In Reply to: club bali mirage yes or no? posted by marco29 on Monday, 14. March 2005 at 23:21 Bali Time:
Hello you will have a wonderful time in Bali at Club Bali Mirage. We have stayed there 3 times and are going again at christmas. Two of our friends from seperate locations are going out in May you will have a wonderful time. Just in case this is your first time to paradise i have copied our holiday report from October. You will love it the staff are like family we always have a tear in our eye when we leave. We are actually thinking of relocating there permanetly. If you have anymore questions just let me know. heres the holiday report and enjoy yourself:
SIMON AND LISA'S BALI HOLIDAY REPORT 6-27 OCT 2004
THE BINTANG TOUR 2004
DAY ONE, ARRIVED ON THAI AIRLINES FLIGHT VIA BANGKOK NOT AS IMPRESSED WITH
THAI AS SINGAPORE AIRLINES. THE FOOD WAS GOOD BUT THE AIR STEWARDESS WAS
NOT IMPRESSED WHEN I ASKED FOR A DRINK BECAUSE THE MAN NEXT TO US WAS SLEEPING
AND I COULD NOT GET OUT. WOULD DEFINETLY FLY WITH SINGAPORE AIRLINES NEXT
YEAR. SENADA WHO WAS OUR TOUR GUIDE LAST YEAR AND WHO HAS KEPT IN TOUCH
ALL YEAR PICKED US UP FROM THE AIRPORT WITH HIS FAMILY. (IF YOU WANT TO
CONTACT SENADA FOR TOURS HIS NUMBER IS: 081 23982951 OR EMAIL HIM AT NYOMANSENADA@HOTMAIL.COM
HE WILL SORT OUT ALL YOUR DAY TRIPS AT A REASONABLE RATE. WE GOT TO THE
CLUB BALI MIRAGE ALL INCLUSIVE HOTEL AND AS USUAL THE RECEPTION WAS BRILLIANT
AND ALL THE STAFF STILL REMEMBERED OUR NAMES. IT WAS LIKE BEEN AT OUR SECOND
HOME. THE WEBSITE FOR THE HOTEL IS WWW.CLUBBALIMIRAGE.COM WE SWIFTLY UNPACKED
AND ORDERED A BINTANG THE LOCAL BEER IN BALI. LATER IN THE BAR THE QUARTET
BAND PLAYED CONSISTING OF TWO GUITARISTS, ONE CELLO AND ONE DRUMMER. THEY
WERE VERY ENTERTAINING AND PLAYED SEVERAL TIMES THROUGHOUT THE WEEK.
DAY TWO, HAD A WALK ALONG THE BEACH AT NUSA DUA, THE WATER WAS CLEAR BLUE
AND THE BEACH WAS LOVELY. BE CAREFUL OF THE SUN AS WE ONLY WALKED FOR ABOUT
30 MINS AND I CAME BACK SUNBURNT. IN THE AFTERNOON WE WENT TO THE SPORTS
BAR ATTACHED TO THE PENISULA BEACH RESORT. THE STAFF IN THERE ARE VERY
FRIENDLY, THEY HAVE A POOL TABLE LARGE TV AND EXCELLENT COCKTAILS. THE
PRICE OF A BEER WAS ABOUT 1.25 FOR A BINTANG, VERY REASONABLE.
DAY THREE, HAD A LANGUAGE LESSON AT THE HOTEL BUT I MUST SAY I WAS MORE
INTERESTED IN DRINKING THE BINTANG, HAD A LAZY DAY BY THE POOL. AT NIGHT
WE WENT TO THE CHOPSTICKS RESTAURANT WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THE HOTEL BUT
IS NOT MANAGED BY THEM. WE WERE NOT VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE FOOD HERE,
BUT IF YOU ARE ALL INCLUSIVE YOU HAVE A FIXED MENU MAYBE IF WE HAD ORDERED
AND PAID WE MAY HAVE BEEN MORE IMPRESSED.
DAY FOUR, EARLY MORNING RISE AT 6.30 TO GO DOLPHIN WATCHING. WE WENT WITH
RINO FROM PT. PANDAWA MARINE ADVENTURES ON NUSA DUA BEACH. THE WEBSITE
IS WWW.TANJUNGBENOA@NET/PANDWANA OR EMAIL RINO_BALIBOY@YAHOO.COM HE WAS
VERY FRIENDLY AND GAVE US A GOOD PRICE. WE SAW HUNDREDS OF DOLPHINS. SIMON
THEN DID SOME FISHING BUT UNFORTUANTLY OUR TRIP WAS CUT SHORT AS I WAS SEASICK.
