I'm so pleased that I found BTF before our holiday. Thank you so much to everyone, your assistance made our holiday so much more enjoyable. Although I've been to bali 4 times now, (first time 30 years ago and last 10 years ago) it was the first time I booked it all myself and the first time for such a short holiday.
Already planning my next trip back. Will be even better prepared next time -
I will once again absolutely pig out on salads, fruit smoothies, have ice in my drinks and give the finger to anyone who tells me I'll get sick.
I will definitely take the Douglasdale Raspberry Syrup again and tell everyone it is medicine to prevent bali belly .. yum.
I won't bother buying wine duty free on the way over and just drink Bintang - yum.
I'll botox my feet so I can walk even further.
I'll take some spare ready reckoners to give to people who admire mine.
I will have some good maps, pictures of clothes, shoes and bags I want made, some US$ to pay for excursions that have prices in US$, an electrical adaptor to recharge my phone/camera etc, a jar of coffee, take more cartons of vitasoy for the addicts in the family.
Here are some of my notes about my trip (bit boring).
Our flight
with Pacific Blue flight was ½ hour late leaving but we weren't too fussed. Airport wasn't busy on arrival so got through everything in an hour, the baggage collection took the longest. Used the airport taxi to get to Nusa Dua and paid 95 000rp.
We stayed at the
Novotel in a 2br apartment which we booked through our timeshare membership. Large and spacious, 2 bathrooms, 2 balcony's, kitchen with all crockery, cutlery, utensils, full size fridge and washing machine/dryer. It was good value for money and we were generally happy with the accommodation and facilities there. They were renovating the building next to ours which wasn't a problem for us, but I felt sorry for a young couple and their baby who had booked their apartment through a private owner. Their windows were papered up for 2 days whilst it was being painted and they woke each morning to find workmen on their balcony. They weren't impressed.
We used Blue Bird Taxis to get around and thought they were great. Only had one driver who got lost and drove us round and round before asking directions from the locals. Lesson learned, I will get a better map next time and work out where places are rather than relying on the taxi driver.
THE BALI COLLECTION - NUSA DUA
Shopping Centre. Modern, clean - has a Sogo department store, supermarket, clothes stores, numerous restaurants, handicrafts. Free shuttle bus from the Novotel every hour from 10.05am until 21.05pm except 12.00 and 17.00. The return bus requires some working out because it leaves from a different lobby each trip and it takes over 5 minutes to run from one lobby to another. TIP: forget the return bus and walk back - takes about 15 minutes.
Really liked the clothes in the Sogo store and saved heaps of money. Spent ages looking at all the clothes only to find there was nothing in a size 10 - 12 so didn't buy a thing. Shoes were excellent too, saved more money because they were all too narrow for my feet.
DOCTOR FISH - (Garra Rufa - foot spa) had a tank of fish out the front of a store in the mall and couldn't resist having a go.
Paid 250 000 for 3 people for 20 minutes. Advertised price 100 000 per person.
The fish eat dead skin. Incredibly ticklish to start with, screamed and laughed out loud and embarrassed everyone around me. Felt a couple of sharp pin like pricks on 3 occasions but otherwise pleasant when you get used to the sensation. Skin on feet felt great afterwards but strangely, everyone had bright white (glow in the dark) feet which swelled up. TIP: wear loose shoes and go at night, the swelling will have mostly gone by morning.
WHITE WATER RAFTING
PT BAHAMA RAFTING
Booked via a tour booth in the mall at Bali Collection. Negotiated to pay 315 000rp per person for 3 people for rafting on the Ayung River (included transport, all equipment, rafting, lunch, shower, towel)
Collection time was 7.30am to 8am. Hotel phoned at 6:45am and told us driver had arrived. We said we would be ready by 7:30am. Arrived at reception to find our driver had taken 2 other people who had booked a cycling tour - a driver took us to meet them at the Bali Hyatt and we made the change.
