Well our first time in Bali has come and gone and it was brilliant!!!
We woke up on the Thursday morning and being so early could only watch our two young kiddies sleep before we left. I had a little cry too. This would be our first holiday alone since having the children 6 years ago. Our eldest has Autism so for my husband and myself it was a well deserved break that took me 6 weeks to organize my son's schedule for the grandparents and have other friends in the wings incase they needed help. For the first time we were off without our 5 1/2 year old son and 4 year old daughter. I didn't realize how much I did without thinking about it. The morning in Adelaide it was 13*C and drizzling, we arrived in Bali Friday lunch time to a warming 29*C. Our transfer took all of 10mins to The Ramada Bintang Hotel where we were greeted by the tallest Balinese we'd come across, a polite young lad named Aka, who turned out to be one of the friendliest staff there, not saying any were rude at all, quite the opposite. A gorgeous hotel that's close to the hub of Kuta without being right in the middle of things. So that afternoon we shopped for some summer clothes, as we didn't take a great deal with us and found the bargaining both funny and frustrating at the same time. Dinner at The All Star Surf Cafe was yummy.
The next day saw us shopping again and I had my hair platted and nails painted on the beach. Mind you I had everything else offered to me at the same time, from massages to woodcarvings. I did buy some nice beaded bracelets and necklaces though.
Saturday we were off to the Elephant Safari Park in Tao. What can I say but what an experience, I loved feeding the elephants after our 1/2-hour ride and getting really close to them. Something I won't forget in a hurry. To see these huge animals kept so well and such beautiful surroundings was gorgeous. If you haven't gone to the elephants you really should, lunch there was a smorgasbord of great tasting food in a beautiful restaurant. Dinner Saturday night was at Gracie Kelly's Dynasty Irish Pub. A little expensive, by Bali standards not Australian, but a great pub and yum food. I found it strange watching Balinese musicians playing Irish folk songs but they were good.
Sunday we hit Waterbomb Park, what a hoot!! Do buy a waterproof camera before you go, we got some great wet and wild shots. We had it developed at the Kodak Shop next to our hotel for only 50,000 rp($6.60). The camera from the same shop was 125,000rp($16.60). So it wasn't too much of an outlay considering the photo's we now have. Exhausted we ate a Bubba Gumps, a hilarious place to eat. Fantastic food, again a little more but it was very entertaining. A must, all the waiters are so funny, a great night.
Poor planning had us Horse riding on Monday. We were very sore from all the stairs at Waterbomb Park but we soldiered on and went to Umalas Horse Stables for a one-hour ride through rice fields. The place looks most deceiving from the front, inside were the most luxuriest stables I have ever seen. The horses looked magnificent and very well cared for. Stables are not this clean at home, well none that I have seen. So off we went and somehow we ended up on the beach where the guide asked us again what ride we were on, when I said the one-hour rice tour he apologized. We'd already been riding for an hour and it was another hour back to the stables. So we got to canter along the beach, they asked if I wanted to gallop, which I declined all for the price of the one-hour ride. My husband was very sore afterwards as was I, but so worth it. That night we dined at the Gateway to India restaurant, such a bargain and very spicy. My husband won't agree to that comment but I found it hotter than Australian Indian restaurants. If you like your Indian this is a must.
Tuesday, we are such suckers for putting our bodies through the wringer, we went White Water Rafting. Loads of fun. The stairs are far too many to count on the way down, and they are uneven to boot, not good for little legs like mind, there is less on the way up but as sore and tired as we were I found it tough. (I must get fitter). Also all the way up are people from the local village pushing stuff in front of your face trying to get you to buy something. I didn't just out of the annoyance of them bothering me while I'm trying to climb a million stairs (well that's what it felt like). A small smorgasbord was provided afterwards but drinks were extra, still very cheap. The food was good, but I just wasn't hungry. If you can I would suggest you bring extra clothes because going back to the hotel wet was uncomfortable. Especially my feet as my sneakers where naturally wet through.
Wednesday we took it easy and went shopping. If you can call shopping in Bali easy. Bargaining was just so funny. The kiddies got really spoilt. On the top floor of The Discovery Mall - Centro is a store that sells kitchen utensils etc. but they also sell these great sneakers that when you press the button wheels come down turning them into skates. You'll find them along the stores window front. Well that's where they were when we bought them. A steal at 100,000rp ($13.60). We bought Barbie and Spiderman ones. We did see them elsewhere but for 130,000 to 149,000, exactly the same. They got hidden for Christmas. Dinner was at a German restaurant called Mama's and if it wasn't for the head waiter talking to us all the time trying to get us to use him for a day trip, which he wanted to include a visit to his village and his mother I would have eaten there every other night from then on. The best German food I have had in a very long time. A budget price for a fantastic meal.
Thursday we hired a driver for the day at a cost of 250,000rp and petrol, which came to 70,000rp. Atika picked us up at 8:30am and did not bring us home till 7:30pm. Such a bargain. We saw a Barong dance, a Fire dance at night we visited a silver jeweller, woodcarving, batik factory, monkey forest, and the volcano. If we wanted to stop he did and told us so much along the way. The one thing I regret is we didn't get a lot of time at the Ubud markets, as we had to leave to get to the Fire dance in time. Dinner we were feeling a little home sick so we went to The Bush Telegraph Pub. Cheap meal, I didn't like it much.
Friday my husband and I had a three hour massage. Such luxury, what a great three hours.
Saturday we went to Tanah Lot. Amazing Temple, unreal markets, and the pushiest we'd come across but by this time we were experts.
That was our last day in Bali. What a great holiday. The highs were too many to write down the low were missing our kiddies at home, but we needed the us time and with our son being gluten and dairy intolerant makes travelling an adventure. What a fantastic place, everyone is so happy and content with his or her lives. We could really learn from them, especially with our road rage. Their roads are so much busier but I never saw anyone loose it. Sorry we did once but it was an Australian behind the wheel, we heard his colourful language. He was responded with a joyful wave. What an experience. The best bit was we did heaps of shopping and still came home with cash. Thanks for reading we will do it again...
Excuse my spelling mistakes I ran out of time to check them.
Sorry it's so long.