Long time between JBRs, have been busy so haven't had time to post. Here is the last of my posts re my trip.
Where we ate
Well as everyone knows there are so many places to choose from. On the first night we went to Papa's, not intending to eat but simply for the happy hour and to watch the sunset. Well the happy hour isn't the same any more, there are tablecloths on the tables and it is all set up for dinner. They still have draught Bintang and half price cocktails but the Papa's Chardonnay has been scrapped from the happy hour list, still there, but doesn't taste as good when you pay close to $7 a glass. Needless to say, you also feel a bit pressured to eat there. The first timers were already choosing their meals (even though we had said we weren't too keen on staying) don't want to upset anyone, it had already been a long day and everyone was very tired. The food was good, more than we normally expect to pay, but we enjoyed it just the same.
Pantai - I'm afraid to say that this was one of my most disappointing experiences. We checked it out and it looked great, good spot and prices were reasonable so off we all trodded for dinner. On recommendations that their seafood walks all over Jimabaran Bay I ordered Snapper. The waiter told me it was small, so they were charging less for it that night - fine by me. Well, what the waiter failed to say was that the Snapper was actually a Goldfish on steroids. I have never been served a fish so small before. It was undercooked and not very nice at all, too scared to send it back, simply picked off the best bets and left the rest. The others had Indonesian meals, they were nice and we had contemplated going back again - until it came time for the bill. My husband had gone back to the room with a headache so I was left doing all the talking. Get the bill, put the money on, the waitress takes it and says thankyou. I say that there will be change, Oh, yes, 9,000? No, 19,000. Wait a while for the change and lo and behold, 9,000 on the bill - hmmm, where is the rest of the money? The waiters at this stage are all hovering. I'm not impressed, I do leave tips, but I like to choose how much. For some reason I looked under the bill, and what do I find? My other 10,000 in a nice little note placed strategically so it can't be seen. I was not happy at all. I took the money (all of it) and left. I know it is only 10,000 so we are talking just over a $1 - it's just the dishonesty, I guess I was disappointed because so many people from the forum love it there..
Some of the other places we ate at:
§ Daddy's - the best Greek salad, breakfasts are also pretty good.
§ Mama's -2nd best Rouladen I've ever had, not as good as my Nanna's, but now that I can't have her make it anymore, mama's it is.
§ Treehouse - great spot in Poppies I for breakfast, lunch and dinner, very cheap and always good quality, Chicken Cap Cay - yum!
§ Kubuku - again great spot in Poppies I, have happy hour drinks too
§ Sunset Restaurant - the restaurant at the front of the Santika, not the cheapest, but food is ok, also good if you just aren't up for a trip outside the hotel (only did this once)
§ Black Pearl (Jimbaran Bay), this is a nice spot for the location only - really comfortable chairs, the food is nothing to write home about, the platters are overpriced for what they are. Ganesa (I think that is how it is spelt) (Jimbaran Bay), very nice Snapper and calamari.
§ Poppies - Went for lunch and really enjoyed it. Went for dinner on our last full night and had to get the doctor in the next day so that I could pack and get to the airport to go home, actually. Two weeks later and I'm only just getting better. This is restaurant has seen better days, but that is my opinion and I know that others love it.
§ La Luciola - just love it there, yes it is pricier than other places, but the setting can't be beaten and the cocktails are amazing. This is a once a visit spoil.
§ Poco Loco - very yummy Mexican, a bit spicy for some - but I like spice!. I always enjoy the Fajitas and they have amazing Frozen Margaritas.
§ TJs - also a Poppies 1 restaurant. Good setting, food is also pretty good, but we just seem to pay for it the next day. I always give them the benefit of the doubt but after this trip will also be struck off the list.
§ Café the Sand - at Kumala Pantai, the food here was great. Went there a couple of times, thought it was worth the trip from Tuban. My husband was hanging for a burger and we were amazed with what he got. It was huge. Very good quality Indonesian meals too. The only down side was the construction going on next door and the reno's they were doing to the Kumala Pantai, circular saws will pierce anyone's ears, especially when you are carrying a decent hangover from too many G&Ts the night before.
