Left Mon7th flew Garuda. Good flight service was a bit slack!!
Coming in to land notice the weather was a bit dodgy, wheels down can see runway oh !#@% pilot starts to reve engines again and doesn't land. took ten minutes for them to tell us what was going on and said can't land because of bad rain and winds!! and will circle for 1/2 hr.
Next thing he tells us we have to divert until weather settles. So off we go to Surabaya in Java. 3 hrs later flight leaves for Denpasar.
Finally we land. No problems with customs and voa. Go around to domestic airport to get connecting flight to Lombok leaving at 5.30pm.
Find out travel agent put wrong flight time and miss flight.
They paid for overnight accom in Kuta and meals.
Leave next morning for flight to Lombok. Finally made it.
Stayed at Intan resort Lombok. Beautiful place fantastic swim up bar and pool, great barmen. We were the only people in the resort (15 people). Had a massage at resort, heaven. Resort was nice and clean but outside was dirty and street sellers are even more desperate there as nobody is going over.Same with Beach sellers Beach at Senggigi was dirty with rubbish. Did a village tour to see how the real balinese people lived, what an eye opener. God I love Aus!!!
Left on Thursday to come back to Kuta. Stayed at the Barong Hotel.
Was a bit worried about staying here after what I had read. Only swam in front pool as it was cleaner. Saw what went on at night in back pool and turned me off swimming in there. Good budget hotel and staff are friendly but if you want quiet at night stay at front part of hotel. back is where young party all night. Order Double Jungle Juice YUM!!
Nyepi Day was abit boring. But understand and respect the Balinese wishes. Hotel was baricaded in so could not go anywhere. Could not put light on at night so sat in dark and watched movies and drank Jungle juice with friends.
Saturday went to Kuta beach for markets as others were closed for holiday.
Brought a couple of sarongs and shirts and sunnies.
Sun had organised trip with group of friends (15) to Ubud and Tanah Lot to watch sunset. Ubud markets are dirty. Tanah lot was beautiful. Paid 1000 Rp to use toilet at markets, wanted money back as they were not clean. Good shopping there. things seemed to be cheaper than Kuta. Sat on the cliff and watched sunset. breathtaking. That night went to dinner at Wayan's Pizza and coffee bar opp Kuta beach down the road from McDonalds. highly reccomend. They give you cold towels to refresh yourself and service was outstanding so was food.
Monday trip to elephant park. Make sure you go to the one at Taro.
Driver took us to the other one and were ripped off. Did not end up riding as price was too much. Did not want lunch or anything else just wanted ride. $53 aus for 15 min ride???? Very disapointed. Next time I will book with Bali Ad Tours personally and not anyone else.
Tuesday did lots of shopping. Went to Sandra's and Mandy's good deals. Just off poppies near Barong Hotel. Brought back 30 DVD's only one does not work properly. brought at Softcomp opp Bagus bar.
Mattaharis has great sales on at the moment and so does discovery plaza. Brought back heaps of kids clothes inc Billabong also shoes, bags and watches. Best price for watches was from guy outside of Mattaharis. A couple of wood things, no problems with customs here.
Flew home Tues night 1/2 late leaving but flight and service home was excellant. Will fly with Garuda again.
Above is only a summary, will post more later on. Still a bit jet lagged.