Day 6 to home
Arranged for Mara Lodge driver to take us (150,000rp) to our next hotel - Kuta Lagoon Resort. Very nice driver but lucky we had fixed a price as it took awhile to find the hotel. Bit of drama when we got there. We had booked into 2 pool access rooms and were told that we could not get these rooms but were being upgraded to villas.
I was very upset as I told them, I had booked these rooms over 10 months before through a travel agency to ensure we got pool access rooms. Yes they replied we know but rooms unavailable so we upgraded you to villas. I only stay here for pool access rooms I tell them. Its ok you will get access room later as room has paid for late check out, now you stay in villas. Sis-in-law and niece will get pool access room tomorrow. After a little more talking they escorted myself and daughter to villa with pool. Very nice, private courtyard and pool, large room. Not so bad but still like pool access room better, hey I like to swim and socialise a bit. Sis-in-law and niece went off eagerly to their villa.
Met up at their villa awhile later and they not so happy now. No private pool or courtyard, so no where for sis-in-law to smoke. Rightup end of pool and not very nice at all. We decided to sit down and have a drink at the restaurant and talk things over.
While sitting there niece showed me envelope which showed the pool access room 108 had been crossed out and 121 had been written there instead. She also told me that the porter had told her he didn't think there would be a pool access room available tomorrow and that they should stay in villa otherwise they may get put in a room upstairs.
Me, I'm pretty good at keeping my cool and taking things as they come. But enough if enough, that sounds like a threat for complaining we didn't get what we paid for and if we didn't stop complaining were getting an even worse room. After I had kept telling sis n niece the whole trip wait til we get to KLR it's a great place.
So I took the envelope and marched back up to reception (it felt like marching). I said my sis-in-law needs to go into a pool access room tomorrow. Was told not sure if possible. I asked who they gave pool access room 108 to? That it was their room and it had been crossed off the envelope and they wanted it back. They looked mystified. I showed them the envelope. Much talking between reception staff (should have given them a new envelope I think they were saying). After much discussion was told they would do their best but not sure when room available.
I told staff that the villa that sis n neice were in was unacceptable (pictured myself as that nanny on tv) and that they were going to stay in our villa until a pool access room was available., then left.
A short while later I was approached at our table and told that pool access room 108 would be available tomorrow for sis. Thankyou I beamed back, I am very happy now. My daughter reckoned they drew straws to see who would come and talk to me. Sorry whoever missed out on room 108.
So lots of drama to start with but had a great stay after that. Pool great, a little cold at first, but it is a large long pool so not to bad and you warmup pretty quick when swimming. Loved swimming up and down pool. Well its what I call swimming, Ive been told it looks like a combination between a frog swimming and a dog paddling, then rollover and backfloat, but hey I don't like to get my head wet and I do have fun.
We were in room 101 right at the end. They have a mat right at steps as you get out of pool so not so worried about slipping over. Never did find the pool towels, just used hand towels to dry off and put on complimentary pool thongs and jumped in shower - no worries.
Actual working pool bar here, unusual for Bali. Last few years most places that have a pool bar have nothing in it. Girls had fun sitting on stools in water and sipping their drinks. Brekkie great - eggs anyway you want, toast, rice and noodles, sometimes bacon, hash browns, potatoes, chicken porridge (I didn't try it), fresh pineapple, watermelon and papaya. Juice, tea and coffee. There r 2 toasters one is slow and only toasts on one side the other is slow but toasts both sides. I am even slower as I didn't realise this until our last day.
Last day here my daughter said, Mum look that ladies got Vegimite. I took her toast over to their table and begged for some Vegimite for my daughter. Lovely Ozzie couple more than happy to let us have jar to use.
Had a great time, did lots of shopping, eating and drinking.
Shopping - daughter got beautiful red dress for birthday night. We went to Engine room for her birthday night (thanks all for suggestions). Stayed with them for about an hour and then decided we were cramping their style so said we would wait across road at bar we could see, and they could stay for 1 more hour.
