Have actually been back a couple of weeks now. Have been too busy to actually spend much time on the net. Our first 5 nights were at the MBR - our second stay there in an old suite room. We travelled with our 8yo son and you really cant beat this hotel for value. The huge rooms with the separate area for kids really are fantastic. We had an upstairs one this time - with a small ocean view which was beautiful. The hotel was really quite busy - compared to our trip there last November. Food a little ordinary but for the money what you would expect. Breakfast was a bit tired - and the cutlery, plates etc could do with a really good scrub. But we would definitely stay there again.
PADMA - Our first time staying there - in a deluxe chalet upstairs. The rooms are very nice as you would expect for a 4 1/2 star hotel - everything you could want - beautiful comfy bed and lovely soft pillows for a change - white fluffy towels all the usual from an upmarket hotel. The pool which I know a lot of people rave about I actually found a bit too big. The atmosphere at the Padma was very different to any hotel we have ever stayed at (this was my 8th trip). Nowhere near as friendly. Anyway we had a great time there - the sunset bar at the front from 5-7 with 1/2 price cocktails was a hit. Breakfast was absolutely out of this world, the best I have come across yet in Bali. Still trying to work off the couple of extra kilos accumulated. I really don't think we would stay there again though - we stayed at Kumala Pantai last year and the quality was nearly as good in the rooms - and a much more friendly hotel for 1/2 the price.
EATING - We didnt have a bad meal for the 2 weeks. Favourites - La Monde - we are there numerous times - a good place for lunch. Poco Loco, we had a beautiful meal there although I have read bad reports. Padma Cafe - a beautiful spot for a special meal - great service and yummy food. Legian Snacks - fantastic for lunch SO CHEAP - became a favourite. Cafe Wayan - a magnificent meal - but very busy you really probably need to reserve a table in busy times. Cafe Tekor - good value - extensive menu. Zanzibar - beautiful as usual. Cafe Sands (at the front of Kumala Pantai) - went for dessert and coffee one night - magnificent. The only place my husband became sick after was the fish and chip take away place in LEgian - he was quite crook - vomiting and took 24 hours to get over. OTherwise no bali belly really.
SHOPPING - wont go into detail - just the usual DVDS, a couple of watches - two leather jackets from Tommys in Legian which we were rapt with and we picked up a great little suitcase in Matahari for something like $30 - really good quality.
WATERBOM PARK - had a full day there with another couple and their kids - fantastic - a must with children.
We really didnt do any other sightseeing - as we have done it all before. Last year we went to 2 orphanages but didnt do this this time. Instead decided to single out a few different Balinese people we met and gave them some generous tips etc. They were so appreciative of this and really what is $20-30 a pop to us - we spend that here sometimes on lunch out. It does give you a good feeling adn to them that amount of money is huge.
All in all we had a fantastic 2 weeks - weather was absolutely beautiful 32-33 each day, nice cooler evenings. Loved the beautiful people of Bali, the long walks along the beach early in the morning and again of an evening - not having to get dressed up to go out like you need to here in Oz, sipping cocktails or a Bintang at sunset, in general the whole atmosphere - I truly love Bali and it's people and look forward to planning next year. Hopefully my sister is having her 50th there - so that will be great.
Mandy