ON RETURN FROM FISHING SIMON HAD SOME SORT OF BITE ON HIS FOOT, THE HOTEL
CALLED THE DOCTOR AND IT COST 110 DOLLARS TO GET IT SORTED. WOW THAT WAS
AN EXPENSIVE BITE. AS IF THAT WASN'T ENOUGH PAIN FOR ONE DAY RINO FROM
THE WATER SPORTS PLACE INTRODUCED US TO HIS FRIEND AT THE TATTOO PARLOUR.
ITS BASED IN NUSA DUA AND IS CALLED RED TATTOO STUDIO. THE TEL NO IS 0361
776443. SIMON HAD A TATTOO OF A RED INDIAN CHIEF ON HIS LEG AND AT A REASONABLE
PRICE TOO. IT TOOK JUST UNDER TWO HOURS AND THE NEEDLES WERE CLEAN AND
THE GUY WAS REALLY FRIENDLY.
DAY FIVE, DO YOURSELF A FAVOUR IF SOMEONE ON A MOPED APPROACHES YOU ON THE
STREET AND TELLS YOU YOU HAVE WON A PRIZE ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GO TO A
NEARBY HOTEL FOR FREE LUNCH AND STAY FOR 1 HOURS DON'T LISTEN. THEY ARE
ALL TIME SHARE REPS AND YOU END UP STAYING AT THE HOTEL FOR 2 HOURS GETTING
A FREE NON ALCOHOLIC DRINK AND A FREE T SHIRT THAT SHRINKS FIRST WASH.
WE SPENT THE AFTERNOON PLAYING POOL AT THE SPORTS BAR AGAIN. YOU CAN PAY
50,000 WHICH IS ABOUT 3 POUNDS AND YOU CAN PLAY UNLIMITED POOL FOR A WEEK.
AT NIGHT WE WENT WITH BRIAN AND MARILYN SOME FRIENDS WE MET AT THE HOTEL
TO JIMBARAN. THE BEACH IS FULL OF RESTAURANTS ALL SERVING SEAFOOD. WE
WENT TO THE SAFARI CAFE. WE HAD FRESH PRAWNS AND LOBSTER AND DRANK BEER
AND COCKTAILS. THE PRICE WAS VERY REASONABLE AND WE GOT FREE TRANSPORT
TO AND FROM THE HOTEL. THE SUNSET THAT NIGHT WAS ABSOLUTELY STUNNING.
IT IS A MUST TO GO TO JIMBARAN IF YOU ENJOY SEAFOOD.
DAY SIX, BRIAN AND MARILYN AND MYSELF AND SIMON WENT TO A CREMATION CEREMONY.
IT MIGHT SOUND A STRANGE THING TO DO ON HOLIDAY BUT IT WAS VERY INTERESTING.
WE FOUND THE LEAFLETS AT THE HOTEL RECEPTION AND IT WAS A VERY INTERESTING
DAY OUT. WE STARTED AT THE HOTEL AND WERE DRIVEN TO THE HOUSE OF THE DEAD
PERSON. OUTSIDE WAS A TALL LAVISH TOWER WITH A WHITE CLOTH ON IT. WE WERE
INVITED INTO THE HOUSE WHERE LOADS OF PEOPLE GATHERED. WE WAITED FOR ABOUT
TWO HOURS AND LAUGHED AT SIMON AND BRIAN WHO HAD TO WEAR SARONGS. AFTER
LOADS OF OFFERINGS WERE BROUGHT AND HOLY WATER SPLASHED ON THE TOWER OUT
CAME A GROUP OF MEN WITH AN ARRAY OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. THEN OUT CAME
THE COFFIN AND IT WAS PUT ON THE TOWER AND THE PRIEST ALSO SAT ON THE TOWER.
ABOUT 20 MEN LIFTED THE TOWER WITH BAMBOO POLES. THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS
THEN HELD A WHITE PIECE OF MATERIAL WHICH TRAILED FROM THE TOWER DOWN THE
STREET. THE CREMATION PROCESSION THEN WENT DOWN THE BUSY STREETS AND ALL
THE CARS STOPPED. EVERYTIME THE TOWER GOT TO A JUNCTION THE TOWER WAS SPUN
TO CONFUSE THE DEAD BODY'S SPIRIT SO IT COULD NOT RETURN HOME. ABOUT 20
MINUTES LATER WE ARRIVED AT THE CEMETARY. NO ONE MINDED THE TOURIST BEEN
THERE TAKING PHOTOS. IT WAS MORE OF A CELEBRATION THAN A WAKE. THE COFFIN
WAS TAKEN DOWN FROM THE TOWER. THE TOWER DISGARDED. THE BODY WAS THEN
UNWRAPPED FROM A WHITE CLOTH. IT WAS THEN PUT ON A LARGE BAMBOO PLATFORM.
