Hey all, firstly, thanks for all the pre- travel info from loads of people om this site.
We are a couple of first timers, still getting over the 25 degree temperature difference we have returned to. We spent 4 nights ubud, 6 nights pemuteran, 4 nights tuban and generally had a pretty amazing time.
Arrived at 11:30pm 13/5 - No issue with customs etc (quicker than getting back into NZ). Only pain was a large number of annoying drunks on jetstar flight from sydney (why do they keep serving these people).
Driver from Tegal Sari awaiting us with big smile and lots of information, most of which i can't remember due to tiredness. Tegal Sari staff ultra friendly considering our midnight arrival. What a fantastic place to stay. I couldn't fault it, especially for the $100ish NZ per night. The food was great, the room was great, the staff were great. What else do you need. My worse half was crook and I spent a great few days wandering Ubud and chatting with many locals and kids doing homework in shops. Markets were OK, dog getting operated on open air in the football field was much more interesting, as were the kids making all sorts of noises while watching the vet in action.
The food in Ubud was the best by far that we had in the whole of Bali. Especially if you like it full of garlic and spicy. Bebik Bengil (Dirty Duck Diner) was truly amazing. wonderful setting and spectacular food. Arma Art museum was well worth a visit. Monkey forest was entertaining. The little bakery across the road from Tegal Sari did the most wonderful danishes of all descriptions. The Garlic beef at the tegal sari was something to behold. Would fend of any vampires with the amount of garlic. Pisang Goreng would now half to be one of my favourite foods.
I enjoyed Ubud and felt very safe roaming the streets on my own at any time. I also liked the fact that there were lots of interesting and quirky/arty things for sale other than the usual market fare.
Safest place to exchange money was the hotel, there was a good BCA ATM across the road by the Dirty Duck.
Next stop - Pemuteran. What a wonderful journey up and over the mountains to the northern coast of Bali. Lots to see along the way and you are really missing out if you spend all your time down south. The journey long and windy - but only 3 hours on the dot from Ubud to the Adi Assri hotel on the coast at Pemuteran. What a wonderful spot, if all you really want to do is lounge by the pool and watch a whole different world go by. There is also lots of great diving and snorkelling, and the national park with many great treks etc is just nearby. I had a wonderful time doing nothing but watching the local kids swim about in the bay while sipping delicious pineapple juices by the pool. Food was all good at restaurant, breakfasts were great and they put on a special romantic dinner for us on our last night. I fell in love with their home made pineapple jam (the best i had in Bali. Also there is a very nice at the restaurant down at Taman Selini (just along the beach).
From here back down south vua a slightly different rural route and onto Tuban via Tabanan. What a mission it was to get around that town. In Tuban we stayed at the Rama Beach hotel. Not my favourite. However, our room was a pool villa - with its own lounging pool and this was great. There were some of your usual annoying drinking teens at the main pool by abput 8:30 most mornings, with their ipods on speakers and music blaring. Not my idea of relaxing holiday, so i was bery glad to have my own little private space. The breakfast was great and a redeeming feature. The staff were the least friendly in all of Bali which was dissapointing for our last 4 nights.
We wandered about Kuta and Market etc. Not my cup of tea at all and we really didn't enjoy the south of Bali at all. Spent some time(and Money) at the discovery Plaza. Particularly good juices (and tiramisu - of all things) to be had at the Bali Colada - overlooking the beach - Juicy Julep was my favourite. All items at Bread talk (inside the plaza) were great. Jimbaran bay seafood was pretty awesome.
We were ready to head home after the 14 nights (although not to the cold). Not sure how much I will hurry back - mainly because it is more of a mission to fly from NZ and most of the pacific islands are only 3-4 hours away.
Loved the trip and had no issues that many people seem to worry over on this forum. I found the best thing with money was to take $US and change them at the Hotel. The rate was always the same as outside and it was easy and safe to change. I LOVED Ubud and would go back there in a flash. It was also so much cheaper for everything there and the people were friendlier and the food was so much better.
Nuf Said.....