This was our fourth trip and this JBR is very long so I've cut it into two parts. Hope it's not too long but I personally like to read long and interesting JBRs. Especially at work at lunch time. We left Adelaide on the 3rd of February with AP. A direct flight which we appreciated. It was only a 727 I think. Or was it a 737? Anyway, I'd like a bigger plane personally as I'm a little scared of flying. Also suffer badly from ear pain so got Earplanes from the chemist this time and I'm sure they helped. Still a bit of pain but not too bad. I have a heat rash so wish I'd known about the powder for it you can buy over there when I was there. It's nearly gone now (the rash I mean). The flight over was fairly smooth. The planes are leased from a Dutch company whilst the usual ones are being serviced. Until April I think. The flight crew were mostly Dutch. The captain came out and socialized which I thought was lovely. Never seen that before. Very nice touch. The movie was Taxi. I think we arrived on time. The plane was half full coming and going so we got to stretch out. No dramas. Coming back we were appalled at the Adelaide International Airport procedure. Customs etc took over an hour and was a shambles. A Singapore Airlines plane came in just before us and it was crazy. No real queues set out so people were pushing in everywhere. When we arrived in Bali customs and VOA etc didn't take very long. The smell and heat hit us and we were so excited to be back. We went to the taxi booth and got a taxi voucher. 20.000. very easy. Coming home I asked the hotel to ring a taxi please. A dark blue taxi arrived and he didn't have his meter on. He said special price for you to airport 20.000. Now I know that's not much but I thought he should put the meter on. I'm an anal old lady at times. He refused and it wasn't until we opened the door and said to stop that he put it on. He drove like a maniac all the way. Went out of the hotel on two wheels into Jl Kartika. I think he was pi&&ed. He nearly wiped out four other taxis and twenty five people. He was not a nice person. Anyway we got to the airport and meter said 8900. I gave him 10.000. Such a small sum but he was horrible. I'm not sure but I think my sister gave him the finger as he sped off. I found the climate much steamier this year and the mozzies were bloody awful. They are spraying at most of the hotels but it's not working. Take Mozzie spray. Isn't it funny but after 10 days I was looking forward to coming home and now that I'm home I've got the usual depression. Bali blues. Already planning my next trip. I should go somewhere else but... I thought I'd better get started with my JBR or I'd never get to it. We booked with the Flight Centre and weren't overly impressed. My nephew also booked with them and got better service and a much better deal. We tried to get into the Bounty but couldn't. He and two of his friends went on the 24th February and staying at the Bounty. I didn't get any tummy upsets and took hand wash with me and used it as much as possible. I didn't go to the toilet in Mataharis this year. I wonder if it's better now. It's possibly the dirtiest toilet I've ever seen, except the toilets in the Denpasar airport. They were pretty yuk. The exchange rate was between 6950 and 7150. We changed our money at the hotel mostly and a few times at a Kodak shop.
Hotels
We stayed at the BGH. Generally it was fine. I didn't like the food services. The pool bar and the coffee shop closed too early. Pizzas from the beach were delish. Didn't like the restaurant next door as the food we had there wasn't very nice. The Batan Wutu I think. Maybe we ordered the wrong dishes. Does anyone else have problem with the horses who pull those little carts. They are so sad. And in that heat all day. I just hope that they are not as badly off as they look. Breakfast was included and it was quite good. Staff were friendly and helpful. The gardens were lovely. The first room, 207, was on the corner near the clubs so the noise was pretty full on until 5.00 am but it was a nice room. We are old ladies and couldn't sleep. lol. so we changed rooms. The staff did this so graciously. The second room was horrible. The hot water was only a trickle so we couldn't shower, it faced onto the side of the hotel where workmen were constructing a new motorbike shed and cutting done trees and demolishing a wall. The fridge smelled like something had died in it. I nearly lost my lunch. Very unsatisfactory. We called Adrian Forsyth, the manager, and he moved us (again) to room 238. He did this readily and graciously but it took until 4.00 pm. (Bali time) Finally we settled in and were happy. I know we probably sound fussy but we thought we deserved better. I feel that with all that moving we lost a few days of our holiday. We looked through the Green Garden Hotel too and it looks lovely. Very nice pool and facilities. We're thinking about staying at the Satraya Cottages next time in Poppies 2. We had a look thought and it looks really nice. Small and intimate. Has anyone stayed there? I'd love some feedback if you have.
Tours
We had a volcano tour included in our package. Kintamani. I was so surprised at myself for not showing too much interest in the sellers and their stuff this year. I'll buy just about anything. Anyone got a bridge over a harbour to sell? I almost felt violated last time from their behavior. My fault, of course, because I accepted what they handed me and showed an interest. I know that they have a living to make and I probably sound horrible but they are really over the top. We had a buffet lunch at one of those restaurants (55.000) and it wasn't the best meal we ever had. Anyway, the hawkers were up against the window gesturing prices the whole time. I did feel awful for not buying from them but made up for it on the way back by stopping to photograph some lovely views and being pounced upon as soon as we stopped. My sister got out to take photos and couldn't get back into the van because they were in the van with me. She came around to the other side and knocked on the window. Very funny. It was a little scary. Anyway, I wanted to buy a carved box with a frog and lizard on top and chopsticks inside. I think I paid about 35000. I know it's cheap. I opened my wallet and he was grabbing my money. I gave him what I had which I think was about 35.000 or so, he just wanted more and more. I took the lid off of the box to get rid of the smell once home and it's warped badly. Lid doesn't fit anymore. We had a guy with us who was on his first trip and he was trying to get the sellers out of the van. He was a bit concerned I think. All the way home he was just flabbergasted from the villages and things we were seeing. Women were washing their clothes in the drain that goes along the road and drying them on the bushes. It's lovely to see how first timers react isn't it. A bare breasted woman in traditional dress was carrying a huge pile of washing on her head. I didn't get a photo. It would have been beautiful. We stopped at a coffee plantation on the way home and had a sample. There was a guy roasting coffee and he showed me some money in his hand. Very sleazy. Obviously wanting me to give him some. I was hot and emotional by then so told him he didn't have to pay me for having a go. He was stirring coffee beans in big wok over a fire. They were probably for show as they were pretty well done. (read burnt) I don't think he appreciated me after that. Kept glaring at me. Too bad I say. They also produce cocoa, ginger, oils and herbs and spices. They told us about a snake which is green and as thick as your finger. It's really poisonous and will kill you in about twelve hours. They live in trees. It's called a green tree snake. Funny about that. I bought some saffron and cocoa. The guy in customs told me if there are no seeds in it (the saffron) and the contents look clean (no gritty bits or soil) it's fine to bring back.