JBR of MR BRAD (AKA MR JALAN JALAN) and MISSUS 25th March-10th April
This JBR will be a summary of our time in beautiful Bali as to do a day by day one would be far too long.There will be a separate posting with more details and other info (will be titled ‘B and K Recommendations')
Oh and the above title refers to the way the people referred to us.....
ARRIVAL
Good flight on jet star very smooth no issues...we had the Western Australian finalists for Miss Universe onboard so there was plenty of happy males both crew and passengers. Arrived at airport 1pm (approx) ...we had no issues with VOA ...the arrival cards had not been handed out on the plane as they had none so there was a mad scramble to fill them in at the immigration desk (we shared pens and no one lost their place in the line) We went to the ‘taxi booking desk' where there is a set price for each hotel....only small issue here was we thought the guys who grabbed the cases was the taxi driver and his offsider...they where ‘sneaky porters' and they wanted 50,000RP each (SHEESH) we said no way and gave them 50,000RP ‘to share' so 1st lesson learnt here. Checked into hotel ...Adhi Dharma Hotel in Jalan Benersari ( not bad but not so good either email us direct for info if you want to know more)and then we hit the streets to buy the ‘essentials' ... toiletries (didn't bring any from home as so cheap in Bali) ....bottled water, cool drinks and snacks to replace the exorbitantly priced ‘minibar' WE GOT EXCHANGE RATE OF 8000 TO 8300RP TO AU$ (on average and we used the Kodak shop money exchangers most of the time)
HAWKERS AND STREET SHOPS
Jalan Legian and Kuta had changed so much since we where last there 6 years ago... Legian martaharis gone (possibly being rebuilt we where told) all the restaurants and shops we remembered gone and there is now literally hundreds of smaller ones all selling the same stuff and all desperate for you to buy...except now a simple ‘no thank you doesn't always dissuade them (I had a few ‘manicure ladies' physically grab me to stop me) unfortunately yes this is annoying and tiring ..but remember the bombings did affect a lot of people...so we devised a few ways around this...we brought all the stuff we wanted early on and told them this 'sorry already brought t-shirts'....we went out early in morning when streets less busy...and if it was too busy on the street and we needed to go along Jalan Legian or near the stalls we caught a cab to be able to wiz past the hawkers...but mostly we just remained polite good humored and after the 4 or 5th time of us walking past them and saying 'NO' they got the message. A few times we had to be firm (DVD Sellers who come up and try to get you to buy DVDs while you're eating at restaurants) and here a very firm and slightly annoyed tone worked. To avoid the constant ‘plait your hair' barrage I would suggest you either get it done on the first day there or wear a really big hat
WHAT WE DID
BALI AUSSIE RESTURANT- went to their Sunday ‘No Fear Party'. Called this because it started the Sunday after the 1st bombings to show the ‘! @#$%* terrorists we not afraid (Their motto is ‘a life lived in fear is a life half lived') Spit roast beef and pork (hand turned by a staff member over coals for several hours) with all the veggies. 90,000RP ($11au) each and well worth it.
‘GARLIC LANE' (Jalan Sahadewa) locals know it by the other name but any cabbie\driver can find it. Very interesting and worth a wander in the day to just look at the restaurants and shops before you return at night to eat. It runs off/between Jalan Melasti and Jalan Padma ( going towards/facing beach on right hand side not far from beach end)
BALI SAFARI AND MARINE PARK (GIANYAR) This is a awesome place no real bars/cages they control the animals by using water features and ‘cattle grid type grates' to make sure Mr tiger doesn't make a meal of the gazelles...you go around in a ‘safari van' and it is an experience....imagine driving through the middle of the water with hippos on either side lazing in the sun ...we chose the TIGER experience package.. Well worth it you get a lovely meal at the restaurant there and fun activities like water park/water slides if you wish, shuttle and safari van rides and of course the chance to touch/hug cuddle A REAL TIGER or ORANGUTAN ( NOTE this needs to be booked by the hotel or tourist information/operator. Photos taken by the park staff are 80,000Rp and they are printed there and then and put in a lovely ‘safari' presentation folder... of course photos with your own camera are free ...but the folder makes a beautiful memento of a once in a lifetime experience.
BUTTERFLY PARK (TABANAN) - 50,000RP each. Lovely landscaped areas...butterflies flying around beautiful lush gardens...scorpions and bugs in glass display cabinets.... some bugs you can get hands on with (Guava eating praying mantis and a few other gnarly looking but harmless insects) and the ‘baby butterflies' in the nursery that you can touch
GHOST PALACE (PACUNG) thanks to David (Pacung Indah hotel) from the forum for the info on this one. This was both breathtaking and sad. The hotel is huge and the grounds are still very beautiful and majestic, and this is the breathtaking bit but to see such a large and beautiful hotel/resort now just sitting and decaying was sad...but it was an experience to see all the rooms...the marble...the statues...and the views. We called to see David and his 'best half' and the bowwow(woof woof)on the way back from Ghost Palace...couldn't stay this time but will next time...looks to be an awesome place... lovely couple very helpful the hotel really does have ‘views to die for'.
