after getting the dreaded phone call a week before - "your flight has been cancelled - would you like to leave March 28th instead of March 27th?" and running around to change flights to leave March 26th (an extra day - got to be happy about that!!!!!) we were finally up and away and on time as well. Barely two movies, getting used to the air paradise music again and eating those yummy chips we were landing. Got off the plane and bused to the terminal, gave aussie dollars for VOA - no probs, then off to get our bags. Seemed like forever and in the back of your mind was -"nothing in my bags", we got our bags and off we went. Having told Komang (now a friend - not just a driver) that he was picking up my sister and her hubby had the camera poised to take the photo of him standing at the rail with a sign to pick up her. Wearing hats and sunglasses we got half way out before his face broke into a HUGE smile as he realised we were there. Hugs etc later we were at the van with some lovely cold bottles of water from his friend Gede ( lots of G'day Gede jokes happened in a week) and off to the Grand (fawlty towers) Mirage.
Details of our week
- Grand Mirage - expected Basil Fawlty to come out at any second. In the first 24 hrs - room stunk due to dirty airconditioning so were changing rooms at 5am!!!, no hot water for most of the first day (so grumpy aussie needing hot shower), key was cancelled as they thought we were only staying one night - not till april 1st (and every time we went to the reception desk they thought (wished) we were checking out, room was cleaned (?) and only towels for one were left, the cleaners left a dirty milk jug on the bench all day, and then the in room safe broke and we had only been there for just over 24 hours!!!! and on the day we left we had late check out and the cleaner trolly was left in front of the door all day. 5 star?????? but hay - it was a bed and we are in Bali.
Eating - La Scala - great place, wonderful people, excellent music, brilliant food - kept going back!!!!! I think we drank our way thru the cocktail menu. Recommend to any one.
Bumbu Bali - exellent but a little too commercial for our liking. We were there during a storm and the staff ran around with umbrellas. great experience there.
Kecak Bali - wonderful place, excellent giant skewer. Hubby to do cooking class in Oct.
Had suckling pig with Komang and Gede in Kuta - yummmmmyyyy
Went to Tirtagangga and swam in the pool there - like swimming in Tassie - cold and refreshing - great place to visit
Went to Kuta and air conditioning in shops in wonderful
Shopped a bit but mainly swam, walked - checked out heap of hotels in Nusa Dua - just take your camera - start taking photos and act like you know where you are going, even went for a swim at the Novotel.
Overall great holiday , came home with a tan, had a great 40th - will remember it for a long time to come and even my first attempt with the digital camera looks successful
any questions - details for Komang to drive etc pls contact me on clutz0210@pacific.net.au
Heather ( 174 more days till we are back)