Well here goes - I have been reading all the reports on this site and my god there is a lot to live up to when you do a JBR. (it is a Just Back report isn't it?)
We have just returned (Monday morning) from a big family holiday to help celebrate my mother-in-law's 60th birthday. Mother-in-law being kind enough to pay for 18 family members to come over to help her celebrate!
My family consists of my husband & 15mth old son and another on the way (5mths pregnant). While the rest of the family is made up of his 3 sisters & their respective husbands, their kids (age range 12-8), Granny & Poppy & one outsider friend along for the ride.
We spent the first 3 days staying at Ananda Cottages in Ubud - absolutely beautiful setting, very peaceful & highly recommended. While in Ubud we went on the Bali Adventure tours bike ride from Mt Batur through the villages down to the Elephant Park. This was definitely one of the highlights of the trip. Riding through all the villages gave a small taste of village life and it was just great fun. The Elephant park was also pretty good. We got the naughtiest elephant in the whole park apparently - Titri I think its name was - and it was a pretty hair-raising experience! Trying to hold on to a very excited 15mth old boy while the elephant heads down a ravine to get a better taste of some grass, then bored with that, decides to rear up on 2 hind legs to get some coconut fronds from the tree. I know the Asian elephants aren't as big as the African ones - but it still seemed a fair way to fall.
After Ubud it was down to Kuta, sorry Tuban, to the Bali Dynasty. I have stayed here before pre-kids, and it was chosen mainly for all the kids club/Playstations in rooms etc. Not too bad really. I prefer staying closer to Kuta or Legian, but thats my personal choice and also - beggars can't be choosers!
Anyway, what else did we do - Waterbom Park of course, which considering I have been to Bali 7 times now, this was the first time I had been. Most excellent fun, even being pregnant - so the crazier slides were out of action to me.
Mother Temple at Besakih, I don't know about anyone else, but I feel some money could be spent there to clean it up just a little. Not nice stepping in dog poo all the way up the road, luckily my 15mth isn't walking or that could have been ugly.
Shopping - markets wise - Ubud was very cheap compared to Kuta, but also pretty cheap quality. Understanding a bit of Indonesian, the stall holders should watch what they say when they start swearing at you! Just cause we like to drive a hard bargain & with an Indonesian brother-in-law you can see what the locals get charged - understandable really.
Shopping - department store wise - does anyone know if Mataharis is closing down or anything? It seemed that they looked to be trying to get rid of all their stock. Still great bargains, the new Centro & Club Stores were also pretty good - Club Store supermarket better than the Matahari supermarket in my opinion (for fresh fruit & baby equipment).
Tailor - went to a great tailor - Rudi on Jalan Legian at the front of the Kencana mini-mart. Its worth having a look at his little sewing area - tiny. He was recommended by the Leather jacket man across the road, I think we paid a bit extra for some suits (wool just under $200 and the polyester ones just under $90) but they are so well made and fit like a glove. (with a bit of stretch for a growing belly!)
Anyway, to celebrate my mother-in-law's 60th we all dressed up (bought beaded dress at a Beaded dress shop in Jalan Legian just south from Jalan Melasti for $100 - sorry forgotten name of shop, but just devine hand sewing work!) and headed off to Ku-de-ta restaurant. The sunset was turned on for us, great setting, beautiful food, and we all had a great time. My husband even set off some fireworks on the beach - gotta love the fact you can still get them in the markets over there!
All in all, it was a great holiday, had an absolute ball and thinking about when we can come back. Probably when this next baby is at least walking I think. I was in Bali pregnant with my son 20mths ago, so next time I come back I definitely want to enjoy as many Bintangs & Bali Moon cocktails as I can!
Cheers,
Polly