This is my first JBR, so I hope its not too boring.
Anyway, returned late Saturday night after spending a week in my favourite place.
It was the first time that the family had been back for 5 years so we saw some major changes in the city and its infrastructure. Luckily the Balinese people were as lovely as usual.
Flew Garuda and splashed out on Business Class. Flew the new A330-300 planes. HUGE room and great service. Both flights were on time and an easy ride. The trip home was so good in fact that we were disappointed when we started the descent into Perth! Cant say Ive experienced that before.
Before we left I posted a message asking about the Executive Class lounge at the new airport and was told that it had opened upstairs. Sorry folks but no such luck. Still the small area cordoned off on the main floor with a few cursory attempts at graciousness (hot towels, a few cold soft drinks, a few bain-marie's of Death. We saw no booze). When I questioned the two bored looking desk staff if the new "official" one had opened I was very quickly assured that this was as good as it got! Bummer.
Stayed in Jimbaran at the Belmond Puri for the first time. A nice little resort right on the beach but overpriced in our opinion. The staff were its greatest asset and nothing was too much trouble. Seeing as it was the low season one of its two restaurants were closed which really limited our choices. Having said that the food overall was of an exceptional standard.
We tried several restaurants we had been told by many about; Cuca, Merah Putih and Papaneros as well as the usual fave Trattoria.
The Italian joints were both good and Trattoria never lets you down. PepeNeros in Jimbaran was a first for us and the food was great. Enormous serves so great value for money. I was a little shocked at seeing people smoking at their table there as Im so used to restaurants being a smoke-free zone. Was off-putting while trying to eat.
Merah Putih was sensational! Beautiful looking place, fab service but the food was better than I expected. Small tapas style but great flavours and a nice nod to Indo food. Extensive wine list if you really want to splash out (we stuck to Bintangs, around RP 400,000..)
Cuca was the restaurant that we were most looking forward to and a very quick 5 min walk from our hotel. We had been told again and again about this place and TripAdvisor reviews left us gasping at how amazing it sounded.
We hated it....
Small, overpriced and generally the flavours missed the mark. Savoury dishes that were too sweet, desserts that were too sour. Sometimes I think chefs decide to be clever for clever's sake and lose their way. Plastic serving bowls (we're not kids) and no set places - just a box of cutlery that you throw around. We were probably spoilt by this time, but I don't think it takes much to set a table and have some level of service to your guests. 6 of us and the bill came to around AU$350 which included 3 cocktails. Really came away disappointed.
The week flew by and as usual missed out on places that were really wanted to get to.
The boys did Waterbom park and loved it as usual.
Getting around was easier this time it seemed and the new tunnels and overpasses etc were a strange thing to see in my old Bali. Still it seemed to help.
The whole Bali 9 thing was a major talking point that week and the fighter jets that accompanied their plane were practising and diving around the airport for days beforehand. They flew over the airport and dipped their wings the morning they had transferred them. It was a weird thing to witness knowing the intentions behind it.
We were amazed by the new airport which seemed to be of little if no improvement on the old one. Had a bit of a cock up with immigration on departing and had a real struggle on our hands with an officious desk clerk who sent us away to re fill-out our cards then promptly shut the desk and nicked off only to have us shouted at by the guy at the next counter for holding everyone up!
Did very little shopping as the main agenda was relaxing and unwinding and adding a few more kilos to our frames. Definitely accomplished all 3!