Hi all
Well travelled to Bali in May this year from Perth. Flew Garuda, our flight times were changes which was our only hicup, which had us arriving at night instead of in the middle of the day. I managed to get our travel agent (thanks Kelly at Holiday Planet), to swap us onto another flight so we gained rather than lost time in Bali.
I had bought a camera and wanted to claim back the GST in the airport (did the same a few years back), only to play hide and seek with the bloomin refund counter. It is no longer up the top near the gates it is just past immigration and really easy to miss.
First part of our stay was at the Bali Garden Hotel. We had interconnecting standard rooms 301 and 302. (no delux rooms left). Our rooms were spacious but in a desperate need of a rennovation. The pools adn gardens of this hotel are great. Even the boardwalk cafe food is yummy - but breakfast was nothing to rave over.
When we were there only 6 hotel rooms had been renovated and they seem to be doing a room at a time rather than a whole wing. At that rate they maybe have 10 rooms done now!. Either way, dont bank on a refurbished room otherwise you will be disappointed. There were 12 of us all together in a big group and none of us scored one.
The delux rooms didnt really seem much nicer than ours except that they looked over the pool and had a different bed head. There was an in room safe but we had to ask for a kettle and coffee and tea making facilities (the delux rooms had them in already). There were ants in both our bathrooms.
Overall I would rate the hotel 9/10 for grounds but only 5/10 for rooms - and this is mainly because the rooms were big even if tired.
On our first day we went to the DD Bar to watch the Freo Eagles game. Sadly came out a bit dissappointed with the Eagles loss but not as in bad shape as the guy who lost a bet and had to run starkers down Legian street swinging a west coast t-shirt in his hand. He he he...we were definately in Bali.
My eldest daughter was already in a beautician a couple of doors down getting her hair braided and the younger one was in there getting her nails painted. The younger one (13) happened to pick this time to return to us only to cop an eyeful of the streaker.
Ate at an unmemorable place that night on Legian street, but did have bananna pancakes for breakfast. No where near as nice as I have had in Ubud - but still edible.
Time for some shopping at the Kuta Art market and bought several elasticated dresses for around the pool, all for 20000Rp each. Bought some facier dresses with some embroidery to where at night for 40000Rp, and hubby bought long shorts 45000Rpm and nice tops for 30000Rp. Was buying bikinis for 20000Rp and boardies for the girls for 25000Rp.
Ate at Treehouse restaurant on Poppies Lane. I had Nasi Campur and satay - god it was cheap so I pigged out. Hubby had the Nasi Goreng and the kids ordered Pizza and tuna steak. Our total 158000Rp including all drinks!! Good feed for such a cheap price.
Went WWR next day. Did the Tala Waja River again - I swear I am not doing the final drop on this one again as each time I bloomin hurt myself. We bargained it for our big group for 250 000Rp each including transport and lunch. This time we went with a Balinese company and not Sobek - was much the same but the equipment looked older. Paid 100000Rp extra for photos. My new Novo thong was the first victim of the river.... bummer feeling so helpless watching it float away faster than our boat. Also that I now had the rest of the holiday without a comfy pair of thongs. Second victim of the river was my buddies gold bracelet. Third victim was my now shoeless foot that was sat on by my hubby on the final drop. Seeing I had recently had a foot operation I screamed and curled into a ball - promptly kneeing him in the back. We both felt very sorry for ourselves for a while hear, and the walk back up isnt all fun and games either. Although the balinese do it with heavy loads on their heads so I shouldnt complain.
Stopped at the surf outlet store on the way home and bought some bikinis on sale (45000Rp each pair)
Went to bread talk and bought a load of cakes to eat by the side of the hotel pool - what a nice way to finish the day.
Went to Billys for dinner. God I love this place. Food is usually about 6/10 but nightlife and fun waiters is 10/10. Hubby had garlic prawns and mi goreng, I had nasi goreng and the kids had pizza and spagetti. The plentiful cocktails ended up stacking up our final bill total to 500000Rp.
Day 4 was a lazy day. Got up late and tried the pancake place across the road - it looked a bit sickning to me but hubby and the kids enjoyed it. Went to Mataharis and bought phone recharge so I could get my mum's XL phonecard working. After a bit of mucking around - all operating so now I could SMS and keep in touch with everyone at cheaper cost. Bought lots of 10000Rp recharges so mum could keep the sim card alive back in perth as it deactivates if not used for a while. Bought some underwear from mataharis - they always seem to have good specials and stocked up on stuff from the supermarket for our room.
Went to Johny Andreas hairdressers at the discovery and we had a trim and style (god it was cheap), I also had a manicure but regreted it as she gave me an ingrown toenail that bugged me for the rest of the trip (lost my thong and now a sore toe!!)
Did some shopping at the flea market near the Febris - they seem really quite down here. Bought some Billabong XXL tops from Diane shop near Dynasty for my nephew for 40000Rp each.
Went to the beach out the front of the Kuta Inna and found my usual lady (Sally) and bought a stack of pretty beads and bracelets to wear on holiday for me and the kids and to bring back as gifts. Sally is such a lovely lady I always go back to her.
Had dinner at the boardwalk back at the hotel - was a great meal. Although youngest daughter developed a rash on her hands after dinner - dont know if she had a reaction to something she ate or touched.
This was our last night at the Bali Garden - part 2 coming is the safari park.