So me and sis went across road to bar(?) where we could watch entrance (in case someone tried to drug and kidnap them). Did I mention I should wear glasses? It wasn't a bar, it was a takeaway stop with a couple of stools. We waited around, I went across the road and got some water. Came back and sat on step. Lots of people walking past, got offered drugs and sex and drugs, quite an education, and then it poured. It rained and rained.
Finally the hour passed and they emerged. They had a ball. Later she told me it was the best birthday she had ever had. Almost forgot we went to Waterbom park during the day, lots of fun there as always. Went out to dinner and bartender took a fancy to my daughter and sent over free drinks. He was a nice Balinese boy who came and introduced himself to us all. Back at the bar he tossed the bottles and tried to impress - he did impress the birthday girl.
She said she didn't want a cake, but when she went to the toilet I asked a waitress if after we finish the meal could they bring over a piece of cake with a candle on it for my daughters birthday. Later as we finished our meal daughter said she changed her mind and could we see if we could get a cake. Then, surprise, our overhead fan went off and a piece of cake was placed in front of her and candles were lit as we all, including restaurant hostess and waitress sang happy birthday to her. Hey Bali, thanks for giving her the best birthday ever, days like that are hard to come by these days.
Had a great meal at Bali Rock Hotel, very yum and sat upstairs. Nice drinks there and staff very friendly. Then across road to Bali Aussie hotel, nice drinks there, and then I thought they were ready. Back to KLR and karaoke bar. Little resistance at first but we had quite a few drinks by then so we all knew we could sing very well. What fun.
We went every night after that and had to pry girls away on last night as taxi waiting. I will never forget the girls singing 'Skater Boy', they sounded better than the real thing, the staff all thought so too as they had gathered to hear them sing and were sad to see them go. Don't worry my daughter said, mums coming back next week. Staffer tried to look like he couldn't wait til I returned, tried not to laugh, old people poor substitute for 17 & 20yr girls. Guess me and sis-in-law didn't sound quite as professional as I thought. Wait til I get mum and sis in here next week, they wont know what hit them. Whoops, hope they don't read this, I need alcohol and surprise to lure them in the first time...shhhh.
Dinner at Poppies on Poppies lane. Best Black Russian I drank in Bali. Satay ok. Most expensive meal Ive ever had in Bali. We had 2 alcoholic drinks, a coke, satay and rice and carbonara and it came to over 500,000rp. That's over $50. I don't even pay that in ozzie, mind you a night out for me and the kids is dinner at the RSL. For the money I don't think dinner was worth it. Much nicer meal at Wayans at Ubud and half the price. Although there was WIFI at Poppies, and a nice cat. Note to those young guys at the cats table, I was so taking a photo of the cat!
Warning; Money changer at Seminyak. Went to change money at back of nice shop and told money person out front. He went to a little wooden stall, bit like those ones at the circus. Think he does those peanut under the shell tricks, 'which one has the peanut' in his spare time. I asked to change $100AUS and gave my money to daughter to hold as usual. He looked at money and started to put down piles of 20,000rp Have you no larger notes I asked? No larger he said. Now from reading forum I knew I had to watch out so I was on my guard.
After he had placed down 8 piles of notes (70,000 not out yet I noted, more sus). I picked up the first pile of money and counted, ok, and placed carefully to my right, counted next pile and placed on my pile and next, ok so far. Then he reached across and picked up my notes and said, no you should turn each pile so you know it's a hundred thousand, and showed me what to do. No, no I say I like it this way. Then I recounted the pile he had touched it was short 60,000. What a great peanut shuffler he was, I never saw a thing.
I said its short 60,000, he say 'no', and looked at me and then picked up all his money and said 'go away'. Guess he wanted a bigger profit.
Reminds me last year around same road in Seminyak I had spend more money than I had and asked silver lady where to change money. She tell me to go a few doors down. As I left her shop I noticed a better rate next door to her. Are you game I asked my daughter, yep she replied. So we went down a little walk to money changer. I gave my $100aus to my daughter to hold. He piled out 50,000rp notes, we counted as he did, so far so good. When all out he says that he hasn't got right money and I have to give him 50,000 and he'll give me 20,000 back. But this is not rate outside so I say no that's not right and explain If he wants change I only have to give him 10,000. Then his friend comes behind us trying to explain what he means. 'Wait for it' I think. As soon as my daughter and I turn around to face new man, all is settled, he starts gathering money together for me. Stop I say, I need to count. I count first pile and of course its short. I explain this to him. He looks baffled and says no its there. Perhaps it has fallen behind counter I say. He looks and says no. Next pile is also short. More fallen behind counter, I hazard a guess. He is not amused, go away he says. These money changers don't like me.
