Meant to do this earlier so it was fresh in my memory but better late than never. Headed over for a quick break from Brisbane. About my ninth trip, not entirely sure, I don't keep count anymore! Holidayed with my mate Dinger who flew in from Perth. A bit of background, over the last year or so Dinger and I have lost about 70 kilos between the two of us and are now dedicated exercisers and clean eaters. However this trip was about taking a break from the strict exercise and diet regime and just relaxing. On our return I had put on 4 kilos and Dinger 6!! Ouch! Dinger probably needed to put on a bit of weight anyway, but I have managed to hit my pre Bali weight without going crazy thankfully.
Haven't done a day by day, just broken it down into categories.
FLIGHTS
Departing Brisbane
I flew out from Brisbane with Garuda on 7th October. Originally this day was not earmarked to be disrupted by the APEC conference but we were delayed by about an hour or so in departing due the late arrival of the plane from Bali. Made up ½ hour in the air so only arrived a little bit later than anticipated. Dinger was flying Virgin from Perth. He originally meant to be landing at about 11.30pm, but was contacted progressively through the day with altered departure times. He ended up getting in at about 3.30am.
Flying with Garuda was good, nice meals and screens on the back of the seats so plenty of entertainment options. Their sound system was not that great, even at full volume but bearable. No complaints really!
Upon departure we were bussed to the terminal. Bit of a walk through to the new arrivals area. VOA and getting entry stamps was very quick, completed all within half an hour and out to get my bags. This was where the biggest delay was incurred, poor signage of which conveyor belt to use for a start and at least half hour for our bags to come through. Collected mine and made my way to the taxi stand, 80 000 rupe to the Hard Rock in Kuta
Departing Bali
All departures were from the new terminal by the time I left. Easy to get through all the checks and well signposted so you knew where you were going. The departure lounge itself is incomplete so food options were extremely limited. Free wifi due to the APEC conference kept me entertained until it was time to board. Our flight was only a quarter full if that. Most people including myself had a whole row to themselves, which was fantastic. I slept the whole way through to Brisbane apart from the last hour when I had brekky and got ready to land. Would I use Garuda again? Most definitely if the price is right! I don't consider there specials to be that cheap, but taking into account that it is full service and you get 30k of luggage, that is very appealing.
ACCOMMODATION
Stayed at the Hard Rock in Bali. I usually stay here though was going to stay somewhere different initially as I had intended on travelling solo and it is quite pricey. When Dinger said he was going to come we changed to the HR. I am glad we did, I love staying there. Yes it is a big western style hotel but it has great on site amenities, wonderful staff, centrally located and just the best pool ever! Our package included buffet breakfast every day (excellent range of choice available), $200 US food and beverage credit and a 1hr massage per person. We stayed in premium deluxe pool access rooms. This gave us access to a chillout pool (not the main one). It was nice being able to walk out and get into the pool when you felt like it, but I don't know that our usage of the pool justified the extra $$ per night. I prefer the main pool as it is where all the action is, so whilst I don't think I would take the pool access room again it was nice.
ACTIVITIES
Day Trip:
We had been recommended a driver called Komang from a Bali regular. He really was fantastic, I will most definitely use him again. Not pushy in the slightest, no commission type stops! He quite simply drives wherever you want him to take you, providing excellent conversation along the way. We had only a rough plan on one of our day trips and he was very in helpful suggesting places we may want to see whilst out and about. If we felt like a stop to grab a coffee/change money etc all the places he took us too were quality. Can't recommend him enough. Let me know if you want his details, we used him numerous times throughout our trip.
