Well this is our first ever JBR we are new to BTF with thanks to a good friend from work. The last 6 weeks before we left we spent many hours here researching where to go and what to do. We are not first timers to this wonderful paradise. Me this was my 4th time and my partner his 8th. Things have changed so much everytime we go.
Well let us begin we departed Perth airport 1 hour late due to Garuda airlines having avgas spewing out all over the tarmac and the passengers needing to be placed on both the other Garuda flight and our Qantas flight to singapore. Even with this delay we still arrive in Singapore only half an hour late. Straight through customs and immigration and in the taxi to the Carlton Hotel within 45 mins. Once we arrived at the hotel we decided to not waste any second of our 27hour stop over. time to start on this shopping spree and take advantage of the great singapore sale. Off to the Simlim Centre to check out the portable DVD players for all the DVD's we are going to get in Bali. But was disappointed with the prices as they really were not much cheaper than here in Perth even with the exchange rate. After much shopping around we picked up our best bargain a small palm organiser with currency converter. For only $18 AU this would turn out to be a great asset in Bali. Off for dinner in a small market and then down to the Raffles for the Singapore Sling. As you have to do. The next day was spent shopping in Chinatown as the prices are half that of Orchard Road.
Back to the airport and off to Bali we arrived at 9.30pm and were prepared for the long wait at customs and immigration. To our delight we were through within an hour again got a taxi for 25 000rp to Alam Kul Kul in Legian.
This hotel is fabulous for those with no kids very much the boutique hotel. Excellent facilities and very clean and spacious.
Day 1 First day out to explore our new surroundings as neither of us had stayed here before. Melasti street and the market stalls along there are still the same as many years before headed around to Jl Legian to get money changed. We got a great rate at 6450 now were ready to start shopping had to check out all the shops along Jl Legian had a great time in and out of all the shops. Grabbed a driver and headed down to Sakura DVD's in Kuta with our 4 A4 lists of movies handed them over and the girls went off to get them. I sat at the tv's checking whilst they collected. We paid 15 000rp each buy 10 get one free buy 50 get 20 free. 100 DVD's later with sore eyes and butt from sitting down so long we took them out of their cases to save on weight and space and headed across the road for a drink. Sat and talked to a couple of NZ guys who had had a great time and were procrastinating about heading to the airport. Poor buggers just had to rub it in that we had 2 weeks of bliss to go. Went down to Mataharis in Kuta to check out what was on offer this time they had a huge sale on lots of things 50% off.
Back to hotel and over the road to the Beach for a massage. Oh we the seasoned travellers ha NOT how things change with the bargaining over the years. We thought we did really well 2 massages on Sunbeds for 150 000rp. Silly us you can get them much cheaper than that try 40 - 50 000rp being a local price and not a tourist price. But hey Im not complaining it costs me $30 back here in Perth $11 is still a bargain in my mind. Then headed down to Legian Beach Market for dinner. Colin had been there many times before so we thought this should be a good place to start our first dinner. After dinner headed across the road to Bali Aussie for drinks and to see Lee from the good advice of other forumites with regards to the $2 Bangles. 25000rp for a bangle with 2 coins and 20 000rp for a ring with 1 coin. We sat there drinking with Lee and Wyung until they sent us off down the street so that they could go home for the night.
Day 2 headed out to Mataharis supermarket in Legian with a photo to get diamond etched pendants for us both. These cost us 145 000rp approx $22 each for the 2 faces but they were 95 000 for 1 face. These will be our greatest treasures from our holiday. This is were our holiday took a little sideways step. Walking along Jl Legian Colin mentioned not feeling so crash hot so we decided to grab some Lemonade and Entrostop just in case things turned into the good ole BB. Made a pit stop at Nero's very nice restaurant with great bathrooms from what Colin says. He came out very grey in the face and we decided that the supermarket was the next stop and then a driver to the hotel for a bit of R&R around the pool. Back at the hotel and we both ended up with food poisoning not BB as originally thought.
Day 3 12 hours later and very sorry for ourselves as we were totally drained of energy we headed out to shop again this time much slower. We also found a short cut to Jl Legian which saved us about a 2 km walk. Back at the hotel our Transport arrived to take us up to Ubud.
