I wasn't in the mood to post my JBR after coming back last week but maybe we need to remember the good times. Arrived on 15th September Air Paradise out of Adelaide. Great service left Adelaide early but ½ hr late into Bali must have had a head wind. This was my 4th time in 3 years and my 18year old daughter Jessie's 2nd visit. She is a uni student and was paying for herself so we went on her budget. Stayed at the Oasis in Kuta. Pretty basic wrote a report in it a few days ago.
Hotel was over booked so they asked would be go to Lovina for 3 days what a bonus. We stayed at Aditya Beach resort, which was great. Went with a couple from WA and a Dutch couple. We went via Bedugal and had a great tour on the way there. Had a ball. Wanted to watch the Crows playing football and found a bar with TV. Unfortunately we were surrounded by West Coasts supporters and as the game progressed we lost our cockiness but it was a great place to watch the game. Went on dolphin tour and our boat broke down but it was all fun. Saw lots of dolphins.
Moved back to Kuta on the Sunday night and into a better room at the hotel. The guys who ran the stalls along JL Bakung Sari would hassle us each morning to buy and by the end of the week were vowing their undying love to Jess. One would lay in wait each time we walked past to try and give Jess a kiss. In the end we would cross the road and wave from the safe distance but all in fun.
Did all the usual shopping got some Converse hi tops for about $20AUS and the usual other Bali bargains. Went on the Bounty Cruise to Lembongan Island. Disappointed with the Bounty with some very aggressive passengers from Taiwan and the food was pretty basic. Preferred the personal touch on the Island Explorer which we have done twice before. Bounty cruises wouldn't give us transfers because we used the 50% discount voucher from AP. Got a taksi there and on the way back we negotiated for transport. They said it was a taksi but when we got around the corner it was a bemo. In the back we piled and off to Kuta perched precariously on the bench seats and with the door open. Our driver decided he didn't want to wait in the long line-up for the lights going into the big roundabout so he went up the left side past all the other cars and then pushed in. Nobody was happy with him but he didn't care.
Our real highlight was our school visit to Sembung SD7 to see our three sponsor children. Jess now sponsors her own student and she wanted to meet him. Our driver Ketut took us there. Had our first heavy rain on the way but it dried out by the time we got there. The children and teachers were thrilled to see us again (I was there in June) and I had photos and books for the new library. My sponsor child Kadek smiled this time and happily held my hand all morning. Jess and went into one classroom. No teacher and I always wanted to try so I took over the class. We tried them with English numbers and then the alphabet but they were too good for me. We then tried English words and they would tell me the Indonesian version. It was a great visit and we all had a ball. They now learn English from year 4.
Upgraded to Super Economy for trip home and that was great, being able to use the lounge and have 30kg luggage allowance which we didn't use. I told Jess we should buy more and just buy another bag but!!
Will I go again next year as planned? I wasn't certain last night after hearing the news as we were just near Raja's at the same time last Saturday night but today I feel more positive. I love Bali, the people, the culture and the lifestyle and I feel so sad for them and the ones who were killed and injured. I probably will go back I just wont stay right in Kuta again. I have tickets to the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth games in Melbourne next March and I think that I will feel safer in Bali then in Melbourne. Cheers Kim