Day 5 - Taksi to Kuta square to take my Bali virgin for a look.....Pete got ripped of at Kuta art market, 3 tshirts for RP350000, oh well it is something we all have to experience.
Mataharis for snacks RP62000. I bought a silver elephant ring and earrings from a shop in Kuta square that specializes in elephants RP105000.
Bought Gucci wallet and Prada keyring for RP160000 in another shop in Kuta square, both nice quality.
Went to Beckies dress shop next door to Secret Garden Spa and bought 2 tops, 1 long dress, 1 short dress and black ¾ length pants for RP570000.
2 childrens dresses from a lovely shop on JL Legian for RP125000 (can't remember name)
Back to hotel to relax and eat dinner then walked to Petitenget Templeto watch ceremony preparations for temple small birthday.
FOOD - Lunch - Ketaput Jalan Legian behind Jonathon's Gallery. Drinks, nasi campur, mixed sate RP305000, lovely meal and very nice setting, would go back. 8/10
Dinner - Bali Mystique
Day 6 - Another lovely day in Paradise, weather is great, not too hot with lovely breezes from the sea. Hair crème bath (RP60000) for me and reflexology (RP65000) for Peter at hotel. Pete enjoyed this new experience (Massage virgin too!!)
Caught cab to moneychanger opposite Bintang supermarket, changed US$ rate 10465. Walked to Animale factory outlet and bought 2 pants and one top, RP549000, really nice quality and designs here.
Went to Apotek and stocked up with bits and pieces, soap, toothpaste, silver clove, tiger balm and few other other oddities!!
Wandered along JL Legian window shopping, I could fill a container quite easily and that is the plan for the next trip. The range and quality of goods in Bali was a pleasant surprise from 3 years ago.
FOOD - Lunch - JP's in Dynapura. Great food, one of the best we had this holiday. Nasi Goreng for both of us and drinks RP109000 8/10. Thanks Lorraine for the recommendation.
Dinner - Le Tebu Jalan Petitenget. Drinks, spring rolls, nasi goreng ayam, sate ayam, molten choc desert, coffee, RP225000. Mains 6/10, desert 9/10
Day 7 - Breakfast with owner of Bali Mystique and sat chatting until 11am (definitely in holiday mode now). Met Lorraine and her daughter Ally from BFN for coffee at Bali Catering Company, chatted and caught up on news and views of Bali. Bali Catering Company had lovely coffee and a great selection of food too.
Picked up by driver from Tanah Lot Day Spa at about 1-30pm, drove through Canggu and through Tanah Lot parking area to the day spa. WOW again, what a lovely place. Beautiful building, superb gardens and great staff. We were shown around the villa, which accommodates 10 adults ($1000-00 per night, which includes all staff, cook, maid, driver, breakfast included and they will cook other meals (just pay for food) and driver is available for just cost of petrol). The villa had a large pool and great views over the ocean.
The day spa is absolutely superb, very modern treatment rooms, we chose a couples room. Pete had an hour massage (RP150000) and I had the sunset package for US$85-00. My treatment was for 3.5 hours and included a full body scrub, body mask, massage, pedicure and manicure. It also included wine and cheese platter (Huge platter with a great variety of cheeses, crackers, fruit and bread) on the balcony to watch sunset. It was absolutely wonderful and well worth every cent. They set up an area for Pete, with a sun lounge and towel next to their smaller rock pool. He enjoyed 2.5 hours here with a few beers after his massage. One of the girls also walked him across the lawn to see the big Tanah Lot Temple.
We sat on the balcony and watched the sunset and the rest of the world walk along the public pathway (people took pics of us up on the balcony ha ha)
This is the best massage I have ever had in Bali and was a great experience. I would recommend this to anyone who wants an afternoon of pampering in luxurious surroundings.
We were driven back to our hotel feeling relaxed and indulged (pick up and driver home are included in price) All up RP939480 and great value considering the experience lasted from 1-30pm until back in our hotel around 7-00pm. No need for dinner after all that food at Tanah Lot Day Spa.
Day 8 - Today is our day out with Sanny from Sanny Bali Tours. Got picked up at 9am and went to moneychanger (US$10300) Drove through Sanur and up to Ubud. 1st stop (All stops were at our request) was UC Silver, a huge factory/shop, very well set up for tourists. There are 2 work rooms with about 100 silversmiths in each room, 1st room is making room and 2nd room is finishing room. There is also a huge 2 level showroom with some lovely (if expensive) pieces for sale. I enjoyed this place for a look. We stopped in Mas to look at woodcarvings from start to finish. Pete found this very interesting to see the carvers and then the finished product.
We then drove through Ubud and turned up Sanny's secret Rd to go to Kintamani. The scenery on this road was the most spectacular I have ever seen in Bali. Rice Paddies, jungle, palms, ravines and river gorges. This was one of the highlights for me......
Next stop was Kintamani, to see volcano. Hawkers were not too bad here this time, quite manageable really. Drove down the main road from Kintamani and stopped at Kopi Lawak (*One of the most exclusive coffees in the world is known as civet coffee or kopi lawak, which sells for $120-$150 a pound. It is made from coffee seeds found in the droppings of a small mammal called the common palm civet, which lives in Indonesia.)
No charge to enter and it was very interesting. We got to see the coffee being roasted and ground and then got to try several varieties including Ginseng Coffee, Cocoa, Bali Kopi, Ginger tea, lemongrass tea and Kopi Lawak. The Lawak was very nice smooth coffee, but way too expensive for me to buy. Another good experience for Pete and I!!
Continued back to Ubud for a late lunch at Indus. Had a lovely lunch here and enjoyed watching a storm come across the valley.
Drove back to hotel and stopped at Carrefour to get some spices and ginseng coffee and some gifts for Sanny and his family. Cost for day out with Sanny RP450000, but gave him 500000 as we had a wonderful day, his English is faultless and his knowledge and friendliness is wonderful. I would happily recommend and use Sanny again.
FOOD - Lunch Indus - Balinese Tapas for 2, Beef Rendang, Gado Gado, Famous Lime Tart, Coconut crème brulee and drinks RP320000. 8/10 for lunch 10/10 for lime tart.
Day 9 - Today is a food day for us. A must do for me is La Lucchiola, and also have a new place called Sarong on my list, but am to be disappointed....
Spent the morning shopping, went to the new Seminyak Square for a browse and then walked along Jl Laksmana to Jl Kerobokan.
Spent time swimming at hotel and then walked to La Lucchiola for lunch, fabulous lunch, was not disappointed.
Spent the arvo by the pool and bought various pieces of jewellery and watches at hotel. Watches RP50000 and jewellery 11 pieces for 500000, very reasonable prices.
FOOD - Lunch - La Lucchiola Seminyak, Passion fruit granita, strawberry granite (this has to be the best non alcoholic drink I have ever tasted) stuffed fried zucchini flowers, calamari with chilli lime mayo, fritto misto with huge scampi, prawns, fish, calamari and baby octopus all as shared plates, chocolate pannacotta, young coconut pudding, beer, water and coffee RP676000. Wonderful meal 9.5/10
Dinner - Warung Bonitas Seminyak, drinks, salted chilli squid, beef rending, seafood rasa rasa, chocolate mollenoux, green tea brulee and coffee RP370000. 7/10