And what a ride it was, Mitch did the navigating, we headed north out of Legian heading towards Tabanan with the intent of turning towards Mengwi,it was a this stage we got a bit lost but did turn right somewhere and despite the bumpy road ended up driving thru Marga, up thru Pacung and stoped to see the famous toilets at Candikunning, had a drink and did a spot of shopping then back to the road for the final leg to Lovina.
Accomadation was at the beautiful Dolphin Beach Apartments, they are amazing, massive big rooms and on the beach, our host was a lovely fellow (Hi David), we had the penthouses (Lee, John, Sharon, Wayne and Mitch)all rooms had everything you could possibly need.
The fisrt afternoon was spent in the pool gazing out at the ocean, it is like a picture from a postcard, absolutely amazing.
The rain started to fall so we shifted to the alfresco area and proceeded to drink the bar dry before a beautiful barbecue dinner cooked on the lawn area, steak, chicken, salad, veges done in foil, fresh bread rolls from the bakery down the road and a few more bintangs to wash it down.
I'm not sure if it was the peaceful environment we stayed in or the fact that I had a binny or two but I did not hear the massive storm that decended on us that night.
Up at 5.30am the next morning for a 6am boat ride to see the Dolphins, now that was fun, we where put putting along and then someone would yell and 100 boats would decend towards a Dolphin, a coconut or a figment of someones imagination. After 2 hours we hit land and dinned on the lawns at Dolphin beach, bacon, eggs, hash browns, tomatoes, toast, fruit and bottomless cups of tea and coffee, jeez its a hard life in Lovina.
We decided to head to the hot springs, but missed the turn off, school was just out and we where trying not to run over one of the hundreds of kids on the road, we ended up at the top of yet another mountain before stopping for directions, we backed up a bit and headed back down the mountain and there they were, 5,000 to get in and after a dip in all 3 pools headed up to the restaraunt for a drink.
It was now time to check out the Famous Melka Hotel, paid our 50,000 admission and had a wander around the grounds, shame the otto's didn't have water but apart from that (I-me-personally) thought it was pretty much the same as any zoo I've been too.
Decided that 550,000 to have a swim was ridiculous but did watch the show. Gee they are clever creatures.
Back to the Dolphin Beach Apartments for a swim, it was as hot as hell, this day we happy houred on one of the balconies upstairs (had 2 crates of Bintang to dispose of) which we managed, plus some from the bar, enjoyed another barbe dinner with our lovely host and had every intention of watching the footy but the damn fresh air got the better of me again, so enjoyed another wonderful sleep in the big comfy bed.
Breakfast to die for again, then it was time to pack up and head back down south.
If you are contemplating a trip up north give David a call/email, these apartments would have to be by far the best I have ever stayed in, he was a wonderful host and we will certainly go back. thanks to Mitch for finding them and for navigating.
Cheers
Lee
(More about the trip back another day)