Please gnore any mistakes-this is my first attempt at this.Mum and i left Adelaide on 20th July flying Pacific Blue for a 7 day holiday,just the girls..The flight was great and the hosties were friedly.No problems through immigration.We actually found the staff in Indonesian airport much more approachable than our other visits.Forgot US dollars for visa,but dont stress if you do too.They took aussie dollars as well.Forgot about annoying bag carriers at airport so made a mistake and let them carry the bags.Dont do this unless you are ready to tip well!!
Stayed at Kuta Beach Club-where we always stay.All the old staff are still there and treated us like long lost friends even though we havent been back for 3 years.The room was next to the pool.It was very clean and well maintained.Would recommend it to anyone.
Buffet breakfast included in room cost.Breakfast was good,plenty of choice.And when you are friends with the staff they even offer you bacon.We actually chose to eat most of our meals in the restaurant,not for any reason except their meals were cheap and very tasty.We lived on nasi goreng and satays most meals.The restaurant was extremely quiet,in fact we were often the only people eating there.This suited us as we got 5 star treatment.Do yourself a favour if you do stay here try the food-it is worth it!!We paid about $20 for a 2 course meal for 2.We had wine each night.Loved the white Aga wine from Bali.It was about $15 a bottle in the hotel,but lets face it we would pay more at home for wine in a restaurant.
This was a lazy holiday as mum has had a recent knee op so didnt go on many tours.Did plenty of shopping.Found the department stores are quite cheap for clothing,and better quality than the markets.Also set price which was an advantage.T-shirts around $4-8.Dresses and skirts-$6-10.Plenty of warehouse shoe stores in Centro.Bought New Balance running shoes for $30 and Diadora shoes for my 10 year old for $7-9.He loves them!!!
Did go to the compulsory Barong dance.Went to the Safari Park.This was fantastic.It was the middle of the day so the animals were all sleepy but it is amazing to see lions and tigers so close you could touch them.The huge gates you enter in thr tram reminded us of Jurassic Park.Just hope the tram doesnt break down because i was not getting out!!!!We had photos with the lion cub and baby orangatang.It was a bit scary when the handler moved the lions leg and he growled loudly just before it was our turn with him.They might say he is a baby but at 3 years old he is huge!The orangatung was so sweet.His hands are so like a humans,i was fascinted.Just be warned,the keepers are not in a hurry to move people on so it is a long wait to see these animals.We also saw a baby elephant up close-he was sooo cute.Definitely feel this place is worth a visit.I will be returning next year with my son.
Plenty of shopping in the markets.If you want set prices try Honest John down beach end of Kuta markets.We have been to John for years.He gives set prices,and if anything breaks he will replace it.If you ask nicely John will also give you an idea of bartering prices for other items he doesnt sell.Our clothes were bought from Wayan.Her store is across the road from Kuta Beach Club.Again she offered set prices,but they were compaqrible wth others.T-shirts around $2-4.Surf brand shorts the same.Bali dresses $6-8.Caps-around $3-4.sequinnes shoes and sandles $3-7.Soccer tops $6-8.Know they could have gone cheaper but the boys at home desperately wanted these so paid the price.Holden tops around the same price.
DS games were bought in toy store in Centro.170 games in 1 was $35.Have only found a couple of games that dont work and i did buy 4.Old gameboy 150 in 1 packs around $15.Bakagan toys also cheap there.
Bought the customary hundreds of dvds.Most pre-ordered from MC shop.Did buy some out in the street.Was getting around $1 each.Buy 10 get 3 free.Free number goes up as you get more.Same price for cds.Most of the dvds,bar the really new movies are good quality.The ones pre-ordered are all 100%.
Unfrotunately the holiday ended way too fast.We came home on 27th.Thought we would be over with weight but had 2-3 kilos each to spare.Lucky they didnt weigh hand luggage though.Dont know how much that would have been.The only complaint on flight on way back was seating.We were just in front of the emergency exit.These seats dont recline,so sleeping was harder than usual.Already missing Bali.Have decided to return next year for my 40th with my son and husband.What a party that will be.