Here is our JBR from the 5th to the 15th of March, Bee to Bali many times and this time staying at the DS.
We arrived on time in Bali with Garuda ex Perth, and were booked into the hotel before lunch, then off with our driver for some supplies. Went out to Carrefour for water, Bintangs, nibblies, and other toiletries.
Back to the hotel for a rest before venturing out for a meal and a few drinks. Went to see Suzi at the Bagus, Her husband is our driver and can be recommended. Suzi and Ketut did not know we were coming and we had told Ketut to pick our friends. Suzi was surprised also as we had warned Ketut not to tell her. Had a few Bintangs, wife had a Nasi Goering and I had the Mei Goering. It is the best after a long time.
Streets were very quiet and also hotels. It was because of the forthcoming Nyepi. The street closures because of street processions starting on the Friday caused problems with the traffic at a complete standstill at times. Motor bikes riding on the footpath expecting everyone walking to get out their way. I let a bit of frustration out by standing my ground at one stage, for a couple of minutes. There was no way he could get past. I felt a little better after that.
I will mention what we purchased at the end of the JBR for all locations we visited and details on eating places.
Saturday more street processions down to the beach and more traffic holdups. Sunday we decided to get Ketut to take us into Denpasar. Most shops on the way were already closed for Nyepi. Stopped at Unagi and a few other places on the way then Ramayama, Rimo Mall and then went to go to Tira Dewata. They talk about Australians buying out the shops before a public holiday. Balinese do exactly the same. So many there it was not worth the stop so decided to come back another day so went to Sanur to have a late lunch on the beach at the Bintang Restaurant. Great as usual. Saur was also very quiet and did not go to the Sindu markets as they are the worst for hassling the tourists. Their loss.
Monday the roads were supposed to close at 4pm til after Nyepi so took a taxi to Lippo Plazza on Sunset Road. Nothing has changed since November. Most shops still closed and a Gadgets and Gizmo show was non existant. Not going there again unless there are reports it has improved. The Shopping centre is attached to the Siloam Hospital. Walked across the road to ARC where the wife made inquiries re dermo-abrasion etc ?. Is going to look into it for our next trip in August. Then walked 100 metres up the road to Carrefour for some nibblies for Nyepi. A bluebird back to the hotel but the streets blocked off early all the way back to Kuta Galleria near Ulto Modo.
From then until the day after Nyepi we stayed in the hotel. No TV, but we had our own DVD player. Hotel had all meals but no room service. They had boarded up the windows to block the light. Everything was quiet and very little light. This was good as I had a bout of BB so spent quite some time in the little room.
Day after Nyepi (Thursday) we left the hotel late morning, to find everything still closed. The only shop open was a woman in Muslim Attire. Nyepi is a Hindu celebration. Down on the beach opposite Hard Rock, beach markets had been set up. Not a sale at all, everything was B/expensive. 400,000rp for a mens singlet. The lowest they would go. Walked down past Mataharri to find them closed until 6pm. Further down to the Stadium Bar for a cold drink before heading back to the hotel in a bluebird. At about 6pm went back to Mataharri in a Bluebird to give the wife some retail therapy for an hour or so, then walked back to the Brazillian BBQ for dinner. Full as I have been for a long time walked back to Bagus and a cold Bintang before going home to bed.
Thursday we had organised for our driver to take us up Ubud and back to Tira Dewata in town once the locals had gone. First stop was at Krisna and then Brassco on Sunset Road At Ubud had lunch at the Ubud Village Hotel. then walked to the markets to see if the work had been finished. Won't be long now and the first building will be open and then to stage 2. Back to the hotel by about 5pm and done a little packing before we went out to dinner. My BB had gone with the help of Sanprima Forte but the wife feeling a bit off. Back to the hotel early as we had to be up at 4am to get to the airport for our flight back to Perth.
Eating places.. At the back of Discovery Mall in the centre we had lunch. Have eaten there several times before and was again excellent. Stadium Bar. They are back to the old menu and was very good. Table was 7 pax and not a complaint. Brazillian BBQ, great as stated by others. Wife and I were full when we left and what a variety. Tubes in Poppies 2. Found this place last trip and was great again. Staff remembered us from last November. The Bagus Pub. I love their Mei Goering and the wife loves their Nasi Goering. Great. We also had a few jaffles when the tummy was not the best and could not travel too far. Mozzerella's above Magini hotel was great. I had the steak and was the best. Also went with a big group to Bali Beach Shack and enjoyed the meal but did not stay for the show as we had seen it before. Also ate at Wayan's in Padma Street. Club sandwich was very good. The other restaurant was on the northern side of O'cean at the end of double 6. Watching the sunset was awesome as was the meal. 4 persons with different meals and no complaints.
Shopping. We usually bring a lot of gear home to last us 12 months or to our next trip and will be interested to see if there are an additions to this.
Sanprima Forte. Best we have ever seen for BB. One with food and right again with-in 12 hours. Sold by Opotek chemists but others have their own brands with same ingredients. Two parts. one attacks the bug that causes BB and the other to stop to toilet breaks.
Kris Spray. Wife gets this for the ironing spray as many Aussies do. Many different fragrances.
Ear candles. A pair of ear candles in Australia is somewhere between $12 and $15 but we paid 6800rp (70 cents) in Tira Dewata. In Kuta they are generally about 25000rp to 35000rp.
Bokashi Rub Oil. We always stock up on it. Great for burns, cuts, mozzie bites & repellent. Comes in 4 sizes. Look it up on the net for more uses.
Ribbed cotton buds. Cheapest we found them was in Giant Supermarket, Kuta Galleria.
Joint Fit. - a lotion for aches and pains obtained from guardian chemists. Not used by me yet but friends swear by it.
Rexona screw up, underarm deodorant. Male and female. $12 AUD and about $2 in Bali
Mustika Ratu - Mundisari. It can come in either a tube (ready mixed) or a powder that is mixed to a solution as a face scrub to remove dead skin etc. Has been mentioned here on the forum and we found it in the supermarket section in Ramayama, Denpasar. They also sell a face mask - Bengkoang.
Betadine bandaids. Also get a pack for the glovebox etc.
Anti Histamines & pain killers. We always get a few of each
Biokos -Martha Tilaar- Wrinkle spray, and lotions.
Ace Hardware - I always get knickknacks that are expensive at home, Large Chamois, carwash, tools etc
Also purchased the usual "T" shirts, singlets, Muscle shirts, caps, sunglasses, etc
Had a cover made for my generator from the Bean Bag Man down by Melasti Street. Made two last year which fitted perfectly, so got one for the other generator made this time and a spare tyre cover for the caravan.
MONEY CHANGER BEWARE. I for one have recommended the money changer immediately to the left of the front entrance of Mataharri in Kuta Square. My wife went in this time and cashed $100. The money was not counted in front of her but put as a heap on the counter. Wife counted it out, 50,000rp short. She said nothing and just stared at the girl, who immediately put the other 50,000rp on the counter which was already in her hand. No mistake, deliberate. I have sent an email to the bank concerned (PT central Kuta) will let you know if I get a reply. Used the bank at the corner at Bemo Corner and the Kodak shop Legian street end of Poppies2 most of the time.
Thats it, happy to answer any questions.