Weather was surprisingly mild most of the time. It rained most days around 4.30/5pm and sometimes it rained in the early mornings too. We had a few thunderstorms with some heavy showers. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in Bali and are now already thinking about the next trip. We did all the ‘touristy things' like buy clothes (LOVE 2 KISS) and had leather made (FLORENCE COLLECTION). I got my hair braided, swam in the pool...drank Bintangs (12-20,000RP) and cocktails (margarita 45,000RP or $5-6au what a bargain)...had a seafood feast to die for (details in recommendations) ... shopped at all the malls and supermarkets both ‘tourist ‘and local. We ate at a lot of different restaurants...took the expected ‘walk along Kuta beach (except we went at 6am when it was virtually deserted). Watched AFL and Soccer (Bali seems to really love those English teams)at a Sports Bar (Double D) yes Brad got asked by several ladies of varying age and attractiveness if he wanted a massage ‘with happy ending' and yes we saw the ‘wooden penis key rings/doorknocker/bottle opener and few ‘magic mushroom' cafes (it took me a few moments to work out just what they where REALLY selling) but for the most part we actually did some ‘off the tourist path' things and these where just as good and worthwhile and I would highly suggest doing them too.
Things such as;
WALKING AROUND- Brad loved to go out wandering the streets in the early mornings (about 5am)with me fast asleep and this led to the ‘Mr Jalan Jalan' reference as the staff of hotel and the locals always saw him ‘going out for a walk'. He found several nice places to go without all the hassles of the hawkers and took some stunning photos. Also it was cooler.
DENPASAR MARKETS We went to the Denpasar Markets ( both old and new ones) what an experience that was... each level is one ‘thing'... food down bottom ( think raw fish beef chickens duck you name it) then all the spices...then all the crafts etc...yes it was hot and at times smelly...and abit hectic and crazy...but fun.
JIMBARIAN BAY- do yourself a huge favor get out of bed early ( 7am) and grab a cab to the fish markets... but tell him to wait as there is virtually no ‘transport mate you want transport' here, as brad found out the first time he went there( had to walk 2kms to nearest resort to get transport)to ‘check it out'. We went the next day together and I am not usually one for early morning starts.... the bay is beautiful at this time...no crowds... all the boats on the beach ....the fishermen coming in...the village getting ready for the day...and the FISH oh so fresh and not smelly (just that ‘ocean fresh smell')
WANDER AROUND A VILLAGE: We got the taxi driver to drop us off at the entrance to the Kuta village and we just slowly wandered through...seeing kids getting ready for school , people going about their daily business...a DIY gymnasium ( wooden planks as the weight bench with concrete weights on a steel pole) and it was awesome
THE MAIN ‘BIG NAME' SUPERMARKETS
RIMO (Jalan Diponegoro 136 DENPASAR) 4 floors of technology, computers, electronics and all the other gadgetry to make your mans day (or yours if you are the type of female that is a geek no offence) also known as Rimo Trade Centre or RTC
CARREFOUR- there is 2 of these one in Kuta one in Denpasar (I think) we went to the Kuta one (Sunset road which runs of Ngurah Rai Bypass). Everything you could want from groceries through to hardware all in the one spot on 4 floors. A more detailed report on this is in the recommendations
HYPERMART/ACE HARDWARE/MARTAHARIS/GALLERIA (DENPASAR) - this is a gigantic complex that is 4 ‘supermarket type places' in the one spot (more info in recommendation list)
SOME PRICES FOR STUFF WE BROUGHT
DVD- Got all we needed from one place in Jl Benersari near Café Enhay 10,000rp flat per disc no 'buy 3 get 1 free deal' here just a friendly helpful lady and all the new release/older movies music games
SOAP 1300RP (basic) 3500 (dettol soap)
DEODERANT 35,000-40,000 RP (men's lynx) 21000RP (women's rexona)
SHAMPOO basic 15,000 - 43,000 (colored hair shampoo)
BODYWASH 12,000RP
HAIRDRESSING- I had 2 and half hours of bliss at JONNY ANDREAN salon in the Discovery mall ( there is a ‘chain' of these salons similar to Australia's Maurice Meads) (website-jonnyandrean.com) for 220,000RP This was for a full head of streaks , using 2 lots of product as I have long hair, treatment and wash ( and head massage) and blow-drying/styling. You don't make an appointment it is purely ‘1st come 1st served' so you either get in early or sit and wait your turn (and if go away and then come back don't be surprised to find it twice as busy)
MEAL FOR TWO 68,000RP (garlic bread 2 rice dishes 2cokes 1juice 1 large water) at Café Enhay.
We paid 458,000RP at Surya Chandra Restaurant for 2 huge seafood platters (1 was grilled fresh type 1 was the fried type) 1coke 1 beer (see recommendations list)
TAXI FARE 15,000 RP (around immediate Kuta area)but we did give extra for good service but make sure you know the way back to hotel as they will try to go long way when on meter just say no wrong way go this way. We paid abit more from outer areas. It is best to use BLUEBIRD TAXI and always put ON THE METER
DRIVER FOR THE DAY around 400,000RP for 8 hours
LAUNDRY We paid on average about 38-40,000rp for a load of washing to be washed dried and folded (3 skirts 2 shorts 4mens tops 3 ladies blouses 2 sarongs 5 pairs of socks and 6 pairs of undies) so I would highly recommend to do this rather than try and struggle with the washing in the hotel sink or the Laundromat yourself plus if you get all your clothes washed the day before you leave it is easier to pack as they are all neatly folded LOL
again there will be a recommendation list just keep a look out for it