Being Dinger's first trip, thought it would be good to get out of Kuta for a few trips anyway! One trip was Sanur/Canggu Beach/Echo Beach/Tanah Lot. I hadn't really been to Sanur before and it was nice grabbing a coffee at the beachwalk and having a bit of a stroll around. From there we headed to Canggu Beach for a look and then onto Echo beach where we had a sneaky cocktail. Made our way to Tanah Lot for lunch. I did see someone complain about the restaurant there which I think was the one we went too. Certainly no complaints from us. After taking a seat they bring you a menu with prices, but you walk in to order. This was my preference as it was a seafood restaurant so it is preferable to see what the condition of the seafood is like before ordering. We got a mix of prawns/fish and squid. I could have quite simply had the squid, mixed with a chilli sauce it was beautiful!! Rice and veges were also provided. Wandered over to the temple surrounds after that, it was high tide so we couldn't go across but it was nice looking around, catching the sun and getting some photos. We actually weren't in the sun that long or so it seemed, I'm quite brown and got a bit burnt but poor Dinger did get quite sunburnt!! So lesson learned, just use sunscreen anytime you are about and about! We came back via Geneva for a quick look but will cover that in the shopping part
Bali Eco Cycling Tour
I have done this particular tour twice before and enjoyed it and thought it would be a good way for Dinger to see some of the countryside. We were picked up from the HR at about 7.00, collected the other passengers from their resorts and headed up to Kintamani for a late breakfast (our second, we did already eat at the HR. Hey, I'm on holidays!!). After that we headed to the coffee plantation where we tried the infamous Civet Cat coffee! Dinger and I were the only two that were up for it in our group of about 6. Well it was delicious!! Strong and robust but not bitter at all. Cost us 60 000 I think so not a cheap cup but something that I was glad to have tried once. They also provided a sample platter of their other types of coffees/teas for us all to taste. There was no cost associated with this. Then, on to getting our bikes and beginning the ride.
As those of you who have done the tour will know, it's not strenuous in anyway. Practically all downhill so minimal peddling required. We stopped at a Balinese compound which Dinger found very interesting, as well as the banyan tree and token rice paddy walk/picture opportunity. The last 10 mins of the tour were probably the most gruelling as you were off the bitumen riding through gravel but no dramas. Lunch was provided and was delicious. Free soft drink and a selection of hot dishes to choose from as well as a selection of fruit afterwards. I was delighted to see that they still had a Tempeh (soybean) dish available, it was in a beautiful sauce and I always hook right into this when I do the tour!
Having not done the tour for a few years, I was amazed at how much the bike touring industry has grown. Previously, we would have been the only tour I saw during the actual ride, however we encountered many other tours along the way and at the ending point there were quite a large number of us combined. Dining used to be at a small café, there has now been a big communal type restaurant built to cater for all the tour groups. That's progress I guess!
Massages
Carla's spa was located on Jl Pantai Kuta. This place was absolutely pumping so I wasn't sure whether we would get in. Only had about a ten minute wait, and then Dinger got a full body massage and I had a crème bath and foot massage. Dinger's cost approx. 60 000 rupes and mine 90 000. Cheap as chips and both good quality. We will return!
We had a free full body massage (1 hr) from the Hard Rock. Mine was great! Dinger was suffering from his sunburn on his shoulders/upper back/neck and although he communicated that he did not want these areas worked on too hard it obviously did not translate! He reckoned he had to end up going 'Ow' several times so the masseuse would let up!!
Prana Spa
I booked this through Bali Friendly (recommended through BTF) as they had heavily discounted prices, plus they provided pick up and drop off back to your hotel. Our package cost us $64 US per person and included Clay Body Mask & Steam (30 mnts) - Signature Body Massage (60 mnts) - Ayurvedic Shirodara (60 mnts), Prana Natural Facial (60 mnts). So all in all 3.5 hours of bliss!! Prana Spa is in Seminyak, absolutely beautiful set up and very professional. Will most definitely do a package on my next trip!! One thing that did annoy me was that when paying you had the option of doing it via credit card at the time of booking or else they would come to your accom 48 hrs prior and collect the $$ converted to rupiah. This was the option I chose. Paid the amount, received my voucher and a receipt stating paid in full. Upon leaving Prana Spa they informed me that Bali Friendly had contacted them and that I was $4 US short. Beats me how I could have paid in full and then still owe money, but I wasn't going to quibble over a few dollars. Something for others to be mindful of I guess!
Hiring a cabana at the HR
As stated earlier, Dinger originally arrived at about 3.30am in the morning. I got up when he arrived and we just stayed up nattering until we went for breakfast. I introduced to him to the local Kuta surrounds after that. Showed him where to get a decent coffee, changed some money at Travelex near Matahari (I always use this place, have never had any issue with being ripped off), and the shopping area around Kuta Square. Upon our return we decided to hire a cabana. Cost is 500 000 per day and you have access from 9.00am-9.00pm. We loved it! You are provided with a picnic basket which had goodies such as packets of chips, bottles of water, fresh fruit etc in it as part of the price. Nice daybeds to lounge on plus an overhead fan. A great way to kick back! As we had booked this at late notice, we got one that was a little back from the pool. We enjoyed it so much that we booked another cabana for or second last day which we made full use of. This one was overwater, in that you could walk down a few steps and be straight in the pool. It was a nice treat, and being that we had F&B credit on both occasions we ordered lunch from Splashz café on site. There is a phone in the cabana so you can just ring and order at anytime. Each afternoon the HR had happy hour specials such as 2 for 1 mojitos for 85 000 rupiah. What more could you want for relaxation I ask you!!
