Hey Guys..
As promised here is my, not so interesting, but hopefully useful, JBR.
Departed Sydney on 19th December, flying Virgin (Pacific) Blue. The flight was about 1 hour delayed out of Sydney and no real explanation given by airline. Plane was a bomb of a thing, with 3 seats on one side and 3 on the other. Seats ripped and torn, and recline was minimal! Flight time was 6hrs 15mins - I don't remember it being that long! Food service was good, but expensive really and nothing was for free. By the time we arrived I think we had spent $50+ on food and drinks, namely water!
Arrived Denpasar at about 2:30pm local time and proceeded to head to the smoking room for a quick smoke, before going to get the VOA and join the queue for immigration. Paid for VOA in AU$ and got change in Rupiah. Finally made it through immigration and our bags where waiting on the floor, having been taken off the carousel. This process took approx 1 hour 15 minutes. Porter tried to offer his assistance; I just laughed and said 'tidak'...... Decided to change some money at the airport, just to save the hassle of having to try to find a reputable money changer as soon as we hit the ground. The rate was 8600 at the time, which was a little less than we could get on the street at the same time, for the convenience and ease it was worth the loss, which was minimal!!
Made our way out the front to be faced with the hoards of people holding signs with names etc, we proceeded to the taxi counter and purchased our voucher for 'Legian' - 55,000 INR. Driver swept us off and drove us to our destination - 'The Three Brothers Bungalows'. Seamless, too easy process!!
Checked into the Bungalows, and room was ready, staff at reception seemed friendly enough but not over the top, or too excited to see us! But certainly not rude by any means. Upon our arrival I checked again about returning post our trip to Ubud..... 'sorry mam, fully book already'.... they seem to run a strange system, which I'm yet to understand but will tell you about later!
The place is rather large, with reception at one end and the restaurant at the other (Jl Padma Utara). The gardens are groomed and very lovely, it is dark at night time and seems like you'll never find your way in or out of the place! But somehow you do! The staff carried our bags, and walked us to our room, which was down the back near the restaurant, and close to the pool. It was upstairs and it was lovely. Newly renovated, with King Bed and outdoor style shower etc. A/C worked bloody brilliantly and had a small fridge and TV, with some international channels. Room was cleaned every day, with fresh sheets, towels and toilet paper supplied. Staff where friendly and at tentative to our needs. Had washing done at the hotel and always came back smelling sweet and no shrinkage, colour run problems!
That afternoon, we decided to go for a wander around just to get a feel for the place. The location of the hotel, in my opinion was very central, but far enough away from the main drag. We headed off down to the beach and walked right up to Poppies 2. The beach was disgusting and full of rubbish, plastic bags, chip packets, you name it, and it was washed up on the shore! YUK!!! The surf was rough as guts and it didn't look appealing at all! We didn't return, with the exception of NYE.
Walked down Poppies 2, out to the monument on Jl Legian, checked that out then wondered down Jl Legian, passed by the Adhi Dharma, which is where I stayed 15 years ago!! And had a bit of a laugh at how much things have changed, and multiplied!! So many more shops, restaurants etc etc....crazy town! Worked out during this process that Kuta is not my cup of tea!! The stall/shop holders are so much more aggressive up this end of town, they are so cheeky, bordering rude and insulting to be honest!! Got asked for massage, pedicure, manicure, plait your hair, hab look shop, Billabong, Quicksilver a million times, oh and transport, but not in the direction we were walking.... Go figure!!
Went to bed early that night, after dinner - but I can't remember what / where we ate!!! Sorry!
Next day, got up and had the breakfast that was included, which was eggs (1) scrambled, sunny side up, boiled or omelette, baguette toasted with butter, jam, honey, fruit salad, or OJ and tea/coffee. Now whilst this was VERY basic, it was yummy, tasty, fresh and quite edible. I didn't mind it, but overheard some others asking for two eggs, to be told that 'only one egg sir'..... !
