Firstly a big thank you to everyone that posts info on BTF, we got so much out of it, met great people and had a great holiday using tips from you all.
The best advice we got from the Forum was for our driver Made Mangku, a great honest man, who was the best find ever. We will always use him from now on mobile: 081 2393 1887, I will include my email address so I can send you his email or website, these we set up by an Australian couple that were so impressed with Made.
I've finally caught up on bookwork over the last week since we've been back (myself, husband and 16 & 13 year old boys), now to do my first JBR.
Leaving from Melbourne we thought we'd try Malaysian Airlines via Kuala Lumpur. We were very happy with Malaysian Airlines, excellent service and on demand movies etc and cheaper than Jetstar. We stayed 2 nights in KL as we hadn't been before and that was great(excellent shopping), but it took too much time out of Bali stay, leaving only 6 full days and a long trip back.
We stayed at the Patra, (last time was Bali Hai and we adored it but the new Holiday Inn Baruna was way out of our price range). The noise from the airport was no more annoying than Bali Hai, it didn't bother us at all. The Patras rooms were very clean, the resort was very quiet & relaxing and the staff all lovely. We always leave a bag of gifts for the room cleaners at the start of the holiday.
This time as we had 2 of the kids with us, so we were able to take 3 big suitcases jam packed with give aways - clothes, nailpolish, caps, pencils, colouring books, old jewellery, makeup, shoes, thongs,perfumes and bras. I have found out since, that old towels, bed sheets etc are badly needed also.
Anyway back to the Patra - the only problem we had was a bathroom problem, but we changed rooms and it was fine. The rooms were a fair walk from breakfasts (which were great) but it is a good way to work off the great food. We would be back tomorrow if the finances allowed it.
EATING -
We took taxis into Kuta a couple times, but mostly we walked along the beach front past the Holiday Inn Baruna and down the laneway that runs in front of the H.I.Baruna. In this U shaped street you will find the:-
SA CAFE - very cheap and very nice, we ate here a lot last 2 visits
The GREEN GARDEN -also very good (directly opposite H I Baruna)and cheap.
PANTAI - we ate here both times, but this time I found it to be expensive and the food wasn't very good, I think I got Bali belly from here, (but we did forget the Travelan which we were trialing with the kids, you take one before each meal). We won't bother here again.
ZANZIBAR (Seminyak)- There were four of us, our driver and his family of 3, our BTF friend and her daughter and four others, 14 of us including food and drinks and the bill came to about $160. The food was fantastic, we will be back.
MINIS- was very good (near Centro/ Bali Dynasty)
THE SAFARI PARK restaurant- unique surroundings and a very reasonalby price, delicious meal.
KING THAI - opposite Queen of India (near Centro) we had happy hour here, ran out of time to come back for tea, but the menu looked good. But the must see at King Thai is the toilets, built over a fish pond. They say small things amuse small minds.
MANGOSTEEN - a mangosteen is a must try, it is an exquisite fruit, you press on the exterior and the shell breaks, leaving a white segmented interior, you eat the white segments, some have a large pip in them. Mangosteens are expensive by Bali standards, about 8000 per kilo but so worth it.
THINGS TO SEE
Made Mangku helped us book and get the prices for all our day trips.
BALI SAFARI & MARINE PARK -$35 per adult, well worth it, good show, animal tour and you get a free photo with an orang utan, elephant or lion. The restaurant is good value also, the pool area (marine) is good for younger children, ours weren't interested. They had water mist spraying on some pathways, I would avoid these were possible.
TURTLE ISLAND - worth a look, allow about 2 hours for the boat ride there and back, you get to hold turtles, lizard, bat etc. The para sailing and flying fish looked like great fun too, but there are about 30 going at once and like the Bali drivers, they all seem to miss each other bt some miracle, but I'm not that much of a dare devil.
WATERBOM PARK - always popular, you can pay an extra $9 on the day and get a 2 day pass.
UBUD- beautiful scenery, we did avoid the Monkey Forest though as one of the boys got bitten on the neck, on my first visit.
SHOPPING-
My biggest tip - leave the hubby & kids at the Waterbom Park, head for Matahari and enjoy.
Ramayana (Denpasar)- large department store
Matahari (Kuta)ditto
Centro (near Bali Dynasty)
Geneva - great for placemats, statues, antiques, gifts etc fixed price
Diannes & Jennys - fixed price little shops near Centro/Bali Dynasty on the opposite side of the road. A good starting place when you first get there so you can get an idea of current prices (but you should buy something from them, as it is considered rude to get a price and then not buy. Try the beaded thongs, about 15-20K, I've had a couple pairs for 4 years.
Anyone wanting info, feel free to email me.