Relaxed holiday this time so a brief JBR.
Spent the 2 weeks or so just chilling with friends and relaxing.
GARUDA:
Flew Garuda from Perth. Not changed much in the few years since we flew with them before. Had a trainee? check us in who gave us the wrong boarding passes in another passenger's name (same surname). Had to go back & get correct passes & fix up our luggage which had been checked through in their name...not impressed.
Service & food ok.
WEATHER:
Rained for the first 4 days pretty much non-stop. Borrowed hotel umbrella & went walking barefoot in the streets anyway.
Weather cleared but was very hot & humid.
TOURISTS:
Not many around on the streets especially during the day.
More evident at night at restaurants, bars & clubs.
SHOPPING:
Didn't really shop this time as did most of it on the last trip, 2 months ago.
Daughter had a dress (cocktail) made from Brisbane Tailor in the lane near our hotel. Was a very difficult dress to copy from a picture & they did an ok, but not fantastic job.
Main purchases - cheap bling jewellery, clothes, DVD's.
Hired a DVD player again & had a friend get my list of DVD's from the factory places in Denpasar.
Went to Ramayana, Tragia, Kuta Galleria, Bali Mall Galeria, every boutique on Legian Street , lots of Surf shops & Kuta Square
Went to Super Pillow IV in Rum Jungle Road to get quilts, cushion covers made again but this didn't end up happening.
Rude,difficult,arrogant & a pain to deal with.
NIGHTLIFE:
Apache Bar - gets going around 12 & they had their 8th anniversary party (big night) while we were there. Reggae music & frequented by a more laid back dreadlocked crowd.
Bounty- Busy some nights but not others. Not as many tourists as usual but frequented by many locals.
R&B, Hip Hop music & good for dancing.
Fights are not uncommon between locals/tourists & locals/locals by the end of the night.
Closes around 4-5 am
Embargo - more an upmarket trendy place for the younger crowd...both tourists & locals.
Venom & Rivoli - busy some nights but generally quiet when we wandered past.
Paddys - still popular & fairly busy but not packed out.
Hulu - still a good show at Hulu.
Makes no difference if you are male or female...you are still likely to get a pair of legs wrapped around your head & a groin shoved in your face etc...
Interesting costumes & show.
Local Nightclub/Cafe - Located in Denpasar & frequented by locals.
"Hostesses" sit at your table all night & serve/pour you drinks/talk to you.
Different to the usual tourist haunts.
Big nights for partying Saturday night & sometimes Thursday & Fridays
MEETINGS:
Met Peter Ryan & SmudgeUK for a few beers.
Also caught up with 2 other forum friends for a drink & lunch at Jimbaran Bay.
Did not go to S&S & missed the BTF dinner at Legend on the 15th....heard there was a good turnout though.
TEMPORARY TATTS:
Daughter & I had them done again by a friend & had no problems.
BEGGARS:
Lots out on the street at night in Legian St (around the memorial & clubs) particulary from the time the clubs get going & until they close. Mothers with small babies & young children. More now than the last trip to Bali.
OTHER STUFF:
Looked at the Opal Inn Hotel (was part of our package but did not stay there), Pelasa Hotel, Su's Cottages II, the new 14 Roses again (soft opening shortly)
Stayed at Sri Ratu bungalows again.
Ibis Legian still a fair way from completion as is the Losari Hotel in Jln Sahadewa
Will do detailed reports with photos later.
VOA was quick & painless (paid in $US)
Used Bali Sim cards again & had no problems with sending/receiving messages or making calls.
Found CircleK useless for trying to buy credit as they never had any.
Drank the local Mansion House vodka & found the prices of (non local)spirits although higher than home, still reasonable at Matahari etc.
Taxis- used the light blue ones mainly (are nearly all new now & a slightly different colour)
Also used the darker blue.
White ones had meter clicking over so fast it was fascinating to watch...
Didn't eat out much but when we did..
Rum Jungle Restaurant (Padma Utara)
Good selection of food, cold towels on arrival , reasonable prices.
Food good, drinks ok.
Wayan & Friends (Padma Street)
Had chicken curry..was ok but have had better.
Good restaurant & prices.
Rajas (Kuta Square)
Both dishes ordered were ordinary.
Menu good & prices slightly higher.
La Pace -- formerly Bali Qui (Jln Sahadewa)
Restaurant now renamed, new furniture, slightly different less extensive menu.
Drinks not as good as before. Food ok, prices slightly higher than before.
Mama's (Jln Legian)
Open 24 hrs (handy after the clubs).
Good range on the menu. Not cheap but reasonable cost.
Will do take-aways.
A&W's (Jln Pantai Kuta)
Great thickshakes.
Burgers & chicken better than maccas.
Maccas (Kuta Square)
Blahhh :)
Sri Ratu Hotel
Good food at good prices eg Nasi Goreng, Nasi Campur & Mie Goreng
Nyoman Cafe (Jimbaran Bay - Muaya Beach)
Nice setting, beach was clean (for lunch)
Usual seafood menu with limited other choices.
Good fried squid & fried rice.
Prawns overdone.
Reasonable prices, service slow & had difficulty understanding.