Arrived Sunday morning on AA from Perth with a friend - another arrived from Syd via Darwin that night.
First 2 nights at Grand Kumala - building work not a worry the first night as there was very heavy rain. Made up for lost time the next night - very noisy until 2am. The building seems to be going up very quickly & no wonder.
Busy time shopping for glasses, tailors & leather for my newbie friends as well as general shopping & gawking.
Then to Ubud for 3 nights staying in Ubud Bungalows in Monkey Forest Rd - lovely place. Did the Bali Off Course Rice Fields walk which was great, if more than a tad challenging at the end. A lovely way to spend half a day. Guide Wayan a hoot.
My friends share a birthday - had lunch at Tropical Bale. No longer do free pickup/drop off. The set menu has changed - no choices but the food was excellent. Only charged Rp50K corkage/bottle for our pink bubbly. Artist friend loved Neka Art Museum then to a spa for a few hours of pampering before a dance at the palace. A lovely day, although a sad one for Jan - her first b'day since her husband died last August - one big reason why we wanted her to come on this trip.
Back in Kuta now. Jan has gone to Breezes to meet up with other friends arriving from Sydney & Michele is staying on in Ubud. Found out yesterday arvo that my hubby is arriving today - a delightful surprise. Being a Tour Leader is very taxing, esp with 2 ladies who must look at every thing in every shop.
Apart from the first 2 days, the weather has been lovely - not too hot or too humid. Seems fairly quiet. Not many mozzies around thank heavens. Rate around Rp9K/AUD.