This is the first JBR I've ever done so don't be too hard on me Ok !
It was my second time to Bali this trip I had my 2 sisters and one of my sisters partner who also happens to be a woman so there was the 4 of us girls.
We were supposed to be leaving Auckland on the 8th of Jan flying garuda to Bali via Brisbane but our flight out of Nelson was cancelled so by the time we got seats on standby we had well and truely missed our flight we were very fortunate to have a good travel agent who moved heaven and earth for us to get a seat on singapore airlines flying out the next day via singapore to bali, what a wonderful service they provide on singapore airlines hot towels given out before serving food and plenty of snacks between meals not to mention the personal tv screen with something like 50 movies to choose from music and games it was almost worth one day less in Bali just to fly with these guys.
landed safely in Bali around 8pm straight thru Voa and out for bags Taxi was the same price as 2 years ago 25.000rp split 4 ways it dosn't add up to much we had a package deal with accomodation at the adhi dharma cottages we had 4 nights on arrival and 2 nites before we left we just found our own rooms in between. The rooms at the cottages were nice and big and clean but not flash we tried to get an xtra 2 nites stay but the rates were going to be too much for us so it was definately much cheaper to get it in a package deal.
Not much to say about kuta busier than my first trip but that was 2 months after the bomb so it's to be expected, ate at mades warung most of the time as it's the nicest food that we found and a great price with awesome deserts and great western food for when you just can't face another grain of rice the half roast chicken was a favourite for me very yummy !
after 3 nites in kuta we went off to Ubud it's changed quite a bit in 2 yeaRS with alot of the smalled warungs and stalls replaced with upmarket boutique type shops which was a real shame we very definately fall into the budget traveller catogory so the ubud market was one of the few places we could shop bought alot of fruit here as the price was good and the fruit fresh. Ate at Dianes most of the time good food and good price.
A highlight of our Ubud stay was doing the rice paddy walk thats mentioned in the lonely planet book it was really beautiful and an easy walk thankfully.
We Stayed at Jati 3 bungalows on monkey forest road we had a great big room with a double bed kitchen dining alcove toilet shower and balcony downstairs and a double bed and single mattress upstairs it was down by the stream in amongst the "jungle" it was very private and absolutely fabulous and at 200.000 was great value it seems that the alleys and entrances to alot of these family run places are rather yukky but you just have to keep going till you get to the gate and then you see how lovely it is. we stayed in Ubud for about 6 nites then it was off to amed.
We had arranged transport with aguy called Mr Big who was always parked on the street outside Jati 3 he had showed us pictures of a place in Lipah bay that looked really nice and was in our price range so we paid him 250.000 to take us the next day.
I'm going to finish up for the nite here cos I'm getting too tired will do the amed part of the trip next time