We stayed for a total of 10nights at the bounty hotel JL. Poppies 2 Kuta, very good hotel I could not fault this place at all, very clean, buffet breakfast was unreal, a very young persons hotel very good service all around the pools were great as well as the swim up bars were nice, only down fall which isn't too bad was the hassles you got once you left the hotel you can survive, just annoying sometimes.But hey, I miised the sounds of "transport", "how much you buy", "you want jiggy jig", "massage", "i give you good price, best price".
Once we got off the plane the heat hit me like a bag of bricks and I just started to sweat hard .VOA took about 30 minutes and collected bags and went through customs within minutes, had no problems whatsoever. Just watch out for the porters ,just say no aggressively or give them a gold coin ($1) if you have them take your bag to the ‘Blue Taxis'. Make sure you have $25US as I saw many people have troubles cause they didn't have US only AUD.
As far as night life there it is very safe of course you have your people offering you jiggy jig, drugs etc... Just say no if you don't. Do it simple, didn't see no gangs or anything there for me to be afraid or anything out of the ordinary.
Clubs we went to Bounty Ship, M Bargos, Rivolis and Paddy's. Bounty Ship was great after 1am, Paddy's full of Aussies was always rocking after 11'ish, M Bargos was ok few locals not so packed but we had mad fun there.
Jungle Juice is a killer but refreshing
Arak Attack Very Strong! Beware of both
We had our fun with some massages giving them extra tip. Went to the Green Gardens Spa next to Bali Hai hotel and paid RPH 242 000 (about Aus $40).Free gift. Service the best and beautiful surroundings, actually quite posh. Started off with a ice cold face towel, nice orange juice, then you jump into the spa for a while, then sauna and swim in the pool for about 1hr or so, then your taken to you room we got the royal Bali for him get a small massage full body, foot massage in rose pedal water then onto a warm stone massage very nice some stones too hot ,made us jump, after that you head to get a pedicure, your hair washed, massaged then aloe Vera into you head its great all up around 3-4hrs.
Activities we done were.
Denpasar, Sanur nothing special just a lot of locals and markets.
Nusa Dua Beach and did the magic package C. Quoted 300 000 RPH but bargained for 200 000 RPH with no arguments or hesitation. Free transport and package included Jet Ski, Parasailing, and Banana boat, Snorkelling, Glass Bottom Boat and Turtle Island. Awesome fun and great to see the large Turtles, python, tame Komodo dragon and monkeys on Turtle Island. Could take as many photos with no charge. Went at 8:30am and got back late afternoon. Strange to see the tides go out so far...
Got this through ‘Derrick' at Bagus Pub - 08 523 709 9331.
I had a wicked holiday, it was my first time and we stayed for 10nights best holiday by far spent about $1700AUD inc all the tours restaurants, beer, shopping, food shopping .I came back with $0 lucky I had $50AUD saved for excess baggage. Next time we go we are going to stay at different places and go for 3weeks not just stay in Kuta. I think if we didn't do enough tours and see a lot of Bali cause lounging by the pool and going out to all the theme parties etc. I don't think we would have had such a great time, it was a very big eye opener to see how much we live like kings, very big culture shock for me, being able haggle is their only way to make money ,they don't know anything else. I do feel sorry for the ladies working the rice terraces carrying 40KG + rice bags very hard workers the Balinese.
Restaurants we eat at:
Papas - Excellent meal, try the Kintamani (Volcano shaped pastry dish with seafood) and the Lamb Curry, both to die for and reasonably priced.
Koris - very nice here food is A Class the price is ok we eat in the aircon roomed waited for our food drinking some bintangs playing pool felt like a king.
Jimbaran Bay - well what can I say? The food and sceneries speaks for it self.
Macaroni club - nice food here again the price is pretty cheap compared to others.
Pizza Hut - different but pricey
Bubba Gumps - very nice food and a bit expensive on the pocket shrimps galore
McWilliams - Cheap burgers but tasty - reminded me of the film ‘Coming to America'.
There were a few others we went to I can't remember the prices I should of kept a journal while it was all fresh in my brain.
What we bought:
Singlet - Bintangs, Jiggy Jig - 15000 - 20000RP
Volcom singlet etc... 15000 - 20000RP
T-Shirts, Billabong, etc... Good quality 25000 - 30000RP
Board shorts 20000 - 30000RP
Watches 250000 - 30000 RP
Sunni's Oakley, 10000 - 20000RP
Tommy Cologne 150000RP
Levi 501 70000 80000RP
Hang bags Luis vitton, Dior - 40000 - 90000RP
Versace Jeans, Ralph Lauren, dolce gabbana 170000 250000RP - Kuta square
Tommy Shorts 200000RP - Kuta square
Tommy T-shirt - 160000RP Kuta square
Henna tattoo done at across from Bounty Hotel next to Fast Eddy cost us 300 000RP for 4.
DVD's 7000 RP from Fast Eddy's cousin near Bounty Hotel, very good and also gave us free DVD holders for every 50 we bought. Gave us some freebies and does music cd's as well. They will also tell you if good quality or not as well. Any probs they will exchange or refund but we were pleased with all as they will test for you also.
Fast Eddy is based right across from Bounty Hotel and sells all the bags you want and will help you with Sim cards and anything you want.
I ordered about 80 and my mates got between about 250 or more so they made some good cash. You can test them before you buy.
Socks - 12 pairs for 30000RP
Beta sandals retail 150 000RP very good quality kind of like brown leather material good soles and well moulded.
Blue bird Taxi - only way to get meter on cost to flag fall 4000RP
Caught a ride back off a motor bike few times after we were drinking good fun didn't cost much little more than a taxi. Eg from Paddy's to Bounty Hotel paid 5000 RPH ( about Aus $ 0.75c)
Bottle water 2500RP 1.25
Smokes 7000RP
Bintangs 10 000RP
That's all I can remember, we arrived back early Thursday morning in Perth 28/07/05e I am already planning my second trip to go soon. I love the place ,they say you either love it or hate it. I have fallen in love with the culture there and the way of life, the villages, the Balinese girls, everything is legal there I couldn't live there due to the wage but defiantly would go there for long holidays as I felt like a king. The currency for $1AUD exchange 7400RP which is a lot of money and a good rate. Always changed money at the Kodak shops, very good and counted money in front of you and also signed some slips printed off the computer with rate etc. No commission, and also used the ATM's and had no problems. You can find them in the 24hrs convenience shops i.e. Mini Mart and ‘K's, but the banks have them and they are in secure booths so quite safe. Or if you need extra money, just go into the bank and withdraw large sums via the counter but you must have your passport (no photocopies) and you're Visa/Master Card.
Back at work now and very depressed. I have the Bali Blues don't want to be here (...) all I can do is live with it and save for the next trip. I had a wonderful time I have about 200+ photos taken I will post them up as soon as I shrink them give me some time.
This is my first JBR hope you like it I might have forgotten a lot of things we did and the prices but most of what I can recall is listed.
Thanks
Terimah Kasih
Sorry about the grammar or spelling, but if you have any questions please feel free to ask.