Arrived Friday night flying Jet* from Melbourne, upgraded to BC and we think worth the extra $200! Pleasantly surprised by the short queues, but $50 Aus each for VOA? Seemed like it was just rounded up for convenience!
We were met at the airport by our long time driver and friend, Made, who had an esky of ice cold bintangs waiting for us.
Staying at SGI in Poppies1, not much has changed since we were here last May, all the same familiar smiling faces. Woke early Sat morning, still on a Melbourne time, breakfast at SG then out to greet the day.
Changed some $ at our usual place, rate was 9990, had a long chat with our man there, had our first massage for our holiday at Jennifer's, then on down poppies toward the beach, stopping regularly to say hello to familiar faces along the way.
Had lunch on the beach, delicious Mie Gorang $2.50 then around the corner to visit our friend Gonn in the Kuta Art Market. After a long catch up and the obligatory Bintang or 2, we walked back along the beach to Eddies Bar to find our nephew and his girlfriend already there. Met up with all our favourite beach Ladies, and caught up with all their news re family, kids, Grandkids etc.
Whilst on the beach it started to rain, so up went the tarps, then it got very windy, we persevered for a while but after becoming quite wet we decided to call it quits and walked back to our Hotel, for the first time in 20 years I wished I had brought a jacket with me!
We were pretty tired by then so decided to go to TJ's Mexican for dinner as it was close by, 1 bintang, 1 Mojhito and 2 mains for just over $20 and very enjoyable.
First day down, 13 to go, a lovely relaxing way to start our holiday, cheers.