Our 4th trip in 12 months so this was a short break and to see a Bali friends new baby.
Got the $159 return special from Perth and departed about 11am on J*. We were a bit late leaving but on time arriving in Bali. Flight was uneventful except that the flight lacked food and drinks. First time with J* so not concerned.
Visa was quick and I paid in Rp = 486,000 for two persons, but Immigration a bit slow with the snake type line, Baggage and straight out. Touts asking for 300,000RP for taxi to Legian and would not go below 200,000Rp. I offered 100,000 which was refused. When we finally got to the window I paid 80,000rp. Our actual driver was one of the ones who was asking for 300,000rp so he missed out.
Traffic from the Airport was horrendous. Road works everywhere and Police directing everyone down back alleys. Took almost an hour. Booking into DS was quick and we got the superior rooms we asked for. Same staff as before and good to see a friendly face.
There were 4 of us and one had bad hips/legs so did not walk too far and used Bluebird taxi's daily.
Restraurants we ate at were
MooMoo's, on Melasti Street. Has a good menu, cold drinks and all meals were great and prices reasonable.
Tubes, on Poppies 2, we have passed this place many times over the years, but a friend who returned recently recommended it for price, variety and quality. We actually ate there 3 times this trip, and I was not disappointed. BBQ spare ribs and seafood platter were my favourites. Prices were excellent.
Kori, in Poppies 2 was also great. We went there the night the power went out and they were running on an emergency generator. Food was good but more expensive. Drinks were not the coldest and the power had only been out 10 minutes so that was not an excuse. Would prefer Tubes to going back to Kori again.
Oops, in Ubud, opposite the markets facing the new construction work. Service was a little slow but meals were excellent quality and size. I had "drunken spare ribs" and they were excellent.
Kopi Pot, on Legian Street was also good food and cold drinks, Service was great and up to the quality and price of those mentioned above.
Poppies Restaurant, in Poppies 1 was also great, Almost empty but as Bali was very quiet at the moment it was not unexpected and the price and quality were up to their normal high standards.
Stadium, on JL Kartika are back to their old menu, The Club sandwich, Nasi Goering etc and Pork Ribs are back. Friends had a Pizza and they stated that it was the worst Pizza they ever had anywhere. I had finished my club sandwich by the time their Pizza arrived. it was a basic base with sauce and a piece of meat on each quarter. Did not look appetising either.
Mozarella's in Padma is still excellent food and service. We were going to go to the Mozarella's above the foyer in the Magani Hotel, but as most would know there are lots of places to eat and we ran out of time.
Many other snacks from other places, but these were the main meals and I must say over the years the quality of meals has improved.
Shopping.
We had our driver do the sunset road shopping strip for us, First was the New Lippo Plazza. Just opened and promotions everywhere. Shoe shops, Apple shop, Electronics shop, "Same name as the one on top of Discovery Mall - electron?" Donuts, other food stalls, book shops etc. All places had been allocated and fitting out will not take long. In the basement there is a huge supermarket which is well stocked.
Further along Sunset Road we stopped at a shop we call the big dick shop because of the Brass Phallus out the front. Mainly Bali items and trinkets. cheap Don't do a dance on the top floor.
Next stop was Krisna, also mainly Bali items but the cheapest Bali Bags you will ever buy. Lots of childrens clothes and doona'sand bedcovers of all sizes. Always worth a visit. Next stop was Brasco just up the road. First ever visit to this store. Upmarket clothing and I purchased a 4XL shirt. Lots of 100% cotton singlets and "T" shirts. Has a Massage place on the ground floor. Worth a visit.
Haviana's is further along. Brand name of Thongs and other surf type footwear. Not my kind of footwear. Good to take the young ones but they tell me that prices are only slightly below Australian prices but I know nothing about them so I don't know.
Next was Biarritz. Sister shop to Geneva but 100% cleaner. Same sort of items, table runners, table trays, wooden items, stone carvings, etc and well worth a visit.
A 'U" turn up the road took us back to Carrefour on the opposite side of the road and back a couple of blocks. Most have been there before, and we stocked up on nibblies, toiletries, drinks and a small carry bag for the tablet. Got heat rubs and betatine bandaids from the chemist on the same floor. Icecream and slushies on the way out. All this took the best part of the day.
We also visited Matahari in Kuta, and Bali Galleria. Has not changed much in the last 6 months. Whilst at Bali Galleria went to Ace Hardware and the Hypermart. I am always looking for something unusual. Wife bought an electric incense heater so now no more tea candles to keep the oil warm. Also a couple of electric plugs to make a short extension lead instead of cutting the plug off. Had lunch at small restaurant on ground floor under the dentist. Not many westerners but food was good. Wife said the salad was a bit old? Flapjacks outside have changed their menu and now catering for sweet tooth only.
Visited many other places including Saur and Ubud. Shopping also at Giant Shopping Centre, Mitra10 hardware, and Tegalalang.
Denpasar. = The usual visit to Denpasar, Ramayama, and Rimo Mall for me. Looked for covers for a HTC phone but no chance, Even dedicated shops en-route to Denpasar had nothing. Bought a 500gb internal sata drive at Rimo for $65 with the cables, and had a USB card reader thrown in. Not sure of the price at home but close. No wasting fuel at home. Going to try Windows 8 before I do the complete change.
The main reason for our trip was to visit our friend from Bagus Pub, Suzi and her new baby. Spent a couple of hours with all the family, cousins, aunts, etc, etc up at Siangan village. Great day wife had her cuddles with Komang. She didn't want to give him back. Suzi's husband Ketut has been our driver for many years.
Back to the trip and Schoolies
They started arriving about the 15th of November. Most from Queensland. Day one they hit the pool, Bintangs and cocktails. Hot humid Bali soon sorted them out. By day 2 they had come back to the field. One bloke from our hotel flew home after 22 hours with a severely broken arm, courtesy of a motor bike. They wanted to operate in Bali but he went straight home. Many on crutches over the next few days. Muffler burns, and gravel rash were common. The Australian hotel manager said that schoolies had frightened a lot of people away from Bali during Schoolies weeks (different states different weeks) That is the reason I think is why Bali at the moment is so quiet. Although they did not effect us except being noisy at restaurants blowing bloody whistles. I must remind myself never to book November again.
Roads. The roads to and from the airport is mainly back alley's. Narrow, and too many motorbikes. Work on the big roundabout is progressing. When it going to be finished - how long is a piece of string. Work is progressing on the bridge and road from Benoa to Nua Dua. You can see all the pylons sticking up at the end of the runway.
We shall return
Thanks for reading