JBR - 17 March - 31 March
PROS - I found the best babysitter / Nanny on this trip !!!!!!!!! (more later)
CONS - Jetstar ....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hmmm .... What to say here? They let us down big time on this trip. Flying from Cairns to Denpasar and they contact us via text message the morning our flight is supposed to leave and let us know that the flight has been cancelled. It was Friday 16 March. We then call the call centre to be told, 'Sorry, you cannot go until tomorrow now and no we cannot help with accommodation or any inconvenience'. Not a good start to our holiday when we are travelling with a one year old and were about to walk out the door to the airport!
This was the first of a comedy of errors by Jestar and I will never travel with them again - ever. I would rather fly to Brisbane and go Virgin after this debacle.
17 March - Arrive Kuta and stay at the Bali Rani hotel for 1 night. There was a massive storm this night and they were doing construction at the hotel so most of their plywood boards etc were strewn all over the place. Nice enough hotel but not much different from the Bali Vira etc.
18 March - Shopping trip to Carrefour and then in with our brilliant Driver Made Mangku and off to Tulamben. Staying at Tulamben Wreck Divers (wouldn't stay anywhere else up there) and the chance to yet again dive the Tulamben Wreck. Love, love, love this dive site and the staff at the hotel are like old friends now. They were so happy to see that we had a baby since we had last visited and everyone treated our son like royalty.
22 March - Back to Kuta and staying at the Kuta Royal Villas (Ulung Villa). Great choice because we had a baby in tow this time and the Villa was huge!!!! 4 bedrooms / 3 bathrooms / Pool and for the grand sum of $185 p/n. About 10 mins walk (if that) to Jl Kartika and next door to the Best Western behind waterbom park. Great location and very secure and friendly complex.
23 March - Nyepi Day. Eek! Just wanted to get outside and go for a walk and some shopping but of course could not. Not a nice feeling being locked away all day. Understand and respect the tradition but still hard to do.
Rest of the trip - Bali Safari Park. Had a great time as always and was nice to take our son with us this time! Kuta Green Water Park at Uluwatu is great but a long drive out of town. Hard to get a taxi back so better to arrange transport yourself. Waterbom was shut the whole time that we were there for maintenance. Also went to Lollipops on JL Sunset and it was great but pretty expensive for Bali standards. Regardless, our son thought it was fantastic.
Did a day trip to Ubud and bought several dresses in Seminyak as well. Puspito is a great store for summer dresses. Was very strange taking a first timer as I had to do all the touristy things over again. Never happened before.
Spent time down in Sanur as my husband did a dive specialty course with Crystal Divers and they were superb. Highly recommend them for Day trips and courses!!
I love Sanur and cannot get my mind off staying there again. Good (real) Coffee and great little stores to wander in and out of. Kuta is great but Sanur is a little quieter for my liking. The beach was spectacular and very clean.
BABYSITTER / NANNY -
I went over with apprehension on this trip as I had never done it with a baby before. Through a lady on this forum I was recommended a Babysitter / Nanny named - Rini. Rini was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING, so much so, I wanted to bring her home! Rini looked after our son better than his own day care (which I have always thought were great). Rini can swim really well and she took our son down the waterslides at Kuta Green Waterpark!! Do not even hesitate to use this lady to look after your children. Rini has a website (which is on her facebook page) and can be contacted on +62 85333031754 or search on facebook "Balis best babysitting".
I have left my email open so you can email me for contact details of our driver or Rini or if you have any questions.
Danielle