Day 6
Off to Lovina today.Our Driver Nyoman based in ubud was great.young guy good with kids & very good English.cost 300 000. Let me know if you would like contact details.
Left ubud 10:00, our first stop was a one of the major temples,sorry can't remember name.its the 1 with the river all around.it has actually been drained at the moment for repairs to walls.lots of tourists here.cost 3000.
2nd stop for cold drink & to take pictures of rice terraces.had crazy man trying to kiss & hug me.ended up taking photo of him.i think he was happy with this,at least he stopped grabbing me.
3rd stop the temple on the lake,very pretty.has small kids playground here,abit rusted though.Also bats,snakes, other animals abit like a possumn.you can take photos with them for donation of 20 000.cost 3300.
Had lunch just up the road at a buffet overlooking lake.Mentari restaurant,Candikuning.4 yr old free.11 yr old half price. Total cost 253 200.including 20% tax.Was a bit suss on the buffet but was ok.don't like the thought of food sitting for hrs.toilet was not good.water on floor.
Beautiful drive over the mountains,literally amongst the clouds.
4th stop was going to be git git waterfalls,but by this stage kids were over it so decided to keep going.Through singarara.Did not have any accomadation booked in lovina so stopped at a few different places. Gedes- 100 000 night per room looked ok for budget but not with kids.Angasoka-wanted to much for family room,long way from pool.Ended up at Nirwarna seaside cottages.Hotel style rooms.Not a thing in them about local area.no fridge.just basic.cost 175 000 per night air-con including brekky.Great pool,kiddie pool,bar.This hotel is situated right on kalibuluk beach near dolphin statue.huge area.beautiful gardens.
Dinner was at Kakatu.This restaurant is great. 2 cockatoos out the front in huge cage.We ended up eating here quite a few times as became friends with staff,good food & kids menu.chicken nuggets & cheese burger! Bread is steamed to freshen.abit soggy sometimes.toilet good.a few mozzies.
Day 6
Slept in.Mum woke up with flu.Abit of a lazy day today,swimming.in search of recharge for phone.Lunch kakatu. Found epotik for drugs for mum.120 000 for 10 tablets.she came good after this.
Dinner tonight was across from kakatu can't remember name sorry but was very good & cheap.
Went to a dance at the community centre which they were filming for bali tv.cost 50 000 .ended up leaving as 2 hrs later 11:00 still only ½ way through as they kept stopping & starting,lots of locals there.was interesting.
Day 7
Did abit of shopping today.not that many places to choose from but found a little place up from dolphin statue near wartel which was fixed price.a bit dearer than Kuta but a lot less tourists.Got wrap around pants,40 000sarongs 20 000(can't have 2 many of these) floatie ring 25 000for pool. skirts,40 000,necklaces,5 000,shell ones.1/2 sarongs skirts 15 000 plus a few other things.
Down to beach today.Lovina beach is nice good for swimming but we tended to swim at hotel pool, as we live at the beach in aus and I think we do have some of the best beaches in world but do take for granted.
Everyone attacked! Had been down before were not hanging around then,just walking along.Had Karas hair plaited for 70 000.Ella wouldn't get hers done,was a bit scared.While we were there ended up buying, mum- bali painted calendar 50 000, pendants for necklace about 10 each.thay were gorgeous shell like all different colours with coconut on back.paid 10 000 each.plus 1 dolphin carving & dolphin keyring for 7000,the last of money had on me.Did pay to much for the stuff here but I did feel bad/guilty.There are not many tourists & yes they are doing it tough.Many times when buying it was there first sale of the day & this was at 4/5 in the arvo.
Went for huge walk around.Found Rambutan cottages a favourite on forum.So had to check out.Very nice,staff seemed really friendly,kids playground,2 pools,beautiful gardens,rooms very nice. but I'm sorry can not understand anyone charging us dollars which adds at least 30% to aus dollar.(very expensive)in Indonesia.I'm sorry looked unreal but from paying 350 000 for the night to paying 950 000.
Dinner tonight was at further along from dolphin statue,sorry again unsure of name.It had 3 levels, we ended up at top right on edge.I'd say at least 100 metres up.Quite scary concrete had cracks & railing wasn't the best.We got through it,by not looking down to much.Food was good.staff unreal.very friendly great with kids.played the gamelan for ella.ella is a music fanatic! Toilet yuk! Leaking everywhere!
