Posted by Erin on Tuesday, 6. October 1998 at 03:18 Bali Time:
Hello you travellers,
We went to Bali & Lombok, departure sept.4th, and came back sept. 25th. We had a wonderful wonderful time!!!
Re: Lombok
We went to Sengiggi and tried if Pondok Senggiggi (low budget) was still there, last time for us was 1993!!! And yes, even a swimmingpool in the meantime, they had cheap rooms on their price-list for US 10,-- (Rp. 100.000,--, so pay in Roepia!!!) which they were giving with discount Rp. 70.000,-- for a double room per night, including tax etc. The cheap rooms have a Nice porch in front of the room and overlooking the garden. They are all bamboo decoration on the outside, looks charming!!!We had a 'deluxe" room for US 35,-- incl. everything. They have good food, wonderful staff and our on the main road in Senggigi!
GILI AIR
We wanted to go to the Gili's but didn't leave for Bangsal but booked through the Perama office in Senggigi a boattrip leaving from the Senggigg beach, roundtrip was Rp60.000,-- and we were given an extra 10% discount because we came to Lombok from Bali with Perama.
They drop you on one of the 3 islands, and pick you up any day you want in the afternoon. We went to Gili Air, and had a wonderful service from the boys from Perama, they didn't drop us at the arrival dock on Gili, but took us with the boat halfway around the island and dropped us in front of Gili Air Hotel on their beach, and they didn't want us to give them any extra money for this, but I of course refused and "forced" them to accept the tip we wanted to give for such nice service! We stayed here had a cottage for US 25,-- per night including tax and breakfast. They have beds on the beach, the snorkelling is not that great, but then we are very spoiled concerning this, but it is fun. In the evening the tables are set on the beach for a beach-dinner which was really romantic!!!
We flew back from Lombok - Bali which was Rp 233.000,-- p.person, we thought this was cheap, but the ferry from Bali - Lombok of course is very cheap, we paid from Candidasa-Padangbai-Ferry to Lombok, ;pick up at Lembar-Senggigi with Perama only Rp. 15.000,-- (U$ 1,50)for 2 people!!!
UBUD
We had a great time here, do all your shopping here!!!!We stayed in Mas in a quite new hotel which gave us a big discount because they hardly had any guests. We booked through the travel tour desk at Bali airport upon arrival from Lombok, this hotel Puri Bukit Kembar, normally charges $ 100,-- ++ 21% tax, we got a de luxe and I really mean DeLuxe!!!!! for $ 40,-- including tax and breakfast. They had magnificent staff, build in the middle of ricefields so we had a wonderful view with breakfast each morning!!!!We werre picked up at the airport for free, in the car we were handed hot towels, and we had fresh orangejuice as a welcome in the car!!!!
They had free shuttle service from hotel to Ubud, we just would give them a call from Ubud and 10 min. later they would pick us up, really great service!
In Ubud we rented bikes and toured around and really had fun!
Good coffee: go to Tutmak, 1st street to your left as soon as you see the footballfield on your left coming from Monkey forest road.
Good atmosphere and wonderful people for dinner Cafe Wayan, Monkey Forrest Road, in the front it looks like a small bakery, but go to the back and you will find yourself in a wonderful romantic garden for dinner!!!!
The Lotus cafe was a disappointment, the pond was totally empty and as they said "under renovation" would take 1 year they told us!!!!
We ate at Han' Snel Cottage & Rest., good food too (Han Snel passed away last May we were told, you can see his work too)
Ary's Warung on the Ubud main street was very nice too!
SEMINYAK
We spent our last days in Seminyak, just pass Legian and we staYED AT
Bali Agung Village and really had a great time. We had the Villa typr room but I was told that the hotelrooms were nice too. Wonderful people here and again the famous Bali service. We tried to rent a motorbike but everything was sold out for the coming days. We told the Manager of the hotel that we couldn't get anything, he made 1 phonecall and with 20 minutes we had a BRANDNEW motorbike, including insurance for Rp 35.000 a day!!!!
They have a nice pool and again good food!!!But most of all, the Staff, just wonderful!!!
We spent our last daysa sholpping, I think everyone does this in Kuta?????I was shocked to see what happened to Kuta, we were here in 1987, 1992 & 1993 and I must say Kuta has lost its charm. We did good shopping though, specially the Versace, Dolce & Gabbana stores which we cannot afford to buy in Europe!!!
We had 2 times wonderful SEAFOOD dinner on the beach at Jimbaran Bay, a MUST for everyone who likes seafood!!! Just get a cab, which is rediculous cheap (from SZeminyak we paid Rp 10.000,--) say you want to go to INTAN seafood Rest. in Jimbaran on the beach.
Get there BEFORE the sun-set, you will have 1st choice of seating, of food, a wonderful sunset with the fisherboats in front of you, really romantic and Cheap!!! We had 1 kg Lobster, 1 kg King-Prawns for $ 15,-- including salads etc. and large Bintang BEER!!!! GO GO GO!!!!!!
If someone would l,ike to know something specific just let me know!!!
I'm sure we will go back in Springtime, never had a cheap holiday like this, it realy is worth the flight coming from Europe!And the people are just fabulous!
Have a nice stay!
Erin