Back already..... Can't believe how quickly 10 days flew by...
Our trip started on the 27th August 2009. All up 11 girls known as the Bali Crew oh9 were heading to Bali. 3 of us on the 27th, 4 on the 28th and the last 4 on the 29th!
The 11 girls consisted of: Sandy (me), Beckyboo, Ellwatto, Baby Mama, Caz Dawg, Gonner, Martha, Jessie, Megz, Jaydis and Tam Bam
Air Asia flight left Perth at 4.50am on time! Flight over was uneventful.... pleasant, with no hiccups..... Landing in Bali 15mins early at 8.15am, learning from my previous time, as soon as the doors open we were outta there.... power walking our way to the front, we couldn't have been more happier and very impressed with ourselves until we realised Immigration didn't open for another 15 mins! Once though Immigration, our bags were waiting.. not to mention 10 porters to each bag, calling out our names... oh but I learnt from the best with a quick 'No thanks' we headed for the doors, excited to see what we were in for.... (first time in Bali without family)
Staying at Satriya Cottages for the first time, we didn't know what to expect. After being picked up from the airport we headed to the hotel... Didn't take too long to remember the crazy streets with families on scooters weaving in and out of cars... (gotta love it :) Arriving at the Satriya Cottages on Poppies 2 after a short but memorably drive... First impression of Satriya was great! Fresh juices on arrival, check in right away (even though we were told, check in wouldn't be til 2pm)
After changing into something a little more cooler, we went off to explore the hotel. I'd have to say it's just as good as everyone has previously posted, Cheap (which we later found out, after paying for the whole 10 days), very friendly staff (finally got to meet the famous Mr Dipper!) clean grounds, big swimming pool, plenty of tanning lounges, rooms are a reasonable size with both front and back patios. Fantastic air conditioner. The bathrooms weren't the flashest, but we were in Bali, so we didn't care!
Our first couple of days (while waiting for the rest of the group) consisted of a little shopping, drinking and eating.....promises of not going out til the whole group had arrived soon faded when an invitation to the Bounty Party was received, after very very short talks, the group decided the Bounty party just wouldn't be the same without us...... We all had heard about these Friday Night Bounty Parties... so we knew we were in for a good night..... we didn't realise how fun and wild it really was going to be! Geez.. did we have fun!
Finally by 9.30am Saturday morning, the rest had arrived and it was down to the serious business! PARTYING (expect for Baby Mama, who we only found out the week before was 6 weeks pregnant..... (Many drinks were consumed on her behalf) (Many massages were consumed by her on our behalf)
The next two days seemed to pass like a blur, lots of shopping, lots of drinking by the pool, lots of tanning and of course LOTS of eating.... By Monday...... we were all ready to get into some activities! so Tuesday we went off to Water Bom Park! 11 girls running a riot at the park, went on every ride/water slide, ate till our hearts content.... and the massages! oh the massages at the park are incredible. Best I've ever had in Bali! Highly recommend it!
After a very short power nap and dinner at Tubes.... partied on to Paddy's and Bounty on Tuesday night.... (maybe a little too hard)
Woke up Wednesday with an extremely bad hung over, just in time for an hour and a half drive to our White Water Rafting location, after stopping 3 times to throw up and listening to an "interesting" story about how our driver beat his dog to death with a stick after the dog bit his mother (not a picture I want in mind after throwing up).... we were finally on our way....250 steps later wearing our jackets and helmets, carrying our paddles (you can all imagine how I was feeling my this stage), the time came to White Water Raft.... For someone who has never done it before, I must say it was one of my highlights of the trip, it was fantastic and I plan to do it on our next trip, just maybe with a different driver next time.. haha..... (Baby Mama recommends a massage, facial and scrub at Bali Gardens)
Thursday, the group split up and did some serious shopping..... For all those going to Bali, you have to experience the exfoliating fish at Matahari's... It's the strangest feeling. It's a tank full of fish that suck the dead skin off your feet and legs...sounds gross but it makes you feet and legs feel so smooth and tingly after...... 100,000rp for 20 mins, but worth every penny.... After shopping for hours at Matahari's and waiting for taxi's, it was decided a scooter was the way to go.....what an experience!
Thursday Night- Ricky's Pub Crawl- Everyone has to experience Ricky's... Bloody great guy.....After a BBQ dinner and drinks at Ricky's we hopped onto the open-aired bus blaring out Michael Jackson and Lady Gaga and headed for Billy's pup... after more drinks and a few tunes with the band, Legends was our next stop where even more drinking and singing occurred. After falling off stage during a duet, we knew it was time to head to Paddy's where the party continued well into the morning.....
Waking up Friday morning, with no hangover but sore knees... reality set it.... This was our last official day and night and we needed to make it big! Friday was non stop GO GO GO last minutes bartering and shopping, getting massages and facial, pedi's... anything we could fit in!
By Friday night we knew we had one more thing to do.....PARTY.....After a few piking out at the last minute, the others and I kept soldiering it..... Not wanting to night to end, knowing that the plane trip was closer and closer, we partied our all hearts out..... Getting to see a muscle show, rNb dancers and Go Go dancers...... To top the night off... the 3 of us left over, headed back to the hotel and ordered Macca's delivery...... Just to top off a sensational trip!
Dragging ourselves out of bed, dreading the strenuous tedious packing, knowing that it couldn't be put off any longer, with a heavy heavy heart we all began to pack... The mood the rest of the day was quite sad and need I say very moody! No one was ready for home, but we all knew we had no choice.....
Arriving at the airport, fighting back the tears of sadness..... as Big Bad John unloaded our bags, I took one last long breath in... taking in the Bali air that I have come to love....... Tipping Big Bad John one last time..... Bali was over...... the trip that we had planned for and we were looking forward too and counting down too was over......
Arriving back in Perth to a freezing cold Sunday morning was horrible........ Knowing that our next trip is being planned as we speak, makes the days all the better...... I miss you Bali.....
Helpful Hints:
Girls: Don't walk down Poppies 2 late at night after the night clubs, unless you want to be touched up by young Balinese boys! I wasn't impressed with that, they all seemed so sweet during the day!
All: Don't drink Barcoca when your hung over because chances are you won't keep anything down, once it does come up, it's bright yellow and the Balinese think it's very interesting and make it known to all their friends, who also come over to have a look..... Not a pleasant experience.... hahaha
All: Do not attempt to sing Karaoke on stage while extremely drunk, one wrong step...painful.... I have the bruises to prove it....
Recommended Massages:
Spa attached to Water Bom Park
Barong Hotel
Bali Garden
Recommended Restaurants:
Bubba Gumps
Flap Jacks
Tubes
Kori's
Macaroni
The Bali Corner (just across from Barong hotel on the corner)
Ricky's Pub Crawl