From Safari park we were picked up by our driver Adi who had picked up Mil and Sil to join us for the day in Ubud,
We stopped off at Rapuan Cili for lunch as Mil had mentioned she would like to go somewhere a little different and be surrounded by rice paddies and this was perfect, beautiful surroundings, great food,wonderful service and if you have want to spend a lazy afternoon they also have a gorgeous pool bordered by the rice paddies.
visited Monkey forrest where my Mil handed over 400 000 rup to get in for 2, Adi has been trying to teach her the difference in notes but she really struggles to get it. One monkey in particular was having a fabulous time he had found a black piece of material and was running around with it over him, there were many shrieks as people felt he had got tangled in it but it kept falling off when he ran and he would stop pick it up cover himself and dash off again, very entertaining, the monkeys must be very well fed at the moment as they just wandered about and did not really bother with us at all.
after this we left the in laws to wander up Monkey Forrest road whilst we booked into Ananda Cottages, we then went back to find them and have afternoon drinks before they headed back to Tuban, rang Sil and she had lost Mil, it is amazing sil is a mother of two but being on holidays with her mum had reverted back to being a petulant teen, I knew I should never have left them on their own! we reunited the pair and sent them on their way after this they had a big discussion and decided rather than ruining entire holiday they would make an effort and accomodate each other (and drinking more bintangs always takes the edge off)
Ananda Cottages are lovely, rooms are spacious and quiet in groups of four bathrooms huge balcony lovely for breakfast, overlooking a pool and the rice paddies. The pool was quite deep at this point miss 13 commented that she thinks the pool depth is representative of cost of accomodation as Dewi Sri was really deep, you have to put in a good effort to reach the bottom, Ananda quite deep (not as deep, and cost slightly more than Dewi Sri) and the Patra had only come up to chest height!
I did a rice Paddie walk at 7am allowing miss 13 a sleep in and me a beautiful morning walk, it was two hours and I was the only one, great way to start the day.
This was a very relaxed day just wandered into Ubud, miss 13 had hair dyed, I had massage/body scrub and flower bath, lunch, shopping, drinks, dinner then back to hotel for swim.
Friday we packed and left bags at hotel went and did Bali Buggys, miss 13 vomited out of bus window on way up (she really does not travel well) we were the only ones in a buggy 4 other couples did the ATV's Great two hours of driving through the countryside on rough dirt roads and through villages, so now I can say I have driven on Bali roads! the rules are no running over villagers, their children or their fences, we figured this was not too hard to abide by. Miss 13 was in charge of the camera as she is not allowed to drive a buggy until 16 so I dont think she will do this again until then, but kept saying she was too sick to take photos, I threatened no photos I would make her sit through it again. She took lots of photos. Great fun but would suggest maybe more fun to drive than be a passanger worth the extra to have own vehicle if over 16, I would do the buggy again, I really enjoyed it.
Lunch was included usal buffet fair but with the addition of french fries obviously lots of fussy westeners.
We went to Sari Dewi in celuk for silver on the way to Tuban, second trip here, really like this place, but you have to bargain hard obviously expected as they will come down at least 30 to 40% off original price and if you spend enough they seem willing to give 50 to 60% off one more piece obviously I dont bargain hard enough as they are willing to almost give away the final piece! Well I figure if I am happy with the price I still got a bargain!
Had two nights at Bakungs Beach Cottages in Tuban, the entrance is way grander than the rooms, it is very basic, good sized rooms, very dated and they have got their moneys worth out of the bedding, clean, a/c works great, heaps of cupboard space, so for long term stays can certainly see the appeal at $32 p/n for both of us could not expect more and yes the pool is really deep. great laundry just opposite, dropped off two large bags of washing at 11am was washed pressed folded and smelt beautiful (I love that smell when I get home) by 5pm for 62 000 rup. The next morning I took over the last few items we had and asked if they could be done by 2 and it was no problem, they were absolutely fantastic.
Had manicure and pedicure at I think the lemon tree the girls were wearing lime green pants and floral lime shirts absolutely lovely place, fantastic staff.
Also had massage and creme hair bath just opposit BBH in a purple salon, couldnt help it my favourite colour had to try it out, was also great.
Went out to Tanjun Benoa did the fly fish (huge fun), half hour jet ski ride which also included a 15 min tour of turtle island, the jet skis where also an absolute highlight miss 13 was allowed to ride one and we thoroughly enjoyed it, the guides are crazy they dont wear life jackets and let crazy tourists ride around with them on the back.
When we got back we were informed our driver Adi felt we had paid too much for activities so had talked to the boss and they were giving us either lunch or banana boat ride, miss 13 put it very nicely, der banana boat of course, she is great she will always take experience over object every time, so this finished off the afternoon beatifully, getting thrown in the water twice!
Spent a few hours in Centro obtaining required peace offerings to return home with (6yr old boy who requires Ben 10 objects, has no cultural sensitivity for Balinesse offerings yet, Bintang singlet still sitting untouched in draw!) Also new suitcase, not sure how we ended up with so much as no time was dedicated to shopping this trip, but we arrived with half a Bali bag and went home with 2 large Bali bags, 1 new suitcase, 1 carry on bag a Ben 10 wheelie bag and two large hand bags!
We did our last minute shopping Bintang tops, towels, dresses, tops, one more hand bag, packed and went out to the Conrad for our last luxurious night in beautiful Bali, Well the Conrad met, then exceeded our expectations, the hotel is beautiful, the room (cheapest available) was spacious and luxurious, everything supplied from toothbrush, hairbrush, bathing requirements to robes and slippers which are placed on a mat beside the bed whilst we were out for dinner.
The pool and lagoon pool are beautiful and where we first hopped in the water only just came over our knees and this made us giggle and miss 13 turned and said this place must be really expensive.
We also paid an extra $50Us for club membership which gave us internet access pergfect for miss 13 after so long away from friends, afternoon tea which was high tea and an amazing drinks menu, breakfast, and cocktails from 5 to 7. Which was amazingly good value and we were able to use all of this even after we booked out and moved to the depature lounge!
This was a lovely way to end our stay being able to laze around and reflect on our stay and the best bits, and there were so many we did not have a favourite, we had lots.
As we left on the 15th we needed to head to the airport early as the roads began closing around six at TB and at the airport we bid a fond farewell to Adi until we return in Oct. There were people everywhere outside the terminal, reading, eating, drinking sleeping on surfboards, sitting on sarongs like picnic blankets, we shrugged and wandered up to the entry door and the man looked at our ticket and said flight not till 10 we agreed and he said cant come in too full wait out there. So out we went and set up our own little camp and waited until 7ish at which time everyone lined up and we all slowly shuffled our way in and once all the lining etc was done we willed away the time and we were off home to begin planning our next trip! And we were only 5kg over with our luggage which the lovely Garuda lady didnt even comment on.