Where to start...? Well I left home on Wednesady 4th April to travel solo around 'SE Asia' for 2 months.. but between just you and me somehow I think I will end up spend the majority of my time in Bali!
So much for SE Asia on a shoestring.. I flew from Adelaide to Denpasar business class with Virgin. I cannot say a bad thing about the flight. Paid for the flight with points and pay and so it only cost me $450 RETURN - not bad!!!! There were only 3 of us (all females!) in the 8 business class seats and so I got a row to myself. Before take off I was asked 'would you like a sparkling water or a mocktail before takeoff?' umm, yes please! That pretty much set the scene for the rest of the flight. In addition to the great service (one flight attendant was with the 3 of us probably 90% of the time) I also got big roomy seats, a 69kg baggage allowance, food and drink on board and a travel pack with rug, socks, eye mask and ear plugs. Was a really great way to start the trip.
Flight ran 30 minutes early, must have had a good tail wind but I wasn't happy about it, yes happy to be in Bali, but 30 mins less of business class!! Would I travel business class again? If I could get the same deal YES in a heatbeat, but otherwise it is just too expensive when the money could go towards more holidays to Bali.
Paid AUD$25 for the VOA on 4 April. The visa processing was a tad slow, lots of flights arrived at the same time, maybe because we had arrived early and so I was directed to the arrival queue to the right (for locals, people with KITAS etc) help speed up the processing time. Wasn't a problem, just meant I didn't have to wait for my bags like I have done in the past.
Out through arrivals with my trolley loaded up - all 68kg's worth just 1kg under my allowance, the orphanage will be happy! - and snuck up behind my driver who was waiting for me. No idea how he didn't see me? Was very funny.
Off to Inna Grand Bali Beach (GBB) in Sanur and was checked in in around 30 mins. Was a bit slow as the hotel was at 100% capacity with a conference. Say what you want about the standard of the hotel, it is regularly at 100% capacity..
Checked in and found out my room was a twin. Called reception and no problems, I could change the following morning. Wasn't too fussed for only one night but didn't want a twin room for my whole stay (6 nights). Had a room in the garden wing on the second floor over looking the pool. I wanted an upstairs room so I could read on the balcony but I never did find the time!
Now regarding the room, (I think it is Tunaman that is interested in my GBB review) I don't have a problem with the garden wing rooms. The tiled floors are clean, the beds are clean and comfortable, the small fridges are big enough to hold a few drinks, the AC is getting a bit old but it works and the bathrooms are clean but just a bit rundown. I would never stay in the highrise and before this trip I hadn't stayed in a bungalow either. Skipping ahead a few weeks.. I checked in again to the GBB after a stint in Ubud and was told there were only Bungalows available (again at 100% capacity). So I accepted a bungalow at my normal room rate and checked in.. and then promptly checked OUT. The beachfront bungalow was disgusting, mould on the walls, bathroom smelt, lots of mosquitos, bed didn't look nice etc. There was no problem with me checking out and in fact the porter told me that they all really need to be knocked down and rebuilt. So I now understand when people say that hotel is run down and why they would never stay there again. Another point is that they seem to have listened to complaints about the cleanliness of the second pool. Early each morning a guy cleans the bottom and sides of the pool wearing a scuba mask attached to a long oxygen hose. Was good to see this happening when I got up to see the sunrise.
After checking in I walked down to visit my friend Annie at her warung but in all my excitement I forgot that she said that she was closed as she had a wedding to go to. Not a problem, walked back to the hotel and had an early night, was full anyway after eating a 3-course meal on the plane!
Was up early the next morning to catch Sanurs stunning sunrise. You cant beat the sunset on a clear morning with fantastic views of Mt Agung in the distance. Makes for great photos with the sunrise, mountain, boats and water all in the one shot.
Had a swim and then got ready for a day at the Safari Park. As I mentioned I am travelling by myself for 2 months but had a friend staying in Legian with her family and extended family so thought I would tag along with them for the day.
It was my 3rd time to the safari park and so I did things a bit different this time. I had a photo with the orangutan, had lunch at Tsavro Lion Restaurant with the group and then watched the Bali Agung show. I didn't bother with the safari ride and then I finished off the day in the water park area. My driver Kadek came in with us (was able to organize a tour guide pass as he takes a lot of clients to the safari park) and so our group of 10 split up after lunch. Kadek and I saw the Bali Agung show, a family of 4 looked around the park and then went on a elephant ride, and the other family of 4 looked around the park and then went to the amusement/ride area. We then all met up in the water area at the end. It was really interesting to compare notes and realize how different all of our days were seeing we were in the same safari park.
The admission prices went up as of 1 April. Not sure how much they paid for their elephant ride package but a general admission ticket has increased from USD$35 to USD$49. Kadek said that it is to preempt the rise in fuel costs, but the ticket now includes entrance to the 'Bali Agung' show when you had to pay extra for it before.
The show is really worthwhile. If you want to see it as well as everything else in the park you should probably organize to get there an hour earlier than you usually would. It goes for an hour and starts at either 2 or 2:30 (cant remember sorry) but it would also be an idea to not book any elephant rides at that time so you don't miss out. It was a huge stage show, similar to something that you would pay AUD$100+ for at the Festival Centre in Adelaide. 150+ performers, set changes, elephants, goats, ducks swimming in the permanent canal at the front of stage. The set and costumes were really stunning.
After the show I walked past the baby lion but didn't bother with a photo. Have had one with the tiger previously and I was more interested in the orangutan again. It used to cost Rp50,000 to have a hold of the orangutan, per person. It now costs Rp80,000 per group and you get a framed photo included. Seemed like a lot of the prices at the park have changed slightly. Rp80,000 for the lion photo is still cheap but I didn't need it and reminded myself that I would be on holidays for a lot longer than my usual 2 week trip so I shouldn't waste money.
Then onto the water park. If you had kids this would be a great way to finish the day. There is a big play area similar to waterbom with a big bucket that fills up and tips over and other small waterslides. In the second area there are 2 (or 3) bigger waterslides but I was just happy to float around in the pool to cool off.
Finished up by buying my first present.. a stuffed elephant for the family dog at home haha.. and then headed back to Sanur.
Finally caught up with Annie, was very weird being in Bali for over 24 hours without seeing her! Had my standard first meal at her warung - mie goreng - YUMMM. Sat in the warung for most of the night and chatted and caught up around customers. A bit later she dropped me back to the hotel on her scooter. A customer from Holland commented 'Annie you never drop me home after my meal' Annie commented 'You are not my sister.' Made plans to meet the next morning at the market to buy items for the warung and to have breakfast.
AAhhhh its so good to be back in Bali!