Day 8
Today we did a cooking class with Putu.When Putu first approached us we were walking along the main rd & he stopped & handed us his flyer.yep another one to add to pile.looked ok but you know not sure put it in the backpack.We came across Putu a few different times he, seemed a really genuine guy.We had planned to do a cooking class in Ubud but did not pan out, especially with the kids.So we organised to attend his cooking class for the day.Putu is a qualified chef who is trying to make a living like everyone.
We met Putu outside hotel at 10:00.You can organise for lunch or dinner.To start we caught a bemo to the local markets.First bemo ride. Where we bought fresh ingredients. This in itself was great!From there we caught a bemo to Putu's place in a nearby village.
Where Putu taught us to cook Balinese food(authentic).From making pastes in the mortar & pestal to ? the list goes on! We ended up making 7 different dishes , water spinach soup, Yellow rice,Tempe Goreng, Tofu with sweet soy sauce,Chicken with lemon grass, Gado Gado,can't remember other names off the top of my head but if anyone would like a copy of brochure email me.
Putu & Family were fantastic.Brang out a heap of toys for girls to play with while we were cooking.His boys 5 & 12 very cheeky! Putus wife (sorry forgot name) does not speak English but tried very hard. Putu offered us all a gift ,huge basket of all necklaces/bracelets. Ella whom had already got necklace from Putu jumped straight in & said I love this! We were all eyeing it off but she wasn't shy. Bracelet about 2 inches thick gorgeous.Ella also got a drawn tattoo. Spoilt!
If interested Putu will take you to a Tofu factory & Tempe factory afterwards
Anyway sat down had huge feast a lot was a bit hot for girls but they both loved the tempe plus a few others.
Cost of the day was 150 000.So 300000 all up.Very worth while, a true Balinese experience. I personally would rather this than in a hotel.Had little groms from village dropping in.Washing up Balinese style.Putus wife wouldn't let us help we tried though.
Back in bemo to our road with little kids following.Abosulutly loved it will recommend to everyone!!
Putu was in need of new brochure.so off we went to wartel. Mum retyped brochure.Putu was worried about spelling sound of things/look.love to do coloured 1 but has to be photocopied for him
Putus contact details - 081 338563 705 otherwise you'll find him or ask for him around dolphin statue at end of Binaria st.Receive receipes off everything.Any question please ask.
Back to hotel for swim.Had dinner sorry can't remember where(happens after kids)
One of Putus friends is a teacher.Putu had a newsletter about performance that night about local kids doing performance.He organised for us to be picked up to watch.
Firstly it was 7, then changed to 9 as a couple coundn't make it til then.
Seriously this was the highlight of trip.
Jimi picked us up along with 3 couples.We were taken to a place unsure wether school or not, to watch the kids.
We were welcomed ,chairs set out specially.welcome drink & peanuts.Kids from 6 -12 yrs were ready.Many songs,dances.the monkey dance was favourite. Climbed up small tree in court yard.Ella was freaked from earlier experience with monkeys.We were all asked to dance 1 at a time.Which was a bit ah no but so much fun & so hard! Can not explain how good this was.If you do go to Lovina do not hesitate to go to this,Donation only.We did donate 150 000, which we paid for the other night for nothing like this.Donations go towards keeping the kids in music school.
To go to this contact Jimi Hendrix across & down from Rambutan cottages(barber/driver/music teacher)just ask or putu.Only regret not having fully charged batteries in camera!Have a few photos if interested.
Day 9
Today was our last day in Lovina.Organised for dolphin chasing EARLY! Felt very guilty as said would go out with Adek whom we met first night.VERY Good English.Very surprised sounded like aussie(has spent time in aus) He does dolphin sighting,snorkelling,fishing trips, whatever.He went away for weekend & met other guy whom I thought wasAdek because of good English, & we booked with him. Very disappointed in end as went out but his father took us out.Was very good saw lots of dolphins but his father hard to understand.Brekky included with hot tea out on water.But seriously Adek is the man 08123618426.
Arrived back lovina beach, attacked again.mum loved it.hey Sandra!Had to run to ATM cost 150 000 for dolphins.Adek cheaper! No charge for kids!
Back to hotel to pack.To Amed today
Any questions please ask
Cheers nicky