IT WAS THEN SET ALIGHT AND IN SECONDS THE BODY HAD DISAPPEARED. WE WERE
THEN TAKEN BACK TO OUR HOTEL AS THE RELATIVES WAIT ABOUT 4 HOURS AND THEN
GATHER THE ASHES AND TAKE THEM OUT TO SEA. IN TRUE BRITISH STYLE WE WENT
BACK TO THE HOTEL AND GOT PLASTERED.
DAY SEVEN, WE WENT TO KUTA FOR THE 2ND MEMORIAL OF THE KUTA BOMBING. SECURITY
WAS VERY TIGHT, THEY HAD AIRPORT SCANNERS AND BAG SEARCHING. THE MEMORIAL
IS NOW FINISHED AND IS A TOUCHING REMINDER OF THE EVIL THAT HAPPENED THERE.
THERE WAS A GOOD TURNOUT FOR THE SERVICE. AFTER ATTENDING THAT WE HAD
A WALK ROUND AND WENT TO VISIT ALVIN AT THE SECRET GARDEN ON POPPIES LANE.
ALVIN IS AN ENGLISH GUY WHO HAS SET UP A BAR AND CAFE IN POPPIES LANE, ITS
WELL WORTH A VISIT. IF YOU WANT MORE INFO HIS EMAIL IS ALSECRET69@YAHOO.CO.UK
WE HAD A COUPLE OF BEERS AND A CHAT WITH HIM AND IT WAS A VERY FRIENDLY
BAR AND WE RECOMMEND YOU VISIT IT ON YOUR TRIP TO BALI. OF COURSE NO TRIP
TO KUTA IS COMPLETE WITHOUT VISITING THE HARD ROCK CAFE, WHICH WAS VERY
REASONABLY PRICED AND THE STAFF WERE VERY FRIENDLY.
DAY EIGHT, BOOKED WHITE WATER RAFTING WHAT A LOT OF FUN THAT WAS. I HAD
NEVER DONE IT BEFORE BUT WOULD DEFINETLY RECOMMEND IT TO ANYONE. AT NIGHT
WE WENT FOR A MEAL IN NUSA DUA AT CASA LUNAS. THEY SERVED EUROPEAN, INDONESIAN,
CHINESE AND MEXICAN FOOD AND FRESH SEAFOOD. WE HAD A STARTER, MAIN COURSE,
OF FILLET STEAK AND I HAD SEAFOOD. LOADS OF BINTANGS AND A COCKTAIL AND
THE PRICE WAS ABOUT 5 POUNDS EACH. THIS IS UNDOUBTABLY ONE OF THE BEST
RESTAURANTS IN NUSA DUA. THEY HAD BALINESE DANCERS ON TOO.
DAY NINE, TODAY WAS A CHILLING DAY WITH BINTANG BY THE BEACH
DAY TEN, GOT UP AT 2AM TO CLIMB MOUNT BATUR. SENADA OUR FRIEND FROM LAST
YEAR ARRANGED A DRIVER AND HE CLIMBED THE VOLCANO WITH US. WE WENT TO THE
ASSOCIATION OF MOUNT BATUR AND GOT A TREKKING GUIDE CALLED KAMU, HE WAS
VERY HELPFUL AND FRIENDLY AND ALTHOUGH THE CLIMB WASN'T TOO DIFFICULT HE
GAVE US PLENTY OF WATER BREAKS. WE REACHED THE TOP IN 2 HOURS AND IT WAS
WORTH IT TO SEE THE SUNRISE. AFTER THIS WE WENT BACK DOWN WHICH AGAIN TOOK
ABOUT 2 HOURS. SENADA THEN TOOK US TO THE HOT SPRINGS WHICH WAS REALLY
RELAXING AFTER THE CLIMB. WE THEN WENT TO BAKAS ELEPHANT PARK WHERE I HAD
A RIDE ON AN ELEPHANT AND WE FED THEM WATER MELON. FROM HERE WE WENT TO
THE BAT CAVE. IT WAS BASICALLY A TEMPLE WITH A CAFE IN IT AND THERE WERE
THOUSANDS OF BATS. IT STUNK A BIT BUT WAS WORTH THE VISIT.
DAY ELEVEN, TODAY WE WENT TO THE SPORTS BAR AGAIN AND I BEAT SIMON 9-0 AT
POOL GUESS HE WAS TIRED FROM YESTERDAY! AT NIGHT WE WENT TO A RESTAURANT
WITH FRIENDS CALLED LA SCALA, IN NUSA DUA. THE FOOD WAS VERY NICE.
