Day 5
Arranged transport to Mara River Lodge (Bali Safari and Marine Park) last night - 150,000. Of course different driver and different car turned up. Happens to us all the time but problem this time as only sent a sedan car. Us 4 girls with 4 suitcases full of shopping, no way we fit. We then had to wait as they sent another driver with a van to fit us all. Whilst driving asked this new driver how much it would be for transport from mara lodge to our next hotel at Kuta he grudgingly said 200,000. Unusual as did not seem to want to come back and pick us up even though his company had cottages near where we were staying , but he had just come from Ubud so maybe that was the problem. Reception told me later that taxis don't come out to mara river as they have to pay lodge to enter.
Wow, the reception area at the lodge is unbelievable. Wasn't sure about staying in an African lodge whilst in Bali but sure we did the right thing as soon as we pulled up to hotel. Greeted by Eva, lovely smiling laughing reception lady who was so friendly and helpful the whole time we were there.
Given a coconut milk drink, straight from coconut, not as sweet as coconut milk at home, but still nice and a treat drinking it out of the coconut. Taken on back of golf buggy to our rooms, lots of squeals and fun. A few stairs up to our room, all rooms were on a timber walkway, which seemed a little scary and light at times, so my daughter told us we had to walk where the nails are, like she does when she walks on the shed roof (we will have a little talk about this when we get home).
We r all staying in a Kifaru room which has 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and shared balcony and lounge room. Plenty big enough. View from rooms overlook edge of swimming pool and plain where zebras (with brown stripes! Didn't know they existed) roam.
Small long windows in bathrooms. Assumed they were tinted and outsiders could not see in. Never assume, one of us (not saying who) got a friendly wave from a nice man at pool after using the facilities!!!!
Nice bowl of fruit and welcome letter on lounge table, 4 small bottles and one large water bottle free per day. We checked in early at 11am so we could try to get as much done today as possible as only staying one night. So glad we did. We decided to go on elephant ride, go on the night safari, have picture taken with orangutan and also with tiger, go on safari ride (not hard to decide this as included in our price), see elephant show, go look at waterpark and fun park and see if we want to go to and of course go in pool.
Note; there are many different accommodation plans available for Mara lodge, go to their site on Internet and see what you want to do. They can include all of the above or just some.
Park done up beautifully inside. Had cooling sprays all over park which gently sprayed water down on you. I avoided them at first as thought it might be some sort of anti swine flu spray. Later, still avoided them as not that hot and I don't like bali water sprayed on my face.
Tropical plants everywhere in park. I have to just say here that I don't like going to zoos, but believe if my kids want to see animals before us humans kill them all it is my duty to let them see them. I wont have any animals at home that I cant let out at some stage of the day. Our ducks and chickens are free range and roam everywhere all day, 1 old cat stays outside all day, our other cat is let out first thing in morning and last thing before dark so does minimal damage to wildlife, dogs come out with me when I work outside, we don't have birds in cages or fish in aquariums. As the saying goes, 'If you love something set it free, if it comes back to you its yours, if it doesn't it never was'.
So I don't enjoy going to zoos but I see they are necessary to show our children different animals and maybe preserve animals (although if it was us humans as an almost extinct race in a cage id rather we die out). Ok that said I don't want to talk about it anymore.., and just will enjoy park.
Safari bus ride through park (25mins) was great, went through different areas and saw many animals, bus slowed down at each group of zebras etc for photos. A very enjoyable trip with commentary in English and Indonesian. Glad we weren't in back of bus as group of squealing Japanese tourist very noisy as seen by scowls on faces of older ladies in seats in from of them.
Bus went through water, over bridges and gates magically slid open and closed for them. Very well set out and done to park standards in ozzie. Even drove through lion enclosure with lions laying on road and us driving around them. I had that song in my head 'it's the African lion safari with lions and tigers and bears, it's the African lion safari, its scary but nobody cares' Then I remembered this park in Sydney closed down after someone was mauled by a lion (?) or is that just a childhood memory inventing itself?