We arrived in Ubud at Tjampuhan Spa around 1.30pm from other forumites I now know that we were lucky to get to stay in Bamboo 4 this was only 39 steps to the lobby and breakfast. The security on the doors made us laugh as they are only a large padlock, and once inside it is only a wooden slide bolt to hold the door shut. Oh well thats what we get for being in the mountains. Off to explore the markets and the main street. The Markets were good but a little startling as the stall holders would grab your arm and be very hassling to get you to look. We were shocked at this as they werent like that in Legian and Kuta. Both places were busy with tourists. Ubud more with Japanese and Europeans we didnt see many other aussies whilst up there. Went to see a Legong dance at the Palace near Cafe Lotus this night and then decided to go to Ary's Warung across the road for dinner. Wow were we in for a shock this place is 5 star and well worth a meal if you are there. It was our most expensive meal of our whole holiday but in comparison to home it was cheap approx $100AU. For this though we got a really romantic setting and an eight course meal. It was the 5 star big plate small serve style but after so many courses. I was full before the last course. Just before dessert Colin asked me to marry him. Good onya Samantha I burst into tears what sort of a woose am I big tough me that had said for years I will never get married again not for anything. Blah Blah........ I said yes.
Day 4 We decide after a very nice breakfast that we are going to enjoy the spa facilities and treat ourselves to a traditional Balinese Boreh with Swedish massage. For $71US per couple we both head down the long way to the spa. After much laughter about where this is we finally find ourselves in the most amazing grotto of carved stone. Following a young balinese boy and girl we arrive in a small 3 sided room with an amazing view of the forest and river. 2 beds and a bath are all that are in this little room. Not that I am a prude but the thought of being naked in front of the young balinese boy wasnt really in my plans. Colin thought it was funny until the boy told him to get his gear off as well. This 2 hours was the most hilarious experience we had between us. It was also, not including the embarrasing bits the most enjoyable. Once we had been washed off from the Boreh we headed into the Spas and sat there for hours enjoying the view and the warm jets on sore muscles from the stairs.
Later in the evening we headed off to the other streets of Ubud and checked out some more shops after doing a big loop eventually ending back at Cafe Lotus this time for dinner. Again there was dancing we could see from the restaurant this time it was the youngsters being taught the dances.
Day 5 Again after a very nice breakfast. One of the drivers from the hotel took us out to one of the compounds were an artist lives that they new. We had seen some paintings at the hotel of a blue fairy wren from home. I have a collection of these wrens in many forms. One of these paintings to add was now on my shopping list. After much bargaining I was pleased to walk away with the painting. It will look fantastic with the rest of my collection once I get it framed. We headed back to the hotel and packed again. This time we were heading for the longest part of our holiday Sanur.
Arrived at the Paradise Plaza hotel. Wow now this was more like it. It is rated at 4 star but I really love this place. After a quick unpack I am ready to explore our surroundings as this hotel we didnt get any meals included we decided to find out what was around locally for eating. We walked out of the hotel and found the greatest find of our holidays in the form of restaurants Retro cafe Breakfast for $3AU and it was huge this meal would see us through the day and not need lunch except maybe a snack. We walked through the grounds of the Grand Bali Beach Hotel and again not many aussies. We walked along the beach and saw hardly anyone. Both of us were saying what on earth is going on where is everyone. After Kuta Legian and Ubud we expected so many more people. As we got close to Sanur Beach Market the stall ladies started come and see just looking was all they would say. We said no thank you and kept walking in shock at the lack of people looking down the aisles at the Sindhu markets there was noone for 2 hours we wandered around and didnt see any other tourists. Made our way to Tootsies and bought heaps of shoes for 15 000, T-shirts 15-25 000 depending on what they were. Sarongs good qualitie 18 000 shorts 20 000. After leaving here we said maybe we should have shared it around a bit more with no one else being around. decided to see what it was like tomorrow. We went around to Tootsies DVD and met the most amazing young man his name is Harry. He was just so happy to see someone and talked to us for ages with no sale. We left our list with him and said we would be back. Stopped at the Sanur Beach Markets for dinner. Then walked back via the street to the hotel.
Good night for now more to come over the weekend..........