Hit the streets, went on a mission to find the Tailor and Tommy's leather shop. Went to Komangs on Jl Padma, showed her my tops and she suggested Alta Moda for the fabric, so off we went in a taxi. Got there, my god, it is overwhelming to say the least.... it is three floors of fabric and it is insane! So much choice that it is confusing! They didn't have my 'viscose' fabric, but managed to get some other stuff and returned in the taxi to Komangs, with fabric and tops, gave it all to the lady with instructions, got a price, didn't negotiate, as it was so cheap anyway, paid deposit and left. Wandering down the street, saw Tommy's leather shop, WOW! They have some amazing bags in there and after some time, ordered a bag and a wallet, paid deposit and left. Went back to hotel for a swim and laze around in the overcast humid weather! Headed out in the afternoon, as thought we should try to investigate some accommodation options for our return to Legian on Christmas Day, checked out a few places, but most except the Lumbung Sari was full. Made a reservation, no deposit required and left, proceed down the road, and saw the Amaris (new hotel) and checked that out, it was cheaper than Lumbung Sari, and was just brand new and opened; decided this might be a better option, so booked there. Realised that Mugshot coffee shop was right there almost next door and had a coffee. Met the owners a couple of Aussies that a real hoot! Chatted to them for ages and ended up having dinner with them that night at Warung Malang - bloody delicious and cheap as chips. In a gang off Jl Legian, where it is mostly locals! Was a great night!
The next day I think the sun had finally decided to shine, so after our morning walk to get out our coffee, we spent some time sitting around the pool and swimming etc. Had a shower chilled out and went for a Massage, at a place that was in Jl Padma Utara, next to the Sports Bar, it was average, and the women spent the whole time talking to each other, using their hands to make the actions rather than massaging me!!! Didn't go back! Had dinner this night at Jade Cafe, which was awesome, but don't go there if you are starving to death as Sri and her daughter ( I think) are the only two that work there, they do the orders and the cooking!! So things can take some time!
After this we mostly spent each day doing not a hell of a lot, we just slept in, swam, drank our morning coffee, at good food, met nice people and had good massages. We found a great place that is recently opened next door to the Bingtang supermarket called 'Asia Spa', it has an opening special you get a half hour treatment for free, we spent many nights here having all sorts of treatments and massages - they are open till 12 midnight!
We ate at the 'institution' Mades Warung, and it was very good and yummy, but not the cheapest.
We headed off to Ubud for a few days, we hired a driver Ketut and paid him 200,000 to drive us up there. He is a real 'dude' very aussie in his manner and the way he speaks, quite a character really and is really looking for work, having gone out on his own and bought himself a car etc etc. I have his number should you want it let me know. He also picked us up in Ubud and took as back -s same price. He told us he could take us on the way to see all the factories, Silver, Carving etc etc, but we said 'no thanks' and he was simply fine with that, no pressure to drag you off to all the places that he would probably get commission from for taking you there. I liked this aspect about him....
We stayed at Artini 2, in Ubud, it was nice. The grounds were beautiful and they did not stop pruning the garden the whole time we were there! Amazing! The room was a standalone up some stairs; I felt like a Queen, sitting up on my balcony looking down on 'the others'.... it was funny! Room nice, shower strange!! Over the bath but the shower head was mounted on the wall and it sprayed out all over everything, except me! No hot water for the two days we stayed seemed a problem with the gas bottle that they replaced three times!!!! Crazy! Oh well.....just a minor thing really. Pool was lovely and cooling, and very clean! Food at the restaurant was nice too. In Ubud, we just relaxed, read books, swam and then on Christmas Day we headed back to Legian with our driver Ketut, who picked us up promptly.
Arrived back to the Three Brothers, at the time when we left them two days before they told us that we could come back and stay with them but only till the 28th...... I said no no, need to stay till 1st January - 'sorry mam fully booked'..... 'You check when you come back on 25'..... So surprise surprise!!!! We arrive back on 25th, I said 'hello!, you remember we want to stay now till 1 January' after they stuffed around looking at their files, checking their computer etc etc, they replied with 'you stay till 1 January?' I said 'yes', some more stuffing around 'ok, you stay till 1 January', go figure!!!! And guess what, back to the exact same room we had when we first arrived. We knew no one had been in the room since we left as the fridge had been turned off!! We met others by the pool that had experienced a similar problem with them, and at the time of check out, they were told they could stay longer!!! I can't understand how they work their system, but it is a little frustrating to say the least!
