Part 2
Transport
If you want a driver who is honest, intelligent, funny and a lovely guy please ring Erick. His number is 081 7975 8314. He will not overcharge you and will take you anywhere you want. He's very knowledgeable about the island. He also arranges WWR, fishing trips, diving, water sports, spa visits, shopping trips, etc etc. He suggested a lovely spot for lunch called the Green Mango on the way to Uluwatu. It was excellent. I had fish and chips and the fish was very fresh and delicious. Everyone else had Indo food. Very reasonable prices too. We stopped at Penang Penang Beach and took photos on the way back. Beautiful. He also took us to the art centre in Denpasar and the museum. Great day.
DVDs
I preordered from Helgie who is recommended on the forum. They seem to be 10.000 most everywhere. Some places offer deals where you buy so many and get so many free. He delivered to the hotel and gave me a bag to carry them in. He's a really nice guy. He didn't have everything I ordered so I bought a few more on the beach. I watched ‘the Aviator' last night and it's not the best quality. Good movie though. Helgie said the quality was good on the ones I got so hope the others are ok. I suppose that if the movie is still being shown then the copy we have is done with a camera in the cinema. What do you expect right?
Shopping
Ahh where to start. I got another coat made from Rizky Leather in Poppies 2. Roni is the nicest person. I cannot recommend him highly enough. His workmanship cannot be faulted and his prices are very very good. I had a full length coat made last year and everyone asks me where I got it. He has a tailor working for him now and I got some jackets made. Excellent quality and workmanship. Very good prices too. I want to set him up with my daughter but maybe I shouldn't do that as she's such a handful and Roni is like a son to me and too nice. Went to Diana and Jenny's shop opposite the Green Garden Hotel. Jenny just gave me a price when I asked and it was so reasonable I didn't bother bartering. I didn't get to Macro. It was on my list and I just didn't get the time. I went to Geneva and they were closed as it was a Sunday and I think they opened later. We didn't wait. It's on my list for next time. lol. I got the usual stuff. T-shirts, wallets, shoes, cosmetics etc etc etc. I did regret buying from the shops around Kuta Centre also on Kartika. Big rip off and the guys there are so pushy. Our friend told us they dress poorly and look dirty so that you'll feel sorry for them and buy stuff. That's ok, as they all have a living to make. He said some of them make a very good living. We went to Centro which was next door to the hotel. It's very big and modern. Body Shop, Starbucks, jewellery, Opticians (where I got new lenses for my old glasses made 180.000) to name only a few of the shops. It's great but I do prefer the markets. Getting in amongst it. I did give the market on the corner of Legian and Melasti (?) a miss. You know the one behind the tin fence. It was a bit woofy as it was later in the morning and I felt a bit delicate that day. They sell food and flowers I think.
Restaurants
Ninety degrees in Poppies 2. On the first bend coming in from the beach. Next to the Satraya Cottages. This is such a great place to eat. Comes highly recommended by Oz travelers. Lots of good feedback on the boards at the front. We went there on several occasions. Sat upstairs facing the gang. A tad noisy from the DVD shop next door but really nice. We ate Fettuccini Neapolitan, Nasi Goring, Bali Campung Goring, Grilled fish, Sate Chicken, garlic bread among other things. I can't remember everything we ate but all if it was excellent. The prices were really cheap too. I think the first night for the three of us it was only about 70.000 rp. With drinks. We didn't get around to the deserts.
Because we stayed at the Bounty last time we went there for dinner and to say hello to the staff we met last year. I love the food at the Bounty. It's cheap and very good. No tummy upsets there. Their hamburgers are good, fish and chips, grilled salmon is excellent. They also have lovely Indo food. Melasti Café on Kartika. This place rocks. Live music and entertainment. We had a ball and wished we'd gone there earlier. We passed a few times without going in and said how good the performers sounded. On the last night when we had to leave the hotel at 6.00 pm and didn't have to leave to go to the airport until 11.00 pm we discovered this place. Go there if you like a good time. Very entertaining. Esp. Margarita. She's a real diva and a star.
Scams (?) to be wary of
Everyone asks for coins. $2 to make bracelets they say. However, they are not made from the coins but from other metals. They take the coins to the airport and ask Australians to change them into notes. They also get air stewards to change them in Australia because the money changers won't take coins. One guy told me he made enough to trade up to a new motorbike from people giving him coins. That's ok if you want to give people coins go ahead. I don't think I'll be giving them out to just anyone next time. I took over a big bag of lollies and gave them to everyone. The smiles were just wonderful. Little kids were so pleased to get them. Gorgeous. Grown ups liked them too. They were surprised to receive something I think. We also took stuffed toys and oz kangaroos, keyrings etc. they went down very well too. We didn't have that much and wished we'd taken lots more. I was offered silver bracelets too. If you are not sure if they are silver (which they are not), go by price. If they're too cheap they are not silver. I'm not sure but I think it's white metal. Does anyone know? I was offered a bag of about twelve bracelets for 70.000. ok if that's what you want but the guys tell you they are sliver which I think is dishonest. The bracelets are stamped. If you are not sure drop (gently) on the tile floor. If it bounces it's not silver which makes a jingly noise. We went through our stuff before leaving and gave the beach sellers a couple of bags of clothes, toiletries etc. They are always well received. Also won first prize in those tear apart tickets they hand out twice in one day. What are the odds? :0 The guys who did it just about had the same script. This has never happened before, etc etc. It's for time share so go for it if you want but we decided not to. There's a presentation that lasts for an hour and a half if you go. We also won t-shirts from others doing the same thing. I didn't appreciate the surveys every few steps. I know these people have a job to do but after the fifth one ....
Massage/treatments
I cannot recommend Salon Babi in Poppies 2 enough. The prices are ridiculously cheap. The girls are so good at want they do and they are lovely too. I just wish I'd gone there everyday. Every time I make a mental note to have more massages and swim more but time just goes so fast. I also had a massage on the beach in front of the BGH. It was very nice.
If you have any questions please ask and I'll try to answer them. I'm saving madly for next year. I'm back at work now, first week, and it's very hard. I daydream about the swimup bar and bintang. Thanks to everyone on the forum who supplied such good information prior to our trip. We really appreciated it. I just remembered I didn't drink any jungle juice this year. Shame on me. i hope i haven't bored you all with this.