Posted by Beck on Sunday, 18. October 1998 at 21:18 Bali Time:
We got back just 2 days ago from a 10 night Honeymoon in paradise. Many thanks firstly to all the people who had posted messages in the last few months as I had checked these pages daily for new things to do and see, recommendations etc and trully, it helped me enormously. Just knowing a little but extra was a real bonus. I'll break this into catagories and all prices will be is $AUD unless otherwise specified.
ACCOMODATION
We spent 3 nights in Ubud and then 7 nights in Sanur. In Ubud we stayed at the hotel Tjamphuan. This hotel is amazing!!! It is probably only a 3 star place but to experience something different then this is a must. We had pre-paid every thing before we left so i cannot give a break down in cost but from what i could understand it was a cheaper option. The hotel is on split levels with a multitude of staircases leading everywhere - just a workout to get from the room to the foyer. Furnishing is fairly simple - no phones, no t.v - but you don't notice it. There a two pools with one being terraced and also very close to an outdoor bar. The staff are so friendly - everyone syas hello and does anything to help. The breakfasts are great - pancakes that would melt in your mouth. Check out the method for room service outside the door - guaranteed to get a laugh. Best thing about this place was the free shuttle bus for in and around Ubud - a definite money saver.
In Sanur we stayed at the Grand Bali Beach - they seem to throw in free extra nights so it does represent good value for money. Because the congress was on (Oct8-10) the hotel was totally booked out and we did not get any of the Honeymoon bonuses and were put in this dingy room as it seemed that the Congress guests were priority - after a quick talk to the Duty Manager we were upgraded with the choice of a Tower or Cottage room. If you have the choice - take the cottage. We had our own free standing cottage that was massive and very secluded - close to the quiter pools and easier access to the beach. The tower rooms are supposed to be the best - but a bit of an inconvenience to get to/from the pools and we thought that they were not that good really. The pools are great - we chose to spend most of the time in the pool bar area. The hotel offerred 50% off all food etc at that time - everything was in $US dollars and quite expensive and i think that as all locals areas are so cheap they needed to do this - as such, eating in the hotel then was affordable. There are also shops which charge ridiculous prices and tour desks to arrange your tours - also very expensive. Staff here was also very friendly.
FOOD
Bali is an eating experience. In Ubud we landed at Casa Luna which soon became a favourite spot.It is on 3 levels and absolutley georgeous. We both had entrees, mains, dessert, cocktails for me and a couple of Bintangs for him - total cost $25 for both!!!!! Needless to say we went back. We also tried Cafe Lotus - a bit disappointing and the service was not so flash. Also a bit pricier.
In Sanur the best place was near the beach market just at the southern end of the GBB hotel -I think it is called the Segara village - tables set up outside under candle light - not expensive. Total bill for both ranged from $10-2o and they do a great breakfast for 11,000 rupiah and also a full breakfast for 17,500 rupiah. There are also many other restaurant along this stretch of beach - Mango's was good for pizza, but really - there are all very much the same and alot cheaper than eating in the hotels. Just use your judgement of what looks fine to eat at. Be careful of some of the local warungs - we were told by a guide that the soup at the moment was made from dog!
Best for food - go to Jimbaran Bay. What an experience. Not much point recommending a place as there are probably 30 there and they all seem to change there price on a daily basis. Just walk along the strech, see where others are eating a negotiate your price while they show you what your will be eating. At this time lobster was more expensice at 180,000 - 200,000 rupiah per kilo, prawns 100,000 per kilo, squid 40,000 per kilo and the same for snapper. Just pick your food, watch the sunset and all the planes taking off and landing on the runway. Felt like a big beach BBQ.
WHAT TO SEE
In Ubud we found a guide - more like he found us. Nyoman who worked at our hotel part time. Believe me, the guides will find you so no real need to go looking. He saved us from the monkeys at the forest who seemed to turn aggressive. We made the mistake of going first thing in the morning - when they are hungry. Do not but the food from the hawkers as the monkeys will try to rip your pockets off in search of food. A girl was also bitten buy one. Good to have a look - but not the place for small kids.
Nyoman was then hired at the meagre price of 130,000 rupiah for the whole day!! He took us to the Honeymoon temple, to Celuk, the volcano and the temple ot the volcano lookout - i forgot the name - and also to see the rice paddies. So much to see. The volcano is amazing. There was nothing the Nyoman would not do for us - his English was great, he got rid of hawkers, knew alot of history, not hassled by the police blocks (probably something to do with the 5,000 rupiah he slipped him).
We also went white water rafting, to Mas and to Kuta. Ubud was great to look around but 3 days was enough. In Sanur all we did was relax - a good place to unwind - get a massage on the beach (good infront of the Natour hotel) and also a manicure. Massage was 40,000 rupiah and nails were 30,000.
Drivers are everywhere - we found one in Sanur that we used the whole time. No need to recommend names - just check out their van first to see that it looks o.k and then set a price. For short distances the metered taxi's may be a cheaper option.
SHOPPING
What can i say - shopping was great. In Ubud we bought alot of wooden articles - there is also good silver shops on monkey forest road. The market is also good for the standard stuff - sarongs, shoes, cheap souvenirs. Watches were 50,000 - 60,000, sarongs 10,000, sandales from 40,000 - 80,000, t-shirts 30,000 and shorts the same. Everything is up for bartering and we had alot of fun doing it. Just make sure you really want it before you start.
Celuk was good for silver, but still quite expensive as was Mas for the wood works. We were dropped off at Manis by another driver where all the prices were in $US and grossly overpriced for the tourists. Over the road was Bali Art - all prices in rupiah and up for negotiation as well as more than 50% cheaper than the competition. We spent little and left with so much. Wood has to be declared on the wau back - but all they did was have a look at at and then handed it back to us. No problems!
Went to Kuta for the day - the department store was O.K - cheap for makeup. In the street right near Matahari is a row of designer shops - bought Dolce & Gabbana jeans for $40, handbag for $20. You can get Versace, D & G. Ralph Lauren and Emporio Armani for a fraction of the usual cost - but you can reallt only get t-shirts, jeans, bags and sunnies. Elsewhere in Kuta it is pretty much the same as everywhere else - only tackier and the hawkers more likely to harass you. Definitely preferred to shop in Ubud as in the end the was no great difference in the price, but the hawkers were more pleasant to deal with.
HEALTH
Watch what you eat! I cannot stress that enough. My new husband was sick for 3 days - not bali belly but a form of gastro that gave him a fever, dehydration, bad stomach cramps, back pain etc. He never , ever gets ill and is quite fit but this really hit him hard. He was bed ridden for 2 full days and we had to call the doctor out(expensive option). A friend of ours also had this and she was vomiting for most of the time. It could have been caught anywhere - we did not drink the local water but it could have been with the water used to wash a glass, or in ice, or in the food, or even in the pool - you never know. Just make sure you drink plenty of water to keep hydrated aand perhaps get a Hep A shot just in case before. We had got tetanus shots before we left but apparently you need a few months to do the others.
Overall, despite the illneses, we had a ball! We met so many other people just by sitting in the pool, or by the bar. Everyone is so friendly and willing to talk . Definitelt pack a good sunscreen, moisturizer if you get burnt, mossie repellant ( & Stingose for when you do get bitten - and you will!) and an empty suitcase! Hope this helps somebody and if there are any questions I will be happy to answe them.
Happy planning .