My family of six left from Sydney early Fri morning flying Garuda. I must say that Garuda still impress me. Arrived on time, flight smooth and offered more than enough beverages throughout the flight as well as food. Only had to wait around half hr to pay visa etc. Picked up bags some with white chalk marks but we just ignored them and they didn't even ask to open any of the bags anyway. We always stay at the Ramayana in Kuta I think this place is great. The rooms are clean and have everything you want (dvd player). The staff at this hotel are fantastic, we know quite a few of them now as we stay here every year but the new ones are just as welcoming. Breakfasts are way too good filling yourself with endless pancakes,pastries,nasi goreng,fruit etc!I thought there were quite a few people around this year as well as locals, it was their holidays. Shopped in Kuta art markets, legian - poppies 2 etc. We didn't really get hassled any less than normal and I wouldn't call it hassled anyway. I love the same lines each year;come look in my shop, how much you want,you want billabong you wouldn't get this anywhere else!! The balinese people are one of a kind always wanting to have a joke around while you both fight to get the best price for yourself as well as them. Always learning more about thier lives and ways of living is really interesting and makes you think how good you have it at home in Oz. We always take over old clothes and shoes to give to our old and new friends. Especially jackets and jumpers as it is cold for them or their winter now.
I had some of my wedding pics put onto canvas at Shoot Bali. They turned out fantastic, great quality and a fair bit cheaper than in Oz. I bought 4 of them and took them home with me all wrapped perfectly. Bought some leather goods, we normally go to French Leather in Garlic Lane and did so but got stuffed around yet again and the quality of one of the jackets was the worst I have seen with the leather some how rubbing off. We rejected it and went across to Dolphin Leather who made a jacket in one day and the quality was perfect will go here again. I also bought a jacket from here off the rack and it fit perfectly and once again the quality was supurb. My family ship furniture home and we visited our normal haunts being; golden buffalo (silver and bronzed goods) this shop is amazing, Furniture 2000 (all teak wood), Tegallalang (homewares; silver and gold statues, pots etc, geneva (homewares galore) and tupperware outlet. I had heard about this on the forum and it was great I bought about a hundred dollars worth of plastic and was so impressed I saved hundreds with all the newest stock here and only one thing I asked for was not available. Food was great as always we stick to the same places as convenience for us is what we like. Stadium Cafe is always great, Kori was nice the ambience of this place in their bungalows is what the extra money goes towards, we love it, TJ's did not disapoint, their food was great and the cocktails were really nice (too strong for me but the boys loved them)!! Exchange rate was never below 8000 the highest 8210. We exchanged in the Kodak shop in Kuta art markets next to Animale on the corner. I bought an outdoor setting, some statues, pots for outside, huge gold candlesticks from Tegallalang and a sleeping buddha picture about a mtr by mtr also from Tegallalang. I had a picture replicated from a painter we visit every year, Made in the Kuta Art Markets. He is the most talented painter I have ever met and the picture I gave him was painted to a T!! Every colour was pretty much exact as was the blending of colours. He paints onto canvas in any size and also has his own work on display which is great as well. I found there to be a lot of new designs with fake snakeskin in shoes on the streets. I stocked up as there were many beautiful colours; yellow,blue, purple. A great place to eat if you are near Ubud or on your way to Tegallalang - Kampung Cafe. They have the nicest food I have ever tasted with their desserts being something else! I had an apple tart with caramel sauce and ice cream, I dreamt about this for a year as I had it last year and it was just what I had remembered. The view from the restaurant is beautiful looking onto rice paddies and palm trees. Ed Hardy was the newest brand around with mens and ladies singlets, tshirts and hats everywhere and really nice quality - we all stocked up. We visit Wayan's off garlic lane and she had a lot of new designs - ed hardy etc. The boys really like the checked shorts and denim in bigger sizes. Straw hats in many colours were also new this year and really nice we all had to buy one or two of these and saw many people wearing them like us. My brother and father had suits made at Janoka Tailors in Poppies 2 only $50 and they turned out really nice. Had to have a few fittings but we didn't mind. One was charcoal and the other light grey. We all had massages throughout our stay at Melasti Spa in Kuta. We visit here every year and they are always professional,clean and give a great massage. Traffic was the worst I have even been in, it was local school holidays but it was just so bad this year. Kuta, Legian, Seminyak and Denpasar all crazy at most times of the day. Home time come around quick after 12 days of bliss, weather was great every day. Around 30 most days with sunshine all day most of the time, no rain or light showers. Checking in to go home was fine hardly any lines as we like to get there a little early. Plane was full, left on time and once again Garuda's service was excellent and arrived on time. Hope you enjoyed my words, any questions welcome!