14th JULY
After our morning at the Conrad were were promptly checked out by our personal assistant in our own suite. It was time for the serious fun to begin... shopping:)!
FIXED PRICE SHOPPING :D
We went to Unagi and Geneva. These shops are awesome! It was Christmas all over again. Yet again I felt like a kid in a candy store. I love fixed price and stress free shopping.
GWK
For lunch we visited GWK the cultural centre. They are doing some amazing work here by trying to create a statue that rivals the size if the Statue of Liberty. Each section is being created on its own before it will all be brought together to form on gianormous creation. We saw a small statue of the design they are working on. However, at this stage we could only see the head, bird and hands.
For some reason I thought that there was a bit more to see at GWK than what was on offer. I also looked forward to having lunch here but it all seemed in need of a make over which is a shame because the staff were really gracious. Also the view from GWK was impressive as you could actually see the 'waist' of Bali as seen on a map.
PURI BAMBU - Jimbaran
For our last afternoon we booked a room at the Puri Bambu near the airport. It gave us a chance to refresh ourselves and get organised for our long journey home. I love the secluded intimacy of this hotel. The staff are very helpful and respectful. The room was massive. The gardens are lush and I Ioved the way they carefully placed frangipani flowers on the low walls of the gardens as well as having the frangipani fall naturally on to the path.
ULUWATU
To end our magnificent holiday we planned to go to Uluwatu to see the monkeys and the fire dance. Uluwatu provided us with the perfect farewell. We enjoyed yet another glorious sunset and a spectacular dance which included incredible chanting, superb costumes and the stunning sight of someone dancing through fire. This dance is very impressive indeed. I must also mention that there were a huge number of spectators here which carries its own risks. We were packed in like sardines. I wish that we had got there earlier so we could have got a better seat.
PURI BAMBU
To pass the time before we had to leave for the airport we had dinner at the Puri Bambu Hotel. Wow this place is beautiful and so peaceful at night. I loved the restaurant area which had the cross formation pond with fish in the middle of the bale. The lighting and the garden was gorgeous as we listened to the live musicians and slurped on a pina colada in a beautifully decorated real pineapple. Surely life does not get much better than this.
Check out the photos at http://smedley.id.au/BaliSpoilers8
MY HASSLE SAVING TIPS FOR BALI NEWBIES BEFORE YOU GO...
TIP: Go shopping at Unagi and Geneva for a stress free fixed price shopping experiences.
TIP: Use Travelan to avoid Bali Belly. I broke all of the rules several times and consumed as many salads as I could and slurped down numerous drinks with ice. Thankfully we did not get sick. We did not bring any raspberry juice on this trip.
TIP: As you prepare for your trip you can not help but to be respectfully mindful of those who were injured or lost their lives in the bombings but you must also focus on the millions who have returned and experienced so many rewarding things in Bali.
Go and enjoy, use common sense and TRY to avoid the crowds as much as possible. Remember that nothing in this life is completely harmless as everything has the potential to be harmful... even cupboard doors:)!
TIP: If you have a late night flight book a cheap hotel for the afternoon and evening near the hotel so you can swim, shower, pack and chill out before you go.
TIP: I heard that there was also a VIP service when you fly out of the airport. I wished that we had used this. I was so tired and waiting in crowded lines was not fun.
TIP: Try to access the Dewa lounge for 100,000rp and have a snack in comfort before you fly home. It appeared to be full when we needed it so we went to the Prada lounge. Prada was a God send for me. I struggled to keep awake for the midnight flight and it gave me another area to perk up in with great snacks and drinks.
TIP: If you are interested in an amazing adventure make sure that you consider climbing the volcano we did it in 2003. Check out those photos at http://baliphotos.smedley.info
TIP: If you live in Adelaide use Executive Passenger Service instead of a taxi.
I must say that it has been difficult to adjusting to life back home where the weather is less than half of what it is in Bali at the moment, people do not sing out h'ello' to me, noone opens the car door for me, there are nowhere near as many palm trees or cocktails in melons, no frangipani flowers that litter the path ways and people even expect you to speak in complete sentences.
Oh, I feel Bali fever coming on again!!!
Well it is our tenth wedding anniversary in April...:D
Our thanks also goes out to those who took the time to wrote your kind words and wonderful feedback in response my to my JBRs. Your messages have been greatly appreciated!!!! :D They have been welcome therapy for me as I have returned to the property storm and the reality of moving house.
Now I am on the hunt for any moving house hints!
Also thank you so much to everyone who has taken the time to contribute and maintain this forum. Thanks for your wonderful advice and for allowing me to relive my first trip to Bali through your JBRs. This trip would have been nowhere near as magnificent as it was without you.
Until next time... Saya harap kamu ada hari yang bagus! / Have a good day! :D