Flew garuda airlines sunday 24th october - departed perth 8.00am flight was good as always arrived Denpasar on time and were through VOA/customs etc and at BAliHai by 12.00pm.First time staying at Bali Hai booked a Family Room which is basically one huge room with a king size double bed ,one single bed and a double bunk.Has a separate toilet ie not in bathroom and the bathroom had shower and a bath also separate.Stayed in room no 6101 on ground floor and could not have been any closer to the pool unless we were sleeping in the pool bar.
Needless to say very impressed with room stowed our gear and into the pool up to the pool bar and had the first of which was to many bintangs there over the next 16 days.
Spent the first afternoon and quite a few others around the pool - mostly at the bar which is one of the best places to meet other people and trade stories re shopping/restaurants/trips/pubs etc.Met gleny and her family on our second day and then nati ont the third day as well as some fantastic other people - actually saw gleny there most days not sure if I drink to much or gleny does!!??
Ventured into Kuta next day or might have been the day after not quite sure as I had already slipped into Bali time on the first day back after an absence of three years - amazing how the place and people just make you relax and unwind I had forgotten how to do this.
Anyway when we finally ventured into Kuta shopped at Mata Hari for the usual requirements nappies/sunburn cream/yakult/shampoo etc.Then straight to our favourite haunt The Pub in Bunisari St Kuta which is two blocks down from bemo corner heading away from JL Legian.Our old friend I Made Nada better known as Big Made was there with a huge smile and welcome with what is still the coldest Bintang in Bali - we had our usual serving of Beef Satay and chips (still one of the best lunchtime feeds of satay you will find).After much catching up and discovering that the driver who picked us up at airport was Mades son Putu we left happy as always.
Waterbom Park the next day for daughters birthday (turned 7)great place and a great time had by all,includind 21/2 year old boy who thought the big slides with dad were a blast.
After that a couple of days relaxing then off to Ubud for the casa luna cooking class,we stayed at the Honeymoon Guest House for two night and my wife did the market tour and cooking class on the Thursday we she absoloutely loved and I did the class on the Friday which I can honestly say I thoroughly enjoyed it was a tremendous experience.The accomodation at the guest house was very nice and the food at Casa Luna (approx 5 minutes walk)was first class to say the least.You not only learn balinese cooking but also gain an insight into the way that the herbs/spices/food etc play an important role in the balinese way of life,it truly was a great couple of days.
On the way to Ubud we took the kids to the elephant park where they rode with mum an elephant and a good time was had by all - although it was very expensive.
Back to the Bali Hai for more rest relaxation and bintang.Then off for a game of golf with brother-inlaw who arrived two days bfore we went to ubud.Played at the Bali Handira putu picked us up at 6.30am(which was a bit of a shock)for the 11/2 hr trip up into the mountains.What a place to play golf - words are very hard to find to explain the setting up against the mountains almost amongst the clouds it truly was fantastic.
Any way I have carried on enough just a few points to finish
Eats - SA Cafe great value and good quality.Pantai on the beach also good value for money great setting the kids loved being able to run on the sand after dinner while we enjoyed the odd arak orange.Green Garden excellent for breakfast and good value for dinner.Kunyit right next Hotel Santika fantastic balinese food(only)found this place second last night otherwise would have been regulars.Uns still great food at a good price with a great setting.TJs if you like mexican and frozen daquaries still theplace to eat.Ma Jollys excellent quality food and service at a price but worth a visit.Ku De Ta what a dining experience the food was of a standard that would be very hard to find in Perth and the service and setting you definitely cannot find in W.A very expensive compared to bali standards but can reccomend you try it just once.
Had no problems with exchanging money Kodak shops still the way to go if you want large notes and no hassle - it pays to cash $ 100 at a time even my brain managed to work out how much I should be getting,I found that the more I went back to the same shop the better the experience.
Blue taxis only way to travel into and out of Kuta did not have to ask driver once to turn the meter on it was always done.
In conclusion Bali is better then ever it was three years since my previous visit(7 time in all)and the streets are good,the standard of the restaurants food and srvice has all gone up and all the work on the drains etc has greatly improved the drain smell.The roads and infrastucture have all improved out of sight.With all these great improvements the one thing that has not changed is the friendly smiling and forever helpful balinese people-cant wait until next October when I will return to the Island of the Gods.
Cheers
Am happy to answer any questions anyone may have.