Day 1
Our plane was delayed for 3 hours .... wait for it .... because someone died on the leg from Melbourne to Sydney!! We were a bit mortified and hoped it wasn't a bad omen. The police and the coroner were called in to do an investigation and so forth. Apparently the poor soul had a heart attack or something. When we finally boarded the plane there was no air conditioning! It was so damn hot. (Almost as hot as bali itself). 6 hot hours later, we landed in Bali. We checked in to our hotel and headed out for dinner. Ahhh, our first taste of bintang beer - and it was cold! Kuta was hectic that first night, the traffic, the noise, the hawkers. But we would soon come to realise that this is the way of life in Bali.
Day 2
We woke to 30c heat at 7am in the morning, walked out of the door of our room and nearly fell over! Had a huge breakfast at the resort and negotiated our way into a taxi to head into Kuta for the day. (Taxi cost $1.50 - starting to like this place already). Well we shopped and shopped and shopped. We bought so much that we couldn't see each other through the plastic bags in the cab on the way home. Thats when the real fun started. Our first experience of "no road rules", so to say. We were overtaking cars on suburban streets with motorbikes flying at us and in one instance nearly a head on collission with a big truck. Scary stuff!!! Belinda & I were laughing so much we were crying. I think we were both really crapping ourselves though!- but didn't want to tell each other that! It was just unbeleivable. To make matters worse, we went around the round about the wrong way! These people are just crazy!
We discovered Happy Hour at the pool bar that night & $2.50 pina coladas it was! Funny thing, no matter how much you drink you don't seem to get drunk. Its just too hot and as soon as you drink it, you are sweating it out.
Dinner at Pizza Hut that night (safe food).
Day 3
Rose early, we were off to the reef for the Bali Hai Cruise. Boarded the Catameran and it was smooth 1 hour sailing out. The water was very cool but refreshing all the same. The pontoon was unreal and had a waterslide into the ocean attached to it. We went snorkelling (Belindas first time) and were amazed at all the huge fish etc. Then we went on the bannana boat. (Big inflatable tube attached to a speed boat, seats 5). They took us right out into the deep and zoomed us around. It was so much fun! We went 3 times. We also went over to Lembongan Island for a village tour. This was the poorest place I saw in Bali. It was terrible.
Special mention has to go to the night time activities on that Tuesday night. We took a cab to Kuta and asked the cab driver to take us to Poppies Lane - TJ's Mexican restraunt. We promptly pulled up in a side street and the taxi driver pointed to a dingy dark little lane and said its down there. We both looked at each other a bit wary and headed down the lane hoping for the best. We were both relieved to see the restaraunt and as we approached it, I stepped up onto a step to enter. At that very moment, the place went pitch black! Not only the restaraunt, but the whole suburb!!! We couldn't see a thing!! Belinda was behind me and I felt her tugging at my arm. Saying lets get out of here. I had a dreadful feeling in my stomach as we started heading off hiking it down this laneway. We just took off, (not knowing where we were or how to get out). At the time it was very scary! There were motorbikes going everywhere and stray dogs and we were tripping over the footpath and road - but didn't care. We didn't know what the hell was going on. We just wanted out!! and fast!! All we knew was that we wanted to get into open space - and quick! About 150m from where the restaraunt had been, we stopped and stood backs flat against a side wall of the lane way. Bikes whizzing past us. We adjusted our eyes and realised we were standing about 6 ft from an outside cafe deck full of western tourists eating dinner and staring at us. We must have looked so funny. Then we realised we had been running away from a blackout and nothing more! It was so funny, we started to laugh and couldn't stop. We headed back to the restaraunt where the man at the door said "oh, you come back" with a big smile on his face. The staff were laughing at us, in good spirit. I requested a table near the wall, they looked at me questioningly, and I said "in case I need to get out again in a hurry". There were laughs all round. Talk about Paranoia!
Day 4
Our driver for the day Made (pronounced mar-dee) picked us up and we headed off to Nusa Dua. We stopped at the beach there and Belinda had a nap on the deckchair and I had a 30min massage. 1.5 hours later we were on our way to go on a waverunner and parasailing. The tide was out a bit so we were directed to go out into deep water to play. I was driving and Belinda on the back. Well we made the mistake of watching that new movie "Open Water" (where the divers get left behind and finally eaten by sharks) the night before. This obviously made for good entertainment as we were both trying very hard not to fall off! Had a ball needless to say. I went parasailing (very short ride in comparison to here in AUS) but good. Then we were off to Uluwatu Temple. Had a good hour or so there, but the monkeys were very nasty! We actually saw one eating someones hat and tearing apart sunglasses. Hired a guide and he was a riot, all he wanted to do was take pics of us so he could see us on the digital camera screen!
Then we went to Dreamland Beach ........ WOW!!!! This has to be the most beautiful beach in Bali. The sand was so white and the water crystal clear ... absolutely stunning. Definately worth half a day. Very secluded, but just divine!
We had a great day with Made and he was lots of fun!! We had loads of laughs together!
