Hi everyone!
I thought it would be far too late to write up a JBR, but I was inspired by another poster who recently wrote about his trip last September. Just the one long JBR instead of a series... here goes!
We also went to Bali last September 2012 for 12 nights - travelled with a large group. Myself and my partner, my brother and his fiancee, my other brother by himself, Mum and Dad, and the fiancee's parents, sisters, cousins and best friend. 15 people all up! EPIC TRIP!
We booked out seven rooms at the Febri Hotel and Spa in Tuban. Took the midnight flight from Perth - Bali on AirAsia and arrived in Bali at 6am: fun times! Enjoyed a refreshing ice coffee at the cafe at the airport exit before getting transportation to Febri's. We were tired after our flight so forked over 200 000 to get a minivan to take ourselves and our luggage (for five of us: myself, partner, mum, dad and older brother). The others were keen to haggle and got their vans at 100 000 a piece! LOL
Upon arriving at Febri's we had to wait a while to book into the hotel. No problemo! We promptly settled in, pushed a couple of big tables together and got stuck into the bintangs. I WISH I had taken a photo - in no time the table was COVERED with empty large bintang bottles. Hilarious! We must have looked like a bunch of true Aussie bintang swilling bogans! :) It is a nice drink in the heat though.
Rooms at Febri's were nice as usual, we all had rooms on the top floor. Service is lovely as well. My partner made himself very popular tipping the bar staff each time he got a beer (he probably tipped 20 000 each drink, he is a softie isnt he?) so in no time all the bar staff are giving him high fives and rubbing his shoulder (loosening his wallet arm LOL) each time they went past him. Hilarious!
Breakfast was also lovely each day, I got addicted to the ice coffee on tap at Breakfast time. My Dad was a first timer to Bali and adored the huge ice coffee selection available at the mini marts and grocery shops. We quickly got addicted to the Nescafe iced coffee tins. Towards the end of the holiday he discovered the Gloria Jeans at Kuta Square and was delighted with the GIANT ice coffees they serve there. Delicious! We are going back next September and he reckons his first stop is going to be for a glorious iced coffee. :)
Mum decided that we was going to get a Kebaya, a silk jacket and silk pants made so we made a trip to Jalan Sulawesi for lace and silk. We decided we would fit in all of the Denpasar region activities in one day. First stop was Jodie O'Shea orphanage - most of the children were at school but the little bub was there along with a few of the young boys. So adorable. The cousins got playing some soccer with the kids - soccer is a universal language after all. We were given a little tour around the orphanage and we gave donations of toys, clothes and some cash. Very worthwhile and it was lovely to give something back to Bali.
Second stop was Ramayana. Oh my goodness! Definately going back next trip. Dad got some polarised sunglassess from the Optometrist there for 200 000 - they are still holding up well and Dad is very pleased with them. I got a bunch of baby clothes as my partners sister was due to give birth at that time. They also have lots of sweet jewellery and hair accessories so I stocked up for my niece. Best Hello Kitty rhinestone bracelets are to be had there! :) Good quality also.
After Ramayana it was off to Jalan Sulawesi. Our driver took us to the carpark and then led us through the Markets. A troup of fifteen Westerners attracted attention very quickly - before long we had hawkers selling fake perfume, sunnies and watches swarming around us trying to sell anything and everything. They got quite pushy!! Mum and I got some silk and lace. The raw silk was a rip - being noobs we paid $20 a metre and the fabric did not end up being the best quality. It started to shred as soon as Mum hand washed her garments :( We will be going to Alta Moda next time. However Jalan Sulawesi is worth a visit for lace. The range of Kebeya lace on offer is astounding. I got some gorgeous purple and teal lace for 200 000 a metre which I thought was okay considering the quality. So after getting the fabric it was a mad rush back to the car with a swarm of hawkers running after us. Oh dear! After that mad rush - that was it! Back to the hotel!
We had a lovely trip to Bali. Went to Carrefour a few times - picked up mobile phones and sim cards along with the usual groceries. The ice cream shop just out the front is quite nice, and pretty cheap :) Hit up Matahari in Kuta Square big time for clothes and shoes for my niece and for the baby on the way. They have the most fabulous childrens clothes and bargains were to be had with the sales on. We also went to the Ballet shop on Jalan Buni Sari for my niece. Mum got her ballet shoes and I got her the most adorable yellow dress (a la Belle from Beauty and the Beast) for 240 000. Was worth it, she absolutely adores the dress. A couple of stores down is a t-shirt shop called 'Gods Garden'. They have great quality t-shirts - all weed themed though! Was popular with the boys in the group. We also went to Bali Brasco. Dad was happy as he was able to get good quality t-shirts in larger sizes. It is worth going there for bathers for the little ones - cheap and very nice quality indeed. On the way out from Carrefour stopped by the bakery downstairs and got some cakes for the local kids. Mum made a friend in Linda who runs Linda's shop (up a bit from Jenny's shop in the lane across from the Green Garden) so she got cakes for her granddaughter and for the other little ones in that general area.
Also need to mention notable eats. My favourite is Tenkai Japanese restaurant in the Padma Resort complex in Legian. They do a fabulous Japanese buffet on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday nights for 235 000 rupiah a head. This is absolutely worth going to, and each time we went it was quiet. Sublime sushi and sashimi made on the spot, lovely salad bar, teppanyaki station where you can have meat, fish and vegies cooked to order, a tempura station and a fabulous dessert bar. The honey dew melon ice cream was simply to die for. Do yourself a favour and check it out. I went twice! NOM NOM!
We went to Stadium bar in the Ramayana hotel complex a few times. Watch out for the Zildjian cocktail, its 100 000 but one of those gets you absolutely plastered.
We also made a couple of visits to a lovely little Greek restaurant on Kartika Plaza, just up from Kuta Station hotel. Oh my gawd, their appetisers are lovely :) First visit we ordered a bunch of starters for dinner. Recommend the feta cooked with tomato. Also love their Shisha - best we had in Bali. We went back a second time for pizza - very nice indeed. Speaking of Pizza, my partner fell in love with 'fancy' Bali Pizza hut - we went to the one at Discovery shopping mall a few times. They make a very lovely avocado milkshake. Beware - it is VERY rich and filling! And delicious! :) We checked out Mozzarella on the Sea, everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, the food was lovely and very reasonably priced to boot!
So, the countdown is on to the next trip to Bali - leaving on 31st August: can't come soon enough!!!