DINING
Gosh this JBR is getting bigger than Ben Hur so I will try to wrap it up!!
UN's - Kuta
Had a nice steak dinner here. Lots of little nice touches such as refreshment towels on arrival, free shooter margarita slushy and a free little entrée. No complaints
Mozzarella's by the Sea - Padma St, Legian
I had heard lots of rave reviews about this place so I guess I expected more. Typical pub type grub I reckon. Nothing bad about it, just wasn;t what I thought it would be. Excellent service though!
Bella Italia - JL Kartika Plaza
We just ordered pizzas here, nice enough
Poppies Restaurant - Poppies 1 lane
Beautiful garden surrounds. Spring roll starters phenomenal, mains OK
** At all the places we ate at, we had 2 or 3 courses each plus 1-2 cocktails. Average cost was $60 total
Hard Rock Café
We were feeling like a great desert so headed there one night and split a hot fudge sundae and grabbed a coffee - DIVINE!!! So divine, we headed there a few nights after this and had one each, and these suckers are huge!!! Watched the cover band there for awhile as well. Do yourself a favour and get one!
Boneka Restaurant, St Regis Nusa Dua
You really must do this the Sunday brunch buffet at least once! The package is 595 000 per person and goes from 12.00-3.00. The resort itself is absolutely beautiful! Although the lunch is from 12, they have a free cocktail hour from 11.00-12.00 included. The cocktails had a real slug of alcohol and the couple I had went down very well. Although it is advertised as a buffet, they have ala carte options that you can order as well. I don't think my description would do it justice so as per their flyer ' Our special brunch features a la carte breakfast favourites of wagyu beef steak and eggs, lobster egg omelette, egg nouvelle, Fresh oysters and avruga pearls blinis along with sumptuous lunch options including a carvery and a valrhona chocolate fountain, complemented with soft drinks and juices and a live jazz band'. It might sound expensive by Bali standards, but I truly think you get your money's worth!
SHOPPING
Nearly there guys, bear with me!!
Centro Discovery Mall -
Had a good browse, didn't buy that much. Got DVD's from the two stores there. Got a great pair of workout pants from the Nike store there for about $30.
Kuta Square -
There a couple of jeans stores there, on the opposite side of the road to Matahari on the JL Kartika Plaza end. Heaps to choose from and they always have great mark downs. I got True Religion, Versace & Hermes jeans for between $7-$10 for each pair!!! Great quality as well. They also have some great T's such as Burberry/Prada etc If you can find your size on the mark down table they are about $10, otherwise they have a huge range available at about $20-$30 each. Dinger got some denim shorts here that he was very happy with as well.
I did find a most excellent shop selling rock type t-shirts etc on JL Pantai Kuta, across the road from Get More Discs (DVD shop). Really different from the typical Bali type stuff, very trendy. I did keep a receipt so will find it if anyone wants details.
DVD's - used Get More Discs on JL Pantai Kuta, have used them before. Might get an odd bad one but generally good quality. As well as the two DVD stores at Discovery centre.
Ngurah Rai Bypass Road factory outlets
First time I had been to these. A range of different shops eg Ripcurl, Nike, Billabong, other sporting shops etc Got some good bargains here. For example Reebok workshout shirt with bra insert for $17. Half price Ripcurl jeans & a Ripcurl dress - $60 for both plus they threw in a free dress for some reason! Be prepared to spend a bit of time hunting around and you will be rewarded.
Geneva Homewares
Dare I say I am Geneva'd out. Picked up a few items eg a couple of serving platters for gifts and stuff like that. Nowhere near the amount I have bought in the past
Dianne's Fixed Price Shop - just up from Discovery Centre
Was really searching for a Hawthorn Football Club cap for my Dad as he is a mad supporter! This was just after the grand final and I had tried numerous market shops and just could not find one. Dianne did not have one either but she did have some good quality Hawks polos - $14 Au each. Dianne actually ducked out to a few other shops while I was there to see if they had Hawks caps which was appreciated, but no dice. Ended up buying a couple of shirts, plus 2 of the shorts type playsuits. I love these, they are really comfortable and look good on! Average price of each about 50 000 rupes
Well that about covers it I think! Had some good laughs going with a Bali virgin, it was funny to see Bali through Dinger's eyes. Good times were had by all! So good, we are doing it all again in February with some other mates of ours.
Any q's feel free to ask