DAY TWELVE, SENADA AND HIS FAMILY MET US AT WATERBOM PARK WHICH IS A BIG
WATER PARK NEAR KUTA. WE WERE DRIVEN BY BAGI WHO IS A VERY FRIENDLY DRIVER
BASED OUTSIDE THE CLUB BALI MIRAGE. HIS NUMBER SHOULD YOUR REQUIRE A DRIVER
IN BALI IS 081 236 02358 HE COMES HIGHLY RECOMMENDED AND IS VERY REASONABLY
PRICED. WE SPENT THE DAY AT WATERBOM GOING ON THE VARIOUS SLIDES. SIMONS
FAVOURITE WAS THE MACARONIS TUBE AND I WASN'T TOO KEEN BUT HE JUST LAUGHED
WHEN I SCREAMED CONTINUESLY ROUND THE BENDS.
DAY THIRTEEN, SAT BY THE POOL AT THE CLUB BALI MIRAGE. I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND
THIS HOTEL. THIS IS OUR SECOND VISIT AND WE PLAN A THIRD NEXT YEAR. THE
FOOD IS GOOD, DRINK IS 24 HOURS AND STAFF VERY FRIENDLY ITS LIKE A HOME
FROM HOME. AT NIGHT WE HAD A BIG GROUP SING SONG ON THE KAREOKE.
DAY FOURTEEN, WENT WITH BRIAN AND MARILY TO TRUNYAN ISLAND. WE HAD TO
VISIT HERE OUT OF CURIOUSITY. THE DAY STARTED WITH A TWO HOUR DRIVE TO
LAKE BATUR. FROM HERE WE HIRED A BOAT AND DRIVER WHICH TOOK US TO TRUNYAN
ISLAND. HERE THE PEOPLE DO NOT BURY THE DEAD THEY JUST LEAVE THEM BY THE
TREES UNDER A BAMBOO SHELTER. THE TEMPLE WALL WAS LINED WITH HUMAN SKULLS
AND THE PLACE HAD AN ERRIE FEELING ABOUT IT. ON THE WAY BACK AN OLD MAN
AND LADY ROWED OVER TO OUR BOAT IN A DUG OUT TREE CANOE AND WERE BEGGING
FOR MONEY. THE PEOPLE HERE WERE NOT AS FRIENDLY AS THE REAL BALINESE PEOPLE
AND IT WAS A LITTLE PRIMITIVE BUT WORTH THE VISIT. WHEN WE GOT BACK TO
THE HOTEL BRIAN AND SIMON RETIRED TO THE BAR FOR SOME WELL DESERVED BINTANG.
ME AND MARILYN WENT FOR A WALK. WE ENDED UP GETTING LOST IN A LABYRINTH
OF NARROW VILLAGE STREETS. THERE WAS NO STREET LIGHTING AND WE WERE BECOMING
INCREASINGLY CONCERNED. WE KEPT APPROACHING STRANGERS TO ASK FOR DIRECTIONS
BACK TO THE HOTEL AND EVERYONE WAS VERY HELPFUL. WE EVENTUALLY ARRIVED
BACK AFTER 2 HOURS. IT IS COMPLETELY SAVE TO WALK OUT OF THE HOTEL ALONE
IN NUSA DUA AND EVERYONE IS VERY FRIENDLY. ANOTHER NIGHT OF KAREOKE AND
PLENTY OF BINTANG FOLLOWED.
DAY FIFTEEN, BRIAN AND MARILY JOINED US WITH OUR TOUR GUIDE SENADA FOR A
FUN DAY OUT. WE STARTED BY WATCHING A BARONG AND KRIS DANCE. FROM HERE
WE WENT TO THE BIRD PARK WHERE YOU COULD HOLD AND POSE FOR PHOTOS WITH LOADS
OF DIFFERENT SPECIES OF BIRDS. FROM HERE WE WENT TO THE REPTILE PARK WHICH
AGAIN WAS VERY GOOD. YOU COULD HOLD LIZARDS AND HAVE YOUR PHOTO TAKEN WITH
THEM. FROM HERE WE WENT TO UBUD TO A CAFE. WE HAD TO TAKE OUR SHOES OFF
AND SAT ON THE FLOOR ROUND A TABLE. WE HAD TRADITIONAL SUCKLING PIG WITH
RICE AND ALL THE SPICES. IT WAS SO HOT I SWIFTLY FOLLOWED IT DOWN WITH
5 BINTANGS TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE PRICE WAS SUPRISING WITH ALL THE BEER
AND FOOD IT COST ABOUT 70 PENCE EACH. FROM HERE WE WENT TO THE MONKEY FOREST
AT TANAH LOT. THE MONKIES WOULD RUN UP TO YOU AND CLIMB ON YOU AND YOU
COULD HAND FEED THEM SWEET POTATOE PIECES. WE GOT LOADS OF PHOTOS AND THIS
WAS WELL WORTH A VISIT. FROM HERE WE WENT TO THE TEMPLE IN THE SEA AT TANAH
LOT TO WATCH THE SUNSET. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.