1st morning wide awake at 5:00am WHAT THE????? oh well went for a short walk before breakfast, What a beautiful time of the day, if you get the chance go for an early morning walk, it's well worth it.
Anyway off to breaky, I could never get sick of these, had a great selection of fresh fruit, yoghurt, pastries, cereals, toast, four or five differtent hot foods which changed daily, eggs anyway you like them, and salads YUM OH!!
Was amusing to watch the early morning loungehogs come out place their towels down and then go back to their rooms. Lounges all gone by about 6:30am for first few days but seemed to get a bit better after that. Was very tempted to pick up some of the towels and return them to the gym just to see what would happen, but I'm on holidays and can't be bothered entering into the whole lounge bagging thing. There are plenty of lawns to sit at by the pool and we didn't really have a problem with finding somewhere to sit by the pool.
Went to Waterbom Park, How amazing is this place, we all loved it, stayed all day and if we had of had time we would definately have gone back a second day. Didn't think the food was that overpriced, no cues just climb the stairs and off you go. Didn't think the stairs were that bad, kids didn't complain either, they were too excited to notice I think. Did some more shopping on the way home getting better at bargaining still fell guilty for getting stuff so cheap, but hey I'll get over it.
Went to Geneva. This place was great, kids got heaps of presents for their friends, most less than $1 each, brought stacks of stuff, woodcarvings, placemats, keyrings, jewellery everything soooo cheap and no bargaining. We just caught a taxi there and when we had finisged walked outside, didn't need to wait 5mins and a taxi was passing to take us back to our motel. Too easy. There were quite a few taxis around.
Went to Discovery Mall. Yep it's huge, found the Bintang shop and Bread Talk YUMOH and very cheap. Didn't really but much there, kind of felt like shopping at a shopping centre at home so we did'nt stay there very long.
We had booked a tour thru Tour East thought we were just going for a bike ride thru some villages and then an elephant ride but it was so much more.. We were picked up at 7:30am & had our own driver for the whole day. We were taken to the restaurant overlooking the volcano, can't remember the name, it was absolutly amazing, just like a scene out of Getaway!!, hawkers weren't that bad either. Then a short ride to beginning of bike ride, this was great, very easy ride all downhill anyone could do this ride. Kids were getting tired by the end of it is as it was just us with two tour guides we went a different way so we finished in about two hours instead of two and a half. Saw woodcarvings and stone carvings being done. Stopped at a school, all the kids ran out to see us, got a great photo of our kids with all the Balinese kids. Bottled water supplied for the whole ride. Guide were very informative too. When we had finished bikes were packed up on a truck and we were taken to the Bridge Cafe in Ubud for lunch, another beautiful location, food was good too. Then our driver came to see if we were ready to go and we were off to the elephant park. Walked in and were straight onto the elephants, other people were waiting so I don't know why we didn't have to wait, but hey I'm not complaining. The elephant ride was magic, went for about 45 mins, beautiful scenery the guides stopped along the way and took heaps of photos with our camera for us, kids loved going thru the water and the elephants sptaying water from their trunks, was truley beatiful and couldn't recommend it highly enough. When we had finished our driver was back to take us home, we passed the monkey forest on the way home, our driver asks if we want to stop and go in, but it's been a long day and there were heaps of monkeys playing on the side of the road so the kids were happy they had seen a monkey stopped to take some photos and keep going back to the motel. Gave the driver a tip and he neally cried, felt good to make him so happy.
Went shopping in Garlic Lane, loved it here, was more like the Bali I remember. We mad brought 8 handbags, Prada, Gucci, Chanel and of course Lois Vuitton, couple of purses, key rings, denim billabong board shorts heaps of tops and board shorts, Harley Davidson Helmets CD's and more DVD's. Daughter brought pink Lois Vuitton handbag and matching wallet, soooo cute but I think I'm creating a monster (more on her later)I thinks she also brought just about every Paul Frank piece of clothing she saw! Had to go back to the motel coz we couldn't carry any more.
Had a stack of stuff made by Gede at Lembi Leather, started out just wanting Three jackets and a vest ended up getting two 3/4 length jackets 2 harley jackets (had picture) 2 pairs of boots for me pair of Harley boots for my son pair of long boots for daughter swede skirt for daughter (too cute!!) vest for hubby also got pants and long winter jacket for hubby (not leather) all for about 5500000rp!!!! Gede was so helpful he came to the motel with his samples and measured us all up, because we wanted some stufuf made from fabric not leather he chased up some samples and brought the back for us to choose, them when it was all made up brought it all to the motel everything fitted perfectly except for my long jacket, but no stress, Gede took that back and was back in about an hour and now fits perfectly. If you want leather stuff made I would definetly recommend Lembi Leather.
Also went shopping at Kuta Square there is a shop there that sells heaps of brand name clothing, sorry can't remember the name but you can't miss it, went crazy in here too brought Versace, Armarni, Dolce & Gabbana jeans all less than 300000rp tops upto 100000rp mens shirts, can't remember how much but really cheap. Daughter (we know call here Lois as she carried her new bag and wallet everywhere) also got some Dolce & Gabbana tops as the sizing is very small, so the small sizes fitted her.
We found the fairy shop in Poppies Lane 1 it was great, fairy dresses 35000rp wings large 50000rp, wand 10000rp, fairy shoes25000rp(I think) Harry Potter cape and Hat 40000rp, mermaid costume 35000rp so cheap. Christmas shopping for the nieces done!!!! There was a fairy shop not far from the Jayakarta that had the same dresses for 60000rp.
Brought too many watches, sunglasses, sarongs,shorts tops and caps from the people on the beach, but when in Bali you have to. Buy the way if anyone is buying watches on the beach outside the Jayakarta from "Mr Lover Lover" can you let him know that his watches really are waterproof, I accidenlty put one in the wash and found it when I was hanging out the washing and it still works!!!! So if you see him tell him Rachael Ian Josh and Jade will be back to buy his watches next time.
Went to The Hard Rock Cafe for lunch, yes it is expensive compared to everywhere else we ate while in Bali but the food was great and it is still cheaper than eating out at home. Checked out their pool while we were there, my God what a pool, very impressive.
When it was time to start packing to come home hubby started getting a bit stressed when I kept pulling out all the stuff we had brought. I must admit there was heaps of stuff so I am glad I had only filled 1 case to come over. We eventually fitted it all in and was pleasently surprised that we weren't overweight although they didn't weigh our hand lugggage on the way home because that was definately way over the limit. About the new 6 year old label junky. She prances out of the motel in her 3/4 lenghth leather jacket, swede skirt she wanted to wear the long boots but too hot, Gucci sunnies Lois Vuitton bag and Paul Frank watch to wait for "her" driver to take her to the airport! She got some geat looks as we were waiting in Sydney airport for our flight to Melbourne. Josh also looked gorgeous in his new Harley Jacket and Oakley sunnies.
We had the best time and up until last weekend I was waiting for a quote for next year to go to Hong Kong and Bali on the way home, but it has kind of freaked us out a bit, especially the kids who are now scared of going back, which is very sad as they are only 6 and 8 and shouldn't have to think about these horrible things. So we are now going to Hong Kong and Phuket next year. We will go back to Bali as we have such beautiful memories but not at the moment.
Well thanks for reading, and I hoped you enjoyed reading. I will post some hints and tips for first timers later
See Ya