1 week in Bali end of March:
Arrived home on Easter Monday and caught bus to Canberra arriving at noon, gave out the presents and a couple of hours nap, mowed the overgrown lawn, cleared a path through the remains of several bikes scattered around the carport (why didn't you practice putting them together as well while I was away) to the car, with guilty party in tow drive over to pick up his pamphlets 6pm wife starts folding, 7pm assist son to deliver until 9pm, 6.30am get up to catch bus to work and spend the rest of the day deleting several hundred emails and by end of day a months holiday on a 3 week bus trip of Egypt and Jordan with a stop over recovery week in Bali on way back ...almost seems a distant memory...(note for next once in a blue moon holiday make it 2 weeks in Bali):
Bakungsari Hotel budget hotel with basic rooms and pool but now with aircon and reasonable location near Kuta Art Market and Waterbom park. $35US for room at back, pool view rooms where $5-$10 more I think, booked through their website.
Kuta Art Market - despite pre trip warnings from wife that garage is full so definitely no more market stock, a short visit to what is now a rather large shop at the front street entrance (that started as a small stall at the back 20yrs ago) to stock up on some new styles of hats, dream catchers and flower hair clips for the odd weekend market stall down the coast back home next summer.
Stone statues - Ordered a few small Buddhas and elephants for my 'under construction mini Bali garden', via Cargoku because they pack well and no breakages, run by an Australian women in Bali and a very efficient lady in Sydney, (which is more than I can say for the local packers I used for my one and only container 5 yrs ago where half the statues where damaged by the time the container got to Canberra).
Waterbom Park - after many a visit I still find drifting around the river relaxing and the tropical vegetation and ambiance enjoyable enough. However, maybe its time I started realizing I am not as young as I was on my last visit and should have given the new slides a miss. Wacked my head and foot on new water bowl ride, their first aiders looked after me well and supplied ice for badly swollen foot, fortunately nothing broken according to their Doc. I could still hobble around on it and as I had booked the bike tour for the next day a month before I left I decided to risk it.
Baik Bike tour - luckily mainly down hill and only a few short uphills some of which I had to hobble up when I didn't have my wits about me and changed to lower gear early enough. Very enjoyable day but it all seemed to go so quickly once we had breakfast over looking the volcano (unfortunately our guide told us he heard talk of a tourist on the sunrise volcano climb had just fallen off and may not have survived). We drove a bit further and chose our bikes and set off for a very pleasant country ride mainly down hill and at times at a decent pace on fairly quiet roads through small villages. The last section of the ride was on a slightly busier road. The meal put on by Wayan's wife was lovely and the explanation of family the compound and traditions also a highlight, a pity not enough time to have a beer or coffee next to the nice garden and waterfall they have made next to the dining area. A great day, with a very nice group of people, with one family with 16 yo daughter who seemed to have been to Bali every year since she was 7!!. The tour reminded of how pleasant the odd trip I did in my younger years when I would just hire a bike and head out into the country side for a day (but no down hill around kite, its inspired me to look at planning a couple of days riding next time (following a down hill route).
Ubud 2 nights at Suly Hotel which while showing its age still has very nice gardens set among the rice fields opposite a good wood carver. Alep who I have brought some fantastic metre long dolphins, whale and sharks from before (and still have one from 15yrs ago that still hasn't a crack on it), has a veranda right on the main road with a stack of tree roots on the footpath and about 10 carvers chipping and sanding tree roots. I think they make some of the most realistic looking fish, whales, sharks and dolphins I have seen in Bali. To me scenes like this is what makes Bali so unique and keeps me coming back, the amazing site of craft and cultural activities in the open often squeezed into the narrow strip between the road and rice fields.
Waterbom Park again. Even though still hobbling a bit as had a 2 day ticket, so had to get my moneys worth, but didn't go on new slides this time. Asked for an accident report for insurance in case I thought need Xray when back home, but Waterbom park manager eventually persuaded me better to have check up here at Deposer hospital -despite my misgivings and saying a taxi was sufficient they insisted on using their ambulance and a very interesting ride to Denpasar Hospital it was. No waiting and a very quick Xray at the International tourist wing (amazing seeing I seem to have to wait hours when I have had them here) proved the Doc right no broken bones only a tiny crack. The Waterbom staff were great in looking after me and the ambulance ride turned out to be a real eye opener - found out it doesn't seem compulsory to give way to an ambulance even with its siren going in Bali!
2ND Last Day Shopping:
DVDS: only 100 this time from the DVD shop in Kuta Art Market . Amazing they had every DVD on my daughters list. Forgot what I paid with the usual buy 10 get 3 free I think it worked out around 80c-$1 each. Frangipani hair clips and shell necklaces and some wrist bands in every variety - 100 - ok I admit for the markets.... This trip I decided to buy a Bali painting for the first time - paid 200,000 for large frangipani painting perfect for the lounge looking out onto our deck dripping with mobiles and the one surviving Balinese dancer statue from container (and bugger me I left it in the taxi at the airport)
Last day Ocean rafting with Adventure tours - first time on an expensive day tour, enjoyable fast boat trip to the islands, visited 3 very good snorkeling spots, unfortunately tide was not right for visit to seaweed village, visited their companies Island resort and swam in their pool which was relaxing even though it started raining so didn't go on banana boat ride but had interesting time at the bar talking to retired Aussie who lives on island for 6 months of the year, rain on way back was a bit uncomfortable in open boat on way back but not enough to dampen trip so by end day thought it was worth the money and a very enjoyable way to finish my holiday on last day (so wasn't tempted to spend last day rushing around buying stuff for my already overweight suitcase - which made for an uncomfortable situation at check in counter)....but not complaining with a window seat to myself and a half empty plane it made for a relaxing flight home...