Just returned back from Bali last week after almost 3 weeks in heaven!The trip was planned ages ago with 4 of my oldest girlfriends, and then a few of the hubbies had to get in on the fun as well so I had to "endure" 2 trips in one ..10 days with hubbie and another couple and then 10 days with the girls!!!
Left Sydney on Jetstar and arrived to an empty hall..perfect!We had lucked out months beforehand when we saw a deal in the paper, buy one starclass seat get the other free which amounted to being $150 more per couple than economy.
Our villa was in a little gang tucked in behind The Sofitel in Seminyak and a 100 metre walk down to the beach every morning for our constitutional! I love walking along the beach in the morning, so quiet and peaceful. We walked up past the new W Hotel one morning and all the fishermen were out on the beach. lovely 2 bed villa, only complaint was that they were digging a huge hole in the road right out the front, so reading time around the pool was accompanied by the sound of two jackhammers everyday! Mind you, with the amount of building going on at the moment I imagine many people have the same experience .
This leg of the holiday was about relaxing and enjoying our time with old friends as we all visit Bali regularly.Our first day was spent at Bodyworks where we had the full treatment body scrub, facial, mani and pedicures...the poor girl who did my hubbies toes!
Over the stay with the boys we also frequented Spa Bali ( the best cream bath I had ) and we pre booked from Oz a beautiful treatment at Prana Spa ( booked through Bali friendly for the discount). We all had the Aruvydic Package and truly I was literally drooling at the end! Although it is expensive in Bali terms, it is certainly great value compared to home and the "experience" of the over the top decor etc is lovely. I had had a cream bath in one of the Carla spas the day before ( yes, I hardly washed my own hair the whole trip!!) amidst a gaggle of loud cackling women and a bored "hairdresser" who kneaded my head like it was a 9 grain country loaf, so the comparison the next day at Prana was chalk & cheese!
We also ate out in some lovely restaurants, as usually when we visit we have the kids so we dont tend to go too fancy! One of my favourite "new" experiences was Sarong. Between the 4 of us we had several cocktails ( my strawberry mojita was yum!) and 2 courses,and from memory it worked out about $50 p.p. Food was lovely.
First time also at Matis, lovely French restaurant where we downed gorgeous passionfruit margaritas and finished the meal with a rasberry souffle..again, yum!! About $60 p.p?
Other favourites included Pearl ( the desert tasting plate unbelievable) and The Grocer and Grind.
My friend has a long standing relationship with Kumong at House of Kumongs in JL Padma, so I took some clothes to be copied which I was really happy with.
My 18 year old son had a suit made at Janoka Tailors last year, so we took it with us and had two more copied, $50 aus each! Janoka is in Poppies 2 and I have to say I was really sad to see how tacky it is getting down there. We witnessed some really bad behaviour from some Bogan Ozzies, and it seems some of the shop keepers have become more aggressive and rude....sorry just my opinion!!
For example, I wanted to get some shoes copied and so went into French Leather in Garlic Lane ( have had leather things made there in the past) As usual the guy started doing the usual banter of mimicking the Australian accent & the 1950s slang. Ok, ok I say and started to "talk business" however he just kept going on with this rubbish until I roused on him and told him that its only funny (not) for the first 30 seconds and now its time to treat me like a customer...didnt get it so I walked out!
On a happier note we spent a lovely day at Blue Point in Uluwatu. Got a driver for the day and booked "pool time & lunch" which included a towel ( I think it was $20 p.p?) The pool is set high on a cliff overlooking the ocean and the dozens of surfers who are out in the blue sea. The pool is an infinity pool and I spent hours it seemed leaning my arms up on the ledge and watching the board riders below. Lots of steps down the cliff to shops restaurants etc...I was happy to stay up the top.
The 10 days flew past until it was time for the husbands to go home and the other 3 girls to arrive on the same plane. We moved villas (OMG, in next post!!) and waited impatiently for them to arrive to begin the next part of our holiday!!!