Arrived back two weeks ago - have just found time to sit down and recall our trip. So here it is. Keep in mind. Two 20 year old girls on a trip to Bali (majority shopping).
Day 1 - Nov 4
Thought this day would never arrive. We awake early, bags packed and get to Adelaide airport ready to board our flight at 8:15. Flew over with Air Paradise...not too bad. The stewards were a little forgetful. I think we needed to remind one lady 5 times that we ordered a drink about 1 hour ago. The entire flight took about 5 hours - not too much turbulence - so far so good! Arrive in Bali airport about midday. As soon as we step off the plane, it felt like we walked into a giant wall of heat, the humidity, the smell; it was an unknown place for the two of us. Passed through visas ok (I think it took us about 20 mins as we were the only plane to arrive at that time). Collected our bags, no porters bothering us. Then we had the quite scary task of trying to find our transfers. As soon as we left the airport door we felt like we were animals in a zoo, there were people everywhere holding signs up, yelling out names. We finally found our transfers Dewhy (I think) and off we went. My friend and I sat in the back of the van, not knowing where to look or IF to look at the road. There were motorbikes, cars, just everywhere. They just courteously beep and all is well. We stayed at the Bali Garden Hotel (Rm 323). Id highly recommend the BGH to anyone, it was our first trip to Bali so really had nothing to compare it too, but we thought it was great. The staff were lovely, air conditioning (did not get turned off the entire trip), pool, more importantly POOL BAR, breakfast was beautiful (try the banana pancakes).
After we'd unpacked and attempted to cool down a tad, headed down to the hotel for a wander and a swim. Then it was off on our first mission to do some shopping. For any future first timers, I would perhaps recommend not shopping the first day, as it is quite full on. I think we only bought a few things and am sure we got severely ripped off after comparing our bartering tactics to the last few days. We found Mataharis (fixed price dept store) and set up prepaid sims for the both of us. Sms 500rph each.
*Mobile store on the ground floor of Mataharis around the corner by the supermarket. Take your mobile in with you and they will do it all for you.
We made our first (of many) visits to Sakura DVD, on the same stretch as BGH heading towards Kuta Square. DVD'S and CD's all 10 000 rph each, buy 10 get 2 free. Huge range and you can test them all there. If you are planning on buying up big, id recommend going at night when it cools down a bit, they are open until 10pm every night.
Dinner - ate at the hotel - chicken peanut satays (nicest I have ever had)
What we paid for what the first day - most of this shopping was done around the markets near our hotel: (we were getting an exchange rate of $1aus = 6750 rph at our hotel)
Thongs (Mataharis - fixed price) - 85 000
Shell earrings - 30 000
Bintang Singlet - 20 000
Silver ring - 60 000
Small LV bag - 90 000
Gucci Watch - 100 000 (later in the trip we realised we paid about 3x too much)
DVD Case (holds 50 from Sakura) - 70 000
Silver pendent - 80 0000
Ok if I continue to type this long winded, I will be here for the next 4 hours, so I will continue the rest briefly with tips and prices.
Day 2 - Shopping
Ventured down to the much heard about Poppies Lane II today - so much shopping - it was like heaven!
Only catch blue taxis and ask for the meter to be put on when you get in (generally they already have it on). You can barter with these people if you like, but we didn't really have an idea at first of what u would pay from get to point a to point b, but wither way, its still cheap. We were tipping taxi drivers about 1 or 2000 rph, im not sure if this is expected or not, but it worked out to between 20 - 50c at times, so what they hey, you are on holidays right?!
Had Henna tattoos done by Agus down the same street as our hotel (he has beautiful paintings in his store also) I still have some remanence of mine, but they last about 2 weeks and look really nice (im now considering getting a real one)
Had dinner at Rama Resort restaurant, cats wandering between our legs with no tails - not the kind of thing you'd see back in aussie, but what the hey?
