Hi all. Been back since the 10th and am still suffering post holiday brain deadness. Yes the lights are on but nobody's home here. I'll give it a go anyway.
As some of you may have seen I was one of a group of 18 for this trip to paradise. My fifth trip but mostly all the rest first timers. We all arived over 5 days due to flight availability and work and school commitments.
The first 6 of us flew Garuda from Brisbane on the Monday early flight and it was all fairly uneventful. I found the staff to be a bit confused or something. They'd skip rows when serving food and drink and the same with headsets and peanuts. A fair few TV's were not working and there was no music channel to listen to. I'd still fly Garuda every time and love that leg room but that's how I found it this time. No probs with VOA. Hardly saw a porter and could have done with one this time and then onto the taxis. Again strait forward and on to Dewi Sri.
Dewi Sri was a pleasant surprise after being in a heap of traffic and dealing with the current road works problems. Staff were very nice and couldn't really fault too much. Wish I could say the same about the drunken loud mouth rude mongrels who ruined it for everyone for 4 days and nights. Fair enough party on but it's a really mixed bunch at Dewi up to 70yr olds that I spoke to and this particular bunch of idiots were "The Ugly Australians" All night every night they slammmed doors, dragged furniture around, yelled out foul language and generally ran amok. Then they left and all was well. Pity it was our last night. Ahh a full nights sleep.
During this first week and from the first day we headed out to Mataharis for food and water and also all got phone cards at the stand out side the checkouts. We changed our money mostly at the Kodak shop on the corner of Poppies II while at Dewi. Very nice money changer, nice to chat with and very honest. Rates between 6500rp - 6300rp over 19 days I was there.
During this week we called in our driver and now close and beloved friend Ketut Suparta and headed to the outlet facories and then on to Denpasar. Factories were OK not really much for us. Another visit there later yeilded more. Love Ramanyana to bits and spent up big on my boys. Needed more time there that day but had to keep moving. Wasn't really impressed with Millenia for me but man if you have litlle kids the Osk Kosh range and prices are insane.
Next morning Ketut picked us up at 5.30am and took us accross to Sanur for my much anticipated sunrise walk. We walked from the back of the Hyatt to the Grand Bali beach and it was just beautiful. The dynamic on the beach for those first few hours is just something really special to me and makes me feel like I'm really there. The kids run a long finding washed up treasures, shells and coconuts and the oldies are all out and about going about their business. A few fisherman here and there, glassy water with the reef break in view. Maybe I like it because nobody tries to sell you anything and it's just all about the morning and friendly smiles. I could really go on and on but I'll resist. The walk takes about an hour give or take.
We then had brekky at a nice but pricier little place and then off to Sukawati - what a contrast. I found Sukawati to be much easeier to get along with than the Denpasar markets. They give it a pretty good go but back off in plenty of time. I bought two fantastic paintings, a mask, more sunnies than I'll ever need off many different guys and my treasured umberellas. I bought a large one like beach size and two tops only for my smaller one at home. I also got some shoes, bags, carvings, sarongs, jewellery. It was really an easy shoppping expereince for me. That came as a real surprise.
Some prices - Paintings approx 90 x 70cm 125.000rp each
Shoes - beads & shells 20.000
Large Umberella 90.000
Small Umberella tops 25.000 each
fantastic mask with hair 50.000
sunglasses 15.000
I though the prices were good and easily achieved. Could I have done better - maybe. Good price for them good price for me - I'm happy. I forgot to mention that we had already visited Geneva after Dempasar and spent 2.5 hours there. This place is a must and we all filled a shopping trolley each. It gives you a great idea of pricing. It's really as good as everyone says. Look at Addys JBR for more details. She covers it well.
After Sukawati we went to UBUD. Ketut took us to some 5 star spa on the Ayung gorge. He sent us in all the way through to the back to see the view from thier restaurant. Spectacular. Nobody was there yet so we went mad taking photos and decided then and there we MUST white water raft. Photos taken we sneaked back out.
Back to Ubud for a meal. We couldn't convince Ketut to eat with us at any of the places we were eyeballing. We really just wanted to shout him lunch. He was uncomfortable going into those places so we insisted he take us to where he would be comfortable which was a Maskan Padang in Hanoman road. Well prior to that we used to look in on those places with fear in our eyes. After our education we were regulars. Fantastic food, cheap, cheap cheap. Not all in our group were converted as you'll read much later.
Ketut then took my boys to the monkey forest for a godd 1.5 hours as we shopped. This was a challenge to me letting my kids go with my new friend - ALONE. My kids loved him from about the first 5 mins of meeting him so I let go, let God. One of the best times they've ever had. Meanwhile we did the market thing and the Monkey forest rd thing. All wonderful but such a brain overload. Remember I was the only one not a first timer.
That night was the S&S and as it happens Sammy is Ketuts brother. We got a surprise to see each other there as we'd been together since 5.30am and never discuseed the S&S. I had also grabbed two more of the group who had arrived in the wee hours and were already checked in to Hard Rock. They loved the S&S as did I. What a beautiful sunset and part of the world. No better place I can think of to kick back and enjoy a Bintang with fellow Bali enthusiasts. I met Frank from Perth and his family, Addy from OZ, C shell and Sammy and Susie. Most had brought others with them so it was quite a decent little gathering. Most went there own way afterwards. We were taken out to eat by another friend of mine who had already been there two weeks. You know what - I have no idea where that was. Great food though. My new arrivals fell in Love with Bali quicker than I'd ever seen. Sue and Dave are there names and would win my award for the biggest go getters of the group. Sue had never been over seas before and wandered around making friends and getting deals like a veteran. Loved watching them Love Bali and have such a sensational time. They are hooked.
I'll just mention here that I had met Noosa Blue on the plane and we remained in touch. She came looking for me on the plane - blonde in brown jeans and pink jumper. Very nice person. Great sense of generosity and will be a very good JBR read. Hope she's not to humble she did some great things over there.
I'm going to sign off here as I think I've said enough for now. There's so much more to be said and that won't be. What a full on place Bali is. Beauty and the Beast.
Stay tuned for an orphanage visit, cooking class in Ketuts village, rafting, mountain biking, visit to Kerabokan Prison and more.
Happy Travels
Nicno