Thought I had better post this before the post bali depression really sets in.
Flew with Garuda, and the flight was delayed for an hour, so left at 8a.m. Good flight though and landed exactly on time and straight through visa etc and at the hotel by 12 noon.
Stayed at the Niksoma in the Junior Suites after recommendations on the forum. Must say this is a very nice hotel and the pool area is fantastic. Lots of shade and the gazebos looked great, even though we didnt actually get a turn in them. Great little hotel and I would certainly stay there again.Great position too.Thanks to everyone who recommended it.
The only problem we had was that our room wasnt ready until 7pm on the first day. So we had to wait 7 hours for our room. This was a huge disappointment as we only had 4 nights there. They had actually double booked the room and the other people didnt vacate until 6.30pm even though we had paid. Unfair really as they would have got double money for that time. Probably should have kicked up more of a stink.
They tried to put us in the massage room (?) for the first day, but eventually we got a normal room to stay in. We were not the only people this happened to while we were there.
The weather was good, hot but not too hot, and it only rained a couple of times late in the afternoon.
The beach in front of the hotel was very dirty this time and the beach ladies were very aggressive, so much so that I only went down to the beach once as they were grabbing and trying to paint my toenails every time I stopped for a few seconds and asking for money all the time.
I think I have been spoiled by the ladies in Tuban at the beach in front of the Dynasty. YOu dont seem to get hassled there at all, but maybe thats because they know me.
Had a cream bath as a new place at the front of the Niksoma, next to Poco Loco. Dont bother going there as it was not very good at all.
My hubbie had a massage at the Melasti spa and said it was the best massage he has ever had in Bali. Must try to get there next time.
I had a massage at Sawasdeekha, which is upstairs in the thai restaurant in Jalan Werkudara, on the right hand side up from the Kumula Pantai. It was very very good.
Spent a bit of time in Geneva, mostly buying stuff for my business, but did notice they had quite a bit of new stuff there this time.
Lots more lamps and candle holders etc.
I was very careful not to buy anything that had holes in it etc, and didnt get anything taken off me at the airport which was good.
Saw some poor lady throwing a heap of stuff in the bin in quarantine on the way in.
Went to lunch at a friends place while we were there and was pleased to see that he had been saving every penny that we have given his family over the last few years and has built an extension to his house for his new baby boy. The local priest was there doing the carving around the doors. Great to see that the money had made such a difference to his life. Now all we have to do is talk him out of breeding puppies to sell. We all know what happens to those pupplies, dont we!!!
We were 57kgs for the two of us at check in and didnt even get pulled up on Garuda. I think maybe because we were at the airport a bit early. Mainly stocked up on body washes, facial scrubs etc for the kids at the supermarket and a bit of stuff from Geneva. It really doesnt take much to get to 20kgs.
Well thats all I can think of for now, so roll on June!!!