's airline food). Service was good and we were kept with a decent supply of Coke for our 200ml bottles.
One thing did happen on the flight that gave the rest of our mob a chuckle. My 4 yr old daughter decided she needed to go to the toilet and it was my turn to take her. After waiting in the line of people also waiting for the toilet and trying to get drinks I finally squeeze my not so small frame into the toilet with my daughter it was then I heard the words I didn't want to hear. Daddy I need to do poo. Now this is fine when there is plenty of room but because i was in there with her she was unable to get enough room to wipe properly, so dad to the rescue. Lift her up by her hands, drop the lid of the toilet get her to stand on it which gave me enough room for the final wipe.
I often wonder what I feed the kids because what confronted my senses was an unholy smell that could only have been brewed in the depths of hell. This mixed with my now brewing hangover caused me to start dry reaching. My daughter at this time turned to me and seeing me in my convulsions said 'daddy are you allergic to my poo? '. So with body still convulsing half with nausea the other with laughter we managed to get the job done and back to our seats where she dutifully told mummy in front of everyone that daddy is allergic to my poo he is feeling sick.
Arrive just as we finish the last of our bottles. The trip took 3hrs 11 mins 6 secs(how's that for detailed)
We got through VOA and immigration in 20 mins. VOA came to $AU128.00. Out the door and hit the humidity god I love it. We meet our driver Ariana from the Dynasty. He was taking some time off to pick us up as well as take us on some tours over the next couple of weeks.
Arrived at the PBR around 12.00 check in not until 2pm so sat at the sports bar for a couple of drinks and to catch up with Ariana while they were preparing our room.
5 Bintang small
1 Beat the heat (cocktail)
1 coke
1 Sunrise (cocktail)
1 water
Rp 131,890 ($AU 16.20) including tax.
We were called to let us know our room was ready about 1pm
The 2 bedroom apartments at the PBR are brilliant. Huge rooms one with en suite full size fridge lounge room, dining table and veranda. We were on the ground floor room 412 about twenty metres from the pool.
Once we settled in (dumped bags and straight to the pool) Decided on a feed around the pool
2 French fries 30,000
2 sate beef 70,000
3 coke 24,000
1 Blue Peninsula 37,000
1 Peninsula temptation 35,000
2 Bintang Small 24,000
1 Jim Beam 28,000
1 Smirnoff 25,000
1 Sprite 8,000
Total inc tax Rp340, 010 $AUS 41.00
We decided to go for a quick walk to find a money changer and decide on a place for dinner. We found a Kodak money changer (exchange rate Rp8150) about 400 metres from the PBR (turn left as you leave PBR) and decided to go to the dewi shri directly across the road from the PBR for dinner.
Now i have lost the receipt for this but here is the total.
4 entree's, 6 mains, 9 drinks Rp 357,000 ($AU 43.80)
There was only one problem with the meal. One of the entree's was a shrimp dish in avocado the shrimp was far from fresh (taking the BIL advice on this as I don't eat seafood) but all in all a good meal staff very attentive and as with all Balinese great with the kids. All up we decided on a rating of about 7/10.
Back to the room a couple of night caps and get to bed .
Tomorrow our first full day and a quick visit to Diannes and Bubba Gumps