Let's go. Please be advised that not all will agree with my views but they are as I saw them at the time.
Background. Travelling from Melbourne on Sat 19th for 13 days with 5 flying Australian Airlines.
Flight great. AA were fab. All on time and extremely friendly. FOA long as we were at the back of the plane despite arriving at the airport 3 hours before. But we were in Bali and loving it. It was hot waiting though.
We had booked via email a driver ELVY'S. Not knowing exactly what to expect he turned out just fantastic. His van was big enough to accommodate all of us + all of out luggage which was great as if we used the taksi we would've needed 2. Off to Discovery Kartika Plaza.
Most impressed as we pulled in. Foyer looked grand and was looking forward to our 2 standard rooms one with extra bed. Well 1 was not ready and as I had emailed ahead of time to have 1 room with King bed and the other with King + extra single and rooms adjoining was a little disappointed with that one was twin and could not be changed and the rooms not together. We jumped up and down a little and finally got adjoining rooms but the bedding for one was still twin. Anyhow the rooms were adequate but very tired and in need of a good paint and bleach in the bathroom. Other than that the hotel was magnificent. The facilities are great and I would stay there again in a second. Had a free 45 min massage for all, 2 free dinners ea, 1 drink at swim up free ea and great free pool towels.
I won't go into what we did each day but just make some general comments.
Roads:
Were shocking and as 2 of us were first timers I hope they were not put off. It was quicker to walk to Kuta than catch a ride. We like the eats in Legian and Seminyak but it was often to hard especially as they made Jl Kartika Plaza one way (sometimes) which meant you couldn't even go the long way!
Events:
Got married whilst there and it went great. It was a surprise to the others travelling with us and to everyone at home. Trying to explain to the Balinese that it was a secret was very very hard but it worked somehow. I had a traditional dress and we hired 2 helicopters to take us to a secluded beach near Uluwatu. I do another posting in more detail later. Elephant riding was magical. It was not at the Park at Taro but somewhere near Sanur. Bird Park was great also and really cheap. Jet skiing was loads of fun for those who participated.
Waterbom was the usual great afternoon but eating there is a total disaster. The ordering system was really frustrating. You have to go to the food section to order what you want. This is written down for you and then you're told to procede to the cashier to pay. You then have to go back to the food section for them to fill your order and it was absolute chaos. NO one knew how to order and there was much confusion so if you're going, eat before you go.
Lembongan Island with Bali Hai II was a nice day out. I had read to take the tablets offered on this forum and as it turned out it was the best advice for the whole holiday. We took them when leaving but not many people did. At least half of the people on the ship were sick. On the return we had to ask them for the tablets again as they were not offering and many people again were sick but not us. It was a great day though and the snorkelling was good but I was surprised that the water was pretty cold.
Witch Doctor which I had read about on this forum had a visit from one of us as she has a cough which will not go away and there is no apparent reason for it. She had tried everything to get rid of it so it was worth a shot. She was really impressed with him and I don't think many tourists got to him. He pushed a bone/stick under the skin in one of her toes and did some other things then put some herbs on her chest, gave here some potion to rub on her body when she got home and had a shower. Well we were all confident this was going to work...... She's still coughing!!! Elvy's went in also and had a treatment. He didn't comment too much though.
I think that'll do for this instalment as there is still much to tell.
Cheers,
Jody (Baliwed)