§ Griya Santrian pizza restaurant - ate there on our day trip to Sanur, the pizza was awesome, the base was crispy in the middle - now if only restaurants could master that art here. Looked at the wine list and they had reasonably priced wine too, Mad Fish for Rp250,000. Now at $34 that isn't bad considering that some bottle shops in Oz charge $19. I'd rather pay that for a bottle than Rp300,000+ for some of the other wines on offer.
§ Lanai - just up from Kumala Pantai, good spot, good views over the beach, food was mid range priced and very enjoyable. Also had good value wine, well again, the Mad Fish was around the same price as at the Griya (OK, I am a Mad Fish fan).
§ Kopi Pot - had two great meals here, first was Sate Lalit - never had it before and it was absolutely beautiful, the second night I went there I had a whole Snapper, this would have to be the best Snapper I have had in Bali, beats Jimbaran Bay hands down (that is my personal opinion though, others may beg to differ)
Night life
Didn't really go out partying at night, god I'm starting to sound old. The only place we did go to was Rivoli (after dinner at Poco Loco). All I can say about this place is that I was embarrassed to be an Aussie. They wanted to charge us $25 Aus to enter and that was for a BBQ buffet (at 10.30 at night I don't think so) plus all you can drink cocktails and Bintang. We weren't up for a big one so when we refused to pay, they let us in without paying the entry fee and we just ordered our drinks as we went. The band was pretty good and they were doing great covers. When they started on the Aussie, Aussie Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi all I could think was get me out of here. There were groups of guys that were absolutely destroying themselves on the all you can drink cocktails and were drinking half of one and then going back and getting more. The club then brought on three local girls in bikinis who were dancing on the stage to Gwen Stefani, all of the guys in the crowd were groping them and just being a nuisance. What really embarrassed me was the drinking competitions run by two Aussie girls, five people on the stage, the first to down that arak and put the glass on their head won a free Tshirt - hmmm now that was an incentive. I felt like I was on a live very of the Uncensored shows on Arena at 10.30 on a Sunday night, just exchange the English accent with an Aussie accent and the location from Ibiza to Kuta.
This was our only nightclub experience for the trip. We did go out for happy hours, which was fun, we met quite a few different people along the way and heard some really interesting stories. Went to Secret Garden a few times for the doubles spirits for Rp20,000. Have been there on past trips and had never noticed the underground culture there. This time we got talking to some expats and my eyes were certainly opened up. Not too sure if I will go back there on return trips to Bali.
The last days and the return home
Well all I can say is I got extremely sick on my last day, had to call the doctor to the hotel and I was starting to dread the thought of packing and getting on the plane. The hotel were great and they got the doctor in straight away - I doubt that I will ever go back to Poppies Restaurant again as this is all I can put it down to.
We were sad to leave Bali, we thoroughly enjoyed our two weeks, it was so relaxing and we met some great people, talking to the locals and I was testing my Indonesian that I had been learning.
At the airport we asked to pay to upgrade (which can be done at $250 US pp), but the flight was completely full, they had cancelled the Melbourne flight and they were all put onto our flight to Sydney or they were transferred to the AP flight. I was nearly in tears as I was so sick and I couldn't bare the thought of the flight ahead. The next task was sitting in the airport for two hours in my state. Only option was to pay $40 to use the executive lounge. Now this is money well spent. The lounges are so comfortable, there was hardly anyone in there. I just sat in the corner and slept. My husband was in his element, free Bintang, spirits, wine. The food was OK, soups, sandwiches, salads, cakes, pastries - I didn't have anything but it looked nice. Next time I will make sure that I am in a better state to really appreciate it in there.
The flight home was the best that it can be, I wished that I had tried to extend my stay rather than fly being so ill. Customs was a breeze in Sydney, we had nothing to declare and were through pretty quick. There were others though that didn't get off so lightly in our queue, declared nothing but after the bags were xrayed there were things being pulled out and inspected.
Now that I have been back for two weeks all I can say is that I love Bali and can't wait to get back, bring on next year.