Dec 15 - 22nd hubby and myself flew Air Asia - comfy seats, toilet good size for a plane, we had pre-ordered food but it was dry and wouldn't bother again for such a short flight. Arrived and through immigration and customs within thirty minutes - very happy.
Stayed two nights at KTH to get shopping done which we did. Also caught up with friends staying at Kuta Puri Cottages for dinner and my son who was staying at Grand Istama Rama with a group of friends. We all met at Club Havanna in Poppies 1 for a cocktail and stayed for dinner. Cocktails very nice but dinner nothing to rave about.
We hired a bike in Kuta which we haven't done before due to the traffic. Glad we did and traffic was so bad taxis would have taken for ever to get anywhere. We tried out Mozarellas in Legian for lunch and liked the airy colourful décor. Food was very nice. Also Dulang Kafe in Matahari square is always good. The first night we arrived we were looking for a meal at about 11pm and ended up at a small warung in the gang between Poppies 1 and II from KTH - Warung Campur-Campur - it was so cheap and the food was reasonable. I think the meals were about one aussie dollar.
We were happy to leave Kuta and go up to Ubud for the following five nights. We stayed at Ubud Bungalows in Monkey Forest Road, Lovely little place and we will stay there again for sure. We hired a bike again and one day I hired one also and got myself a nice burn on my leg. They park the bikes so close together and I just didn't realise when I was getting my bike out that the one next to it was so hot. The weather is always a little cooler in Ubud which we were happy about. Spent the next days eating and relaxing and exploring Ubud which we love doing. Checked out Sari Organik. I wanted to do the nice walk out to it but we had left it to the last day and ran out of time so we went on the bike. It is such a lovely area and worth a visit. I love the ricefields and seeing the locals at work and all the ducks. So picturesque.
We also went to a waterfall down towards Goa Gaja - about twenty minutes on the bike. What an impressive waterfall it was. Heaps of steps to get down to it and then you have to walk across the rocks to get to the waterfall. We had gone as far as we thought we could when a local guy came over and offered to show us how to get right to the waterfall. He was lovely and had a swim with us and took us back again. It was a Saturday so mostly locals were there swimming. The steps back up were a killer.
We caught up with our friend Made from Cinta Bar a couple of nights - enjoy talking to the staff there as they are very friendly. Had a couple of nice massages at Venezia Spa in Monkey Forest Road - lovely place.
Found a tiny little restaurant called Rai Pastia which has three little tables overlooking the rice fields. Beautiful and cheap. You can see over the rice field to Three Monkeys which has the same view but more expensive. Tried Three Monkeys for breakfast and was very very nice. I would recommend it .
CocoBistro on the main palace road also very nice seafood restaurant. Enak Sekali (very delicious)
One night we went to the Bunute restaurant opposite Batan Waru. They had a ethnic fusion band called Balawan and friends. Balawan is also known as 'Magic Fingers' as he plays two guitars at the same time. They were incredible!!! I have never heard music like that before. The place was packed and in fact booked out and when we tried to book in the afternoon hubby said oh its our honeymoon and then they said ok we will find you a table. He didn't expect them to believe him. They looked after us all night!!
Laughing Buddha also had a band one night when we ate there and was very nice. The restaurant was full and very loud. It was very nice to be able to just walk down the hill to our hotel.
Didn't do a lot of shopping this time as had been in July. Spent most of my time looking for things for my sister in law who gave me a hundred dollars and a list. Never again!!
Was surprised at all the security checks when leaving this time but in hindsight can understand extra security. They did ask if we had any alcohol and if it was sealed as we went to check in. I said yes and opened my bag and found the small bottle I had that was unopened. They said ok. I did have another opened bottle which was somewhere under everything. I am guessing they would have taken that if they had seen it. Not that it would have mattered cos my son snuck into it on Christmas night anyway!
Another enjoyable holiday. Planning next one in April to take my elderly mother back to Bali. I first went to Bali with her when I was 17 and she has never been back. Any excuse for me to go to Bali again.