January 12-26. Flew Garuda, as good as ever. Stayed at Kumala Pantai, lovely as usual. Choose Y Block this time due to building going on across from NS and A Block. We actually preferred Y Block, the room was much lighter so it will be a permanent change for us I think.
The hotel only had 60% occupancy so for us it was lovely! The pool was great, no lounge hogs at all on this trip. We love the majority of the staff here, all so friendly. Used WIFI this time. In the restaurant it is free, in the room we paid 80,000rph for 5 hours and it was fast. Only a couple of criticisms and all to do with the restaurant. The restaurant needs to brighten up the breakfast a bit, its a bit boring and it needs to change the lunch/dinner menu. It has been the same for 8 years, no wonder guests don't eat there at night very much. Also perhaps it needs to make a couple of tables smoker's tables, because having the smokers right next to us at breakfast drove all other tables mad. Better still - no smoking at all!
Ate at lots of restaurants and nearly most of them are now adding 10% tax to the bill which is a bit annoying. Our favourite restaurant was the one attached to the Niksoma Hotel, Hitana (I think that's its name!). The food was great, service was good and the prices were reasonable. The other great restaurant was Korys in Poppies Lane, great food but you pay for it. Lovely setting. Did the Potato Head thing, over-rated and over-priced, food was poor. Did high tea at Bali Biku and it was a delight yet again. Found a great sandwich bar which sold great rolls at lunch time, turn left at the road entrance of KP and its just around the corner, its called Swich. Had a few lunches at the Corner Bar which is right and round the bend from the front. Great food for very cheap prices. Lots of great coffees at Mug Shots, love this little place. They also do great rolls. Had a few corn on the cob on the beach which was nice.
Lots of street kids around this time. Finding them more aggressive and pushy than ever before. Very intimating for new visitors I think. We ignore them. If you want to do something give to the Street Kids Charity, http://ykpa.org/. By giving to them on the streets we are encouraging them to stay there!
We didn't do a lot of touristy things having been there a number of times. But with our adult daughters in tow, we did do the Waterbomb park which was a lot of fun. Corn on the cob is still great there!
Think we only used taxis for the trip to the airport and waterbomb park. We walked everywhere or hoped on the back of the bike taxis which was good. Traffic wasn't bad at all though.
Eldest daughter flew on to Malawi from Bali (worked out cheaper going via Bali!) and we wanted to see her off, she has gone for 2 years (...) Had to 'pay' to get into and out of the airport!
Another holiday ended. You wait so long for it to come, and then it happens way too fast..