Daughter declined to get photo with tiger not sure if she decided it was drugged and she felt sorry for it or she thought it wasn't drugged enough and might bite her - it was big... She did get photo with her cousin and the Orangotang, it was not drugged and seemed to be enjoying itself with all the attention. If you want to you can also get your photo taken with an Australian cockatoo :( All photos cost extra, but not too much.
Kids (aged 16 and 20yrs) decided they were too old for waterpark, although they nearly changed their minds when they spotted a hot young guy leaving the waterpark (but he was leaving).
We had fun at the funzone park and went on the roller coaster, water toboggan sled ride and leisurely boat ride. Really enjoyed the roller coaster but got a little worried about how safe the ride was as the toboggan was slowly going up before its great plummet. We survived, you do get wet! But its Bali so u dry quick. Felt v sorry for the animals we saw on the boat ride, can only hope they get put into bigger enclosures when the people all go home.
Bought lots at the souvenirs shop, I had thought this was a shopfree day, should know myself better. Got a great stuffed komodo dragon, elephant and owl. Daughter who is an authority on such things told me they were v good quality and v cheap. She bought an elephant from a bali elephant park before and it was much smaller and dearer as well. If you stay at hotel here you get 10% discount on their souvenirs.
Another great thing about staying at the lodge is you are made to feel like a real vip and you get run of the park. We were there as it was closing and were approached a few times but when we said we were staying at hotel they just smiled and waved us on. We sat and watched staff training for the animal show, got a special tour around the park which included being led to the front of the safari park tour ride and being put on at the front of the bus before everyone else, felt a bit guilty about that but hey I'm a VIP for the day and got rides on golf cart back to our room.
As Ive been typing this Ive been watching a rather strange looking brown and green bird that has been screeching at me for the last 15 or so minutes. It has now been pointed out to me that I was looking at a bunch of leaves moving gently in the wind and the bird in question is actually on the fence below me. I really should wear my glasses.
We booked to go on night tour. We went out in a car with 2 staff members and were each given a bucket of carrots. The car slowed down when we got to the zebras and we fed these through the windows. We also drove through the lion enclosure and the girls thought this was great. BTW the carrots in the rooms are to throw to the zebras near the rooms, we only found this out as we were leaving and the carrots stayed in the room as no zebras then.
We went on the elephant ride. This was much better than an elephant ride at another Bali park. At the previous park the chair we sat on, on the elephant did not feel stable. These seats on the elephant were v stable and felt safe. Although I kept trying to not sit too hard on him and lift myself off him a bit as I felt sorry for him having to carry my weight.
The scenery you ride through is great as you go through animal enclosures (not the lions) and then walk through a moat (we didn't get wet), at the end the driver points, you stare and later find out that's when they took the photo you can buy. Not the best picture - clear though.
We got to see a very dopey baby iguana in the reception, and after waiting for more baby animals to appear, were told that's it. No baby lions or tigers for us!
Pool was lovely. Swam last thing before bed and straight after they cleaned it in morning before brekkie.
Ate at the lions restaurant. Food ok. Make sure you go to the ladies toilet and see the lion. There is a big window to see him through. I asked them why he was in such a small enclosure and was told if put with the others they would kill him. By the way that lion is mine, he marked me through the window when I said hi to him...
Whilst at the mara lodge I contracted 'Green Poo Syndrome'. This is a condition during which you do bright green poos (although you have not eaten nor drunk anything green) and have the overwhelming urge to tell everyone. Luckily for those around me it wore off after a few days.
Summary - we liked the lodge. Our shower clogged up and water backed up to the entrance to the bathroom, but that was the only problem. We did everything in a day but think 2 days would be better. Price wise getting a different package which included the things we did - elephant ride, night ride, photos etc would probably of been cheaper. But before we went I didn't think we would do all that.
There is not a great deal to see at the park but in doing all we did in 1 day we had no time to relax or have a leisurely swim and that would have been nice. So if you're going and you want to do it all get the package and stay 2 nights. (think twice about waterpark if kids r older, not much at fun park probably only a couple of other rides we would of gone on if time permitted)
Sorry such a long time between JBRs but had hard time typing this one. Sad and happy day at Safari park today as, today was my 21st wedding anniversary, although hubby died 2 years and 11 days ago. (but hey, whos counting)
Next - Kuta Lagoon Resort