Sis-in-law had a runin with a money lender when she went off on her own. She said she should of known better, last time she went off on her own she came back happily with a pair of trousers. What had she bought myself and her daughter enquired, those nice trousers I tried on she happily replied. That is not them we replied. That was one sad pair of trousers that stayed behind when we left Bali.
Daughter and I had gone ahead to look for a dress, while sis n niece looked at jewellery. You catch up we said we will be just a few shops ahead. We crossed road and as I looked for hard to get dvds at back of store I asked daughter to look out for them and let them know where we were. 'They just disappeared mum' she said. They went behind pole and disappeared. We went back to store we left them in and they weren't there. Earlier at that store a lady came looking for her friend and shopkeeper said she had left, shes disappeared the lady said. Now sis n niece had disappeared from same shop. I thought of all those people at the airport that had never appeared from planes that landed. Oh Ooh I thought.
A little worried now we looked in every shop we passed again. Then we saw them coming out of a lane with a worried look upon sis face. Where'd you go we asked. To change money, but I think he took $50 of my money. She had put money on counter $150aus she thought and then reached in bag for other $50 but when she popped up all money gone and he said only $100 was there. She wasn't positive at time but only changes money in $100s and later at hotel odd amount left. So $50 short and lesson learned.
What I have learned about changing money; I usually change with Kodak, but nowdays if they don't look sus will change at other places if rate good. Only change money in $100 lots as its easier for my mind to deal with. If I want to change $500 I ask for it in 5 separate piles, $100, $100, $100 pointing to imaginary piles on the counter. They are always fine with that, if not I leave and find somewhere else.
Money changers are usually sus if - they try to give you small notes, touch your money after you have counted it, talk to you as you count, have more than one person who talks to you or your companion, stands over you. My general rule with handing my money over is; I give it to banks, moneychangers setup like banks and Kodak before I get my money. But never give it first anywhere else. If I try anywhere else I am always on my guard.
Kuta Lagoon Resort. Don't want to say too much as I want to be able to bookin here on all my future trips, so don't tell anyone else, ok? Love it here. Love the pool, the staff, the food, the location - right near shops, mini-mart close by for supplies, although off busy road very quiet at hotel, lovely verandah to sit and type this on.
Bad things - not enough pool access rooms so hard to get, hope they are not starting to double book them here. (Was worried when I came back here with mum n sis next week we would not get a pool access room we wanted or indeed the access room number we wanted. So one night after karaoke when I am sure I sang particularly well, as well of course a few drinks to sooth my singing voice I approached reception about getting our room for next week Now from what I can remember I was very charming and asked for room, was told not sure, then one of them said he was doing room schedule tomorrow, well no problem then please give us our room I said. Other one said ok ok we write in book. He wrote lots of thing s in special book. I went away happy but next morning was wondering what they wrote in book.)
- Mozzys, biggest mozzies I have ever seen- if they fly into you they can almost make you lose your balance (daughter says its not the mozzys that do that its the black russians). You always have to make sure you close the door to verandah so they don't get in room. But if you wear Aeroguard to bed and spray room with mortein before sleeping its fine.
- Bathroom scales to weigh your luggage on before you leave. The red scale actually weighs stuff 5 kilos lighter than it is. I think this is great for self esteem so weigh yourself on the red scales, but ask for the brown scales to weigh your luggage. it's a bit grotty looking but weighs correctly, I paid $1 for it at a garage sale in ozzie, when I left I asked them to keep it for guests to weigh luggage as other scale is wrong, so hope its still there!
Time to go back to ozzie will be here again next week so not to sad. I find it great travelling with different people. You look at different things shopping, eat at different places, drink new drinks. I have had a great time this trip taking newbies and seeing it all for the first time again.