Pappas cafe - Legian for Dinner, absolutely superb food! The service was also brilliant! Highly reccomend this place.
Day 5
Our other driver Wayan Merta picked us up and we went to Ubud. Beautiful village and magnificent scenery. So lush and green. We went to the Monkey Forrest first and they were very nice monkeys this time. Much prefer this to Uluwatu. The holy water and temple was also very fascinating to look at. Then off to Ubud markets. Strong suggestion here, go to Ubud early in your trip. The markets are much cheaper then Kuta and you don't get hassled near as much. They will also bargain pretty low. We bought alot there. I already knew the prices from Kuta so knew that it was much cheaper there. Wayan took us to a beautiful restaraunt for lunch overlooking the rice terraces and we all ate lunch together. He then took us up to see some spectacular rice paddies and terrace and the scenery was just amazing. Wayan is an expert in this area and he really knew what we wanted to see and where to take us. He was even good humoured enough to stop on the side of the road in a wood carving village to let us take a photo with 2 giant wooden penis! He was laughing and laughing at us as he took the photos (reckon he'd never seen 2 ladies smile more).
Wayan is a great driver and I would reccomend him to anyone, he was really upbeat and we had a great day together. He is so knowledgable and speaks perfect english - outstanding driver!
Day 6
Shop, Shop, Shop - thats what we did all day!
We did go out this night to The Bounty, Paddys 2 and a few other bars. But there wasn't much nighlife to be honest. Seemed like everyone was hiding away somewhere (or we were in the wrong spots).
TJ's Mexican - Again! The food here is also brilliant especially for your money and very very safe!
Day 7
Water Bomb Park - this place was great and we spent half the day there before we had to pack to go home. It was so clean and new I was really surprised. The waterslides were great too. Highly reccomend this place for Adults and Kids. Great day out.
A FEW SPECIAL THINGS WORTH A MENTION:
VIPVOA - Great service, very fast and I highly reccomend them. The airport was very hot that day and I was glad not to have to stand in line.
TAILOR - I had a males suit made at NIA TAILOR in JL Melasti. Alex was just billiant and he charged me 700,000 RP ($90 AUS) for a suit jacket and 2 pairs of pants in a material I chose from his swatches. What struck me though was the workmanship, it was just awesome. I will definately be going back to Alex next time for probably 3 suits or more. In AUS I reckon that suit would have cost me about $450. My boyfriend is just over the moon with it. I took the original suit with me and he just copied it. (strongly suggest you do this) Turn around time 4 days.
Jl. Melasti Gg. Artika No 6
Legian Kelod
Kuta Bali
Telephone (0361) 750026
GENEVA HANDICRAFTS AND FURNITURE:
Go there on your very first shopping day. We bought a whole trolley of stuff and you will NOT find prices cheaper than here.
Jalan Raya in Kerobokan. Legian Street becomes Jalan Raya once you head north to Kerobokan. It's a 3 storey building with furniture being built on the ground floor. It's on the left side of the road when travelling North. The sign is red with white writing. Have fun!
RASPBERRY CORDIAL: - We never got sick the whole time we were there. We were careful, but not overly cautious. Though we did drink a straight nip if not more of the raspberry cordial each morning. Not sure is this the key, but will certainly do it again!
HELGIES DVD'S - Helgie came to our hotel and dropped off our ordered DVD's. He is the nicest young guy you could meet and nothing was too much trouble. I even hired a DVD player from him (which he came and set up for me) for 35,000 RP per night. His service was impeccable and he speaks very good english also. I would use Helgie again no problems at all.
Helgies email - mcshop@hotmail.com
BALI HAI REEF CRUISE - Book this in Bali. We paid $120 AUS for this cruise and it was about $70 AUS in bali. This was the best reef cruise I have been on. I have been on 4 out of Cairns and Townsville and this was better! The boat was way cleaner and the service incredible.
Watches 30,000 females - 50,0000 males (depending on the quality)
Sunglasses 20000 - 30,000 (depending on the brand)
T-Shirts 30,000 Quicksilver, Billabong, Rip Curl (anything else, nothing over 25,000)
Shorts 30,000
Sarongs 12,000 (JL Double Six - I call it Sarong road, don't buy anywhere but here)
Ladies Bali top 15,000 - 20,000
Paintings 140000 - 600000 (depends on the shop)
Sandals 30,000 females - 60000 males
Louie Vitton Bag Sml 50000
Louie Vitton Bag Med 60000
Louie Vitton Bag Lge Cabin Bag - 80,000 - 140,000
(overnight Bag)
Handbags 40,000
Photo Frames 20,000
Place matts 20,000
Cushions 40,000 EA
Table Runner Sml 50,000
DVDS 10,000 ea
Kites 80,000
Taxi's 10,000 - 40000 (depending on where to and including tip)
Bikini's Sequince 40,000
Versace Jeans 99,000
Suitcases 100,000 - 420,000
Bali Bags Lge 40,000
Bintang Can Cooler 6pk 30,000
Silver Necklaces 60,000 - 450,000
Any questions, happy to help.
Danielle