B y this stage, the place had become so much busier than it was when we left, it seemed that the whole world had turned up to Bali for the New Year celebrations. I've never seen so many pissed people in one place at one time and the firecrackers, well they started about a week before New Year, and we don't just let them off at night time, we let them off all day long!! WOW! It was mad. We then had an influx at the hotel of breakfast Bintang drinkers! Nothing like washing down your scrambled eggs with a bloody Bintang! They took over the pool, the complex and the restaurant! I got chatting to them briefly, a group of young 20 year olds, I told them they had too much testosterone and needed a 'happy ending'... haha! I gave them heaps, they where good humoured! Midnight swimming, yahooing, Bee Bee Guns, Bintangs by the crate etc! Then they all hired scooters!! I hope they lived to tell the story! OMG!
So for the rest of our trip, we literally did not much at all. It rained quite a lot; a few times it was all day long! Got woken up by the thunder and the lightening on numerous occasions, it was so loud and powerful! When we could we swam and lazed in the sun, otherwise we ate and had massages.
Did some shopping, DVD's 10,000 each, by 5 million get 1 million free - seemed the same deals at most places. Bought some CD's same sort of deals as with the DVDs. They are everywhere and not hard to come across.
Bought some nice sandals from Jl Padma, there are two shops; I used the one that is down closer to Tommy's leather on the opposite side across from Komangs Tailors. Me and a friend bought 10 pairs and got her down to 133,000 per pair. I liked her shop as the soles of the shoes where leather as in some others they where plastic soles. Pushed a hard bargain with her, she was tough tough.
Bought some T-shirts - Billabong, Quicksilver etc for between 40-50,000 each. You can get them everywhere, just need to ask for them.
Bought a few summer dresses from 40,000 - 70,000 depending.
Bought some really nice Jewellery (silver) in Ubud, great quality solid stuff, cutting edge style, really different but so nice. Spoilt myself on Christmas Day and justified the expense that way! Haha! But they are really lovely but wasn't cheap!
Changed money and never got ripped off, used the guy that if you walk up to the end of Jl Padma, on the same side as Indo National, get to the end of Jl Padma, at Jl Legian, look straight across the road and there is a money changer. He was our man, and he was so honest and so perfect. His rate was comparable and usually very good. Most we got was 9090! We just kept going back to him. He always had big money and always counted the money in front of you and VERY VERY slowly - in the end, I didn't even bother to check it as he was so slow and so good! Can highly recommend him.
If you're interested in good coffee, well there is a great coffee shop on Jl Padma Utara, near to the entrance to the Niksoma. 'Mugshot Coffee' owned and run by some Aussies..... We would walk here each morning and have our coffee, before heading out for the day, and in the afternoon we would usually go for an Iced Coffee - YUM!!! As good as, of not better than my regular coffee haunt at home! If you love your daily coffee then this is A MUST!!
We had no digestive/stomach problems, not once! Which was fabulous, as I was a bit worried about that! My stitches stayed intact and gave me grief on a few occasions, but I put up with them and finally had them removed yesterday morning!!! What a relief! But I was able to swim etc so all was good.
We arrived home, after the flight departed an hour late from Denpasar, to Sydney. We got seated in the exit row, which we didn't ask for and then where disappointed to find that the seats DO NOT recline!!!! The flight was packed to the rafters and we sat upright the whole way home, we were exhausted when we hit the ground, cleared immigration and waited waited waited for our bags, one came and the other never arrived! Cleared customs with my bag and then stuffed around at the Virgin Blue office trying to determine what happened to the other bag. They were not very helpful telling us they were very busy and that if the bag was in Sydney that we should wait for it as they don't provide a courier service if the bag has arrived in Sydney we 'must wait'.... after about another hour of waiting, i was ropable, tired and the other half was crook as a dog with a flu type thing he'd picked up a few days before leaving Bali.... i told them 'you can keep the f*cking bag darling, it's full of old clothes and dirty undies!!!!' and proceeded to walk! She came back out to tell us they would courier the bag to us once they located it and was this our address..... I said 'YES' and proceed to keep walking!
Finally got home, to a good shower, no more bore water, and the bag arrived on the door step later that evening... who knows where it went or what happened to it!
I've now got the flu/bronchitis was supposed to be back to work yesterday, but not for me, crook as a dog!
We will more than likely return to Bali at some point and spend more time this time up in the mountains and down at the islands!
Sorry it's so long, hope you enjoyed it, found it useful etc.
Any questions, please ask, I'm happy to answer, help out as you guys did me before I left!