... still attempting to work out how tipping works
... loving the live music playing across the road from our hotel
... managed to shoer with no water in the mouth
Big LV brown bag - 100 000
Big LV colour bag - 170 000
1 bikini and 3 hippy skirts - 80 000
10 T-shirts (billabong, rip curl etc) - 410 000
hat and hippy skirt - 50 000
small LV bag - 80 000
hippy top - 35 000
hippy skirt - 35 000
Big sterling shell pendent with choker - 85 000
Henna Tattoos - 15 000
Day 3 - More Shopping
Went to Poppies Lane I today and went to the famous Poppies Restaurant, tried the equally famous Pina Colada (it's a must). Lets just say we walked in, and stumbled out a few hours later, im still sticking to the story that it must have been all the evaporation that made my drinks disappear...ha ha. We did a lot of shopping in the brand name surf stores as well, there are heaps, everywhere. You would probably pay maybe 2/3rds of the price that you'd pay here, it was a bargain and we were on holidays!
Watch - 40 000
2 x hats - 30 000
silver pendent - 70 000
dress - 20 000
fake mooks tops x 3 - 90 000
volcom t-shirt - 30 000
rusty bikinis (real ones) - 250 000 (about $36 aust - saw the same ones in Jetty surf here the other day for $80)
Day 4 - Gee what a surprise - more shopping!
Went to the very highly spoken about Dianne's shop in Tuban today. If you are staying at BGH turn right as you walk out the front and its about a 5 minute walk.
Had dinner at some place down Poppies Lane II, cant remember the name but it had 'cottages' in it somewehere, great meal and great people!
LV Bag - 55 000
Adidas shoes - 70 000
Diannes shop - 4 billa/quik tshirts, 3 billa/quik girl tops, 4 bintang singlets, 2 hippy tops, 2 boardshorts and 1 long sarong for 500 000 rph. I didn't barter with her, because she was so lovely and id mentioned the BTF, but I think I could have got cheaper.
3 Mooks belts - 30 000
thongs - 25 000
sunnies - 30 000
beaded bracelets, necklaces (6 pieces) - 35 000
Day 5 - Elephant Tour
Wisnu - 081 1397221 or wisnuarimbawa@hotmail.com
Three of us hired the above driver for the day, he was absolutely lovely and his car has superb air conditioning - what more could you ask for? We went to the elephant safari park, had a 40 minute ride on the elephants, got to feed them, have photos with them, was an excellent once in a lifetime experience. Also saw the volcano, nothing too exciting, but did the whole photo this angle, that angle thing. Went to Ubud, most gorgeous rice paddies ever and popped in to the Ubud markets, for wait for it, low and behold some more shopping on the way home. If you do choose Wisnu to be your driver and are interested in silver ask him about this and he will take you to the silver smiths in Ubud, they have lovely pieces of jewellery and are extremely cheap as Wisnu gives them a lot of business.
Ate dinner at 'Swell' restaurant - excellent burgers!
Woven placemats x 5 - 50 000
Woven candle holder - 12 000
Elephant ride - 418 000
Day 6 - Last day - spent shopping
Second biggest size Bali Bag - 50 000
Wooden buddah (small) - 25 000
Toe rings x 3 - 30 000
Bali t-shirts (womens) - 25 000
Oil painting (large) x 2 - 150 000
Bamboo stick painting - 60 000
Tips:
Take tissues everywehere
Drink only bottled water
Buy a bumbag to carry around with you
Smile and be nice to everyone - they are the loveliest people you will ever meet
Put 100 000rph in your passport when you first arrive for your departure tax
Put padlocks on your suitcases - just to be safe
Wear suncream
Pack very minimally on your way there, you will be surprised with all that you come home with
If anyone has ear problems when flying, my friend used these ear plugs called 'earplanes', they are about $14 from chemists but she was fine through both flights.
That's everything I can think of for now, all I can say is that if anyone is contemplating a trip to Bali I would highly recommend it. It captured me in a way no other holiday destination ever has and I will definitely be back....when my bank account recovers. Feel free to ask any questions and I will do my best to answer.