Left the rain in Bali, to return to the rain in 'beautiful QLD'.
We arrived into DPS airport without a hiccup...no line ups and clear through customs and quarantine within fifteen minutes. We were greeted by our driver Made and taken to our accomodation at Pondok Mawar in Legian, just off 66 street.
We had stayed in these villa houses a few years ago, renting all 3 houses for a fortnight for our group of 10, but this time there was just two of us, so we stayed in house #3. For the first 3 nights we had the whole complex to ourselves, and even with the arrival of 1 other couple, it still felt we were the only ones there...it is such a tranquil place. Even in the downpours of rain, it was nice to relax on the large veranda listening to music, and not feeling like we were being flooded in! At around Aus$60 a night, I recommend these houses opposed to resorts, as each house has a fully equipt kitchen and ensuites off each bedroom, and there is a large pool and lush gardens, ahh wish I was still there!!
We spent our days dodging rain drops, went whitewater rafting, and even had a surfing lesson from one of the guys renting boards on the beach infront of the Alam Kul Kul in legian.
We ate at Warung Murah in 66 street(delicious and cheap!), Garlic Lane Restaurant (in Garlic Lane), Rosemary Restaurant (a new restauarant in Jl Sahadewa AKA Garlic Lane)which was divine...rooftop dining where the water features are all you hear! Had a few laughs and beverages at Billys and the Bali Beach Shack watching the drag show. We also spent a bit of time munching on Nasi Padang at the Padang Warung on Legian Street (opposite the Commonwealth Bank Office @ Melasti St).
Did all my shopping at Ketut 14 shop, and felt like we were in an aqua-duck when we went with Made Agus in his Classic Car (a glorified golf buggy) to all the surf outlets, and a downpour left the streets flooded and the car became a tinny.
We only had a week, but filled every day, although at times too wet to comprehend, and had an absolute ball.
Shame we had to come home :-(
Thanks for reading!