Good comfortable vehicle. Pleasant driver but limited English. Quickly outfitted with life jacket, helmet and paddle on arrival. Life jackets were fine but helmets were a little worse for wear and didn't fit well - one size fits all. The walk down the stairs to the river was very, very long and in some parts very slippery and scary. There was no instruction on what to do, we just got in the raft and were off. Water level was low due to lack of rain I guess. A very gentle white water experience and pleasant enough. The walk back up the hill at the end was incredibly long and tiring. My legs were shaking at the end and I still have muscle soreness 6 days later. Shower (shared cubicle) and towel at the end.
TIP: Go on the afternoon trip and avoid the lunch. We didn't get sick but our stomachs didn't feel that great.
SCUBA DIVING INTRODUCTORY COURSE
Nusa Dua Surya Segar Marine Centre was on the brochure and receipt but HOTDOG WATER SPORT DIVE CENTRE was the provider.
Booked through the Novotel. Negotiated to pay $70US for 1 dive (advertised at $75) but ended up paying 1 400 000rp for 2 people. Wish we had US$.
One instructor for 2 people but good fun and well run.
I had hoped to get some clothes made but it wasn't meant to be. Went to:
ALTO MODA - FABRIC STORE
Komplex Istana Kuta Galleria
Huge selection of fabrics and the knowledgeable, helpful staff. Bought a couple of pieces of pieces of fabric to have some simple summer dresses made.
HOUSE OF KOMANG - TAILORING
Jl Padma, Legian.
(Poppies II)
Nice people and good quality work on display. Couldn't get dresses made because they were too busy and needed more time. Someone had ordered 20 dresses the day before.
JONOKO TAILOR
Poppies Lane 2 Legian Street Kuta - Bali
Tel. (0361) 753230 - Fax.: 62-361-753230
The people who make the dresses were all sick so they couldn't make anything for me.
TOMMY'S - LEATHER DESIGN AND TAILOR
Padma Street, LEGIAN, KUTA - BALI 80361, INDONESIA
Beautiful leather handbags on display. Bought 2 bags - 650 000rp and 700 000rp which I love. Will get some of my own designs made next time.
KETUTS - FIXED PRICE MARKET STALL
Garlic Lane (Sadahewa Lane)
Took a bit of time to find Ketut but it was worth the effort. The fixed price arrangement was great. Bought Purses 35 000rp, D&G overnight bag 110 000rp, t-shirts 35 000rp, shorts (cotton shorts - not board shorts) 65 000rp.
BILLABONG - Factory Outlet
Jl By Pass Ngurah Rai 11G,
Teenage son loved this shop and once again was happy with the fixed price arrangement. Bought:
Billabong wallet - 199 500rp
Billabong thongs - 118 300rp
T-shirts - 1 x 134 500rp, 2 x 244 300rp, 1 x collared 279 300rp.
The thongs were worn out after 1 day walking the streets (shopping).
SOME PRICES FROM THE NOVOTEL.
Service charges apply in the square restaurant and spa but not the pause café.
++ means plus 10% service charge and plus 11% Tax.
Pause Cafe
Beautiful pastries and cakes
6 000rp small donut
7 500rp fruit Danish
15 000rp to 18 500rp for beautiful cakes
Coffee about 32 000rp
Bacon and egg sandwich 33 058++ '
SQUARE RESTAURANT
Evening Meals - 18:30 to 22:00pm different themes each night 185 000 ++ (10% Service Charge & 11% Tax) the Balinese Cultural night is 145 000++rp in the Arjuna Garden
Al la Carte Menu
Fettuccini 55 000rp++
Pepes Ikan 58 000rp++
Pad Thai 66 000rp++
Bintang 27 000rp++
Sprite 25 000rp++
BREAKFAST BUFFET -
Approx: 138 000rp++
425 799rp total for 3 people (includes ++ and less 15% AVC discount)
DEPARTURE
The airport security guys opened one of our bags and wordlessly rummaged through eventually asking 'Drinks?' hmmmm We didn't have any of our duty free alcohol in that bag so we answered no. The bin under their table contained a bottle of alcohol. I checked with customs when we returned home and asked if it was OK to have opened bottles of alcohol in checked in luggage and she said yes (provided you don't exceed the limit).
Our Pacific Blue flight home left on time at 1.10am and had quite a few unoccupied seats. The seats were less comfortable than the plane seats on the way over (in fact they were downright hard and uncomfortable) but other than that all went well.