Yes, I went to Bali to get my teeth fixed and I'm very happy with both the dental work and the price. More about that in sequence.
Flew Air Paradise from Perth on Wednesday 5th October. The plane was re-scheduled to leave later, so we're getting our first night's accomodation refunded by the airline. Got to Bali Ayu at the top end of Seminyak for our first four nights. We stayed there last year for a few days and were happy to be back. A very good lead-in Balinese style budget hotel for those who like a quiet setting, but not too far away from Kuta etc.
Went to S&S on Thursday evening, but no Sammy and Susie, they were at the ceremony. But met Smudge and Roo-Ted from the Forum and their friend Colin from England, who I believe lurks but does not post. How about a few words, Colin? Saw Sammy and Susie the next night.
Caught up with my son Ron and his Balinese wife and little son. They live a few minutes inland from Batubelig.
Phoned Rudy [Rudyard] Salindeho at Bali Dental Clinic [0361] 766255 to arrange an appointment. Rudy is at Mall Bali Galleria. Tell the driver near Planet Hollywood and you'll get to the right place. It's quite a big complex, with separate sections. Rather than try and explain exactly how to find Rudy [which I probably couldn't do anyway], the easiest thing to do is ask one of the security guards who are keeping an eye on everyone going in.
I had emailed Rudy from Australia for a quote for two crowns. The dentist in Rockingham had quoted me $2554 and this did not include root canal treatment for the tooth which had not had this already done. Rudy's emailed quote was Rp2,500,000, or approx AU$600. Rudy did the root canal treatment and also made temporary crowns for the few days I was waiting for the permanent ones. There was no extra charge for this [to my surprise!].
Rudy and his two young lady assistants are very competent and very professional. No pain, no discomfort and no stress. There is a screen over the chair on which you can see the X-Rays [no extra charge] and the information to make the crowns. The whole procedure was a very interesting experience, far more entertaining than most of what we get on TV.
A few days later and I'm the proud owner of two new crowns. I'm very pleased to be able to recommend the Bali Dental Clinic. You can email Rudy on rudysalindeho@yahoo.com
I'd never stayed in Sanur, apart from just overnight to get the early outrigger to Nusa Lembongan, but I'd seen so many good comments on the Forum that I thought we should give Sanur a try. We had a list of places to check out, complete with prices printed off various websites [helps with the bargaining].
We eventually booked into Mentari, right at the top end of Sanur. This hotel is down a quiet gang and backs onto Alit's Beach Bungalows. Stayed there for four nights at 300,000 per night, including a nice breakfast. Clean, friendly, spacious feel, good size pool. The other guests were almost all adult couples from Europe. Nice friendly neighbours from Berlin.
Whilst there, we generally ate at Ananda Cafe, a little place right on the beach, with good food at very cheap prices. Also got live rock-n-roll at Agung and Sue's Waterhole.
After four days, we moved to Respati, which we also got for 300,000 per night. This small chalet style hotel is in between La Taverna and Gazebo and is beachfront. Again generally adult couples from Europe. Just a small pool and new units being built next to it, but this didn't bother us as we go out every day and walk, rather than stay by the pool. Whilst here, we generally ate at Kalimantan and Aladin, both recommended on the Forum and both good food and good value.
We did most of our shopping in Sanur. Emiko is size 8 and usually has no problem getting clothes. We are ballroom/Latin dancers and I like to encourage Emiko to get pretty evening wear, especially at Bali prices! A bit of wandering around turned up some bargains. We also had a look in some of the boutiques in Seminyak and Legian and, as usual, got bargains in Kuta Matahari and Denpasar Matahari and Ramayana.
My shopping mainly consisted of yet more wind chimes and big sea shells to dress up the summerhouse by the pool, which I kid myself on is like a bit of Bali.
Thanks to Smudge and Ted [RooTed] for the suggestion, we went to the Cat and Fiddle in Sanur for the Tuesday "Irish Night". The British consul [the owner] and his brother and assorted other musos and singers, a sort of "anything goes" night and highly recommended. I got up and sang the Yorkshire national anthem, Ilkley Moor B'aht 'At and also did my party piece, the Italian Tourist. For those not familiar with this, Gino goes on holiday and with his limited English, gets all his words wrong. For instance, when he asks the waitress for some eating utensils, she thinks that he's asking her for sex. Enough said!
We also got some pleasant live music nights at Mago [Latin and assorted requests] and at the Trophy Pub.
Had a trip to Ubud, via Sukawati, with my son and his family. We'd have loved a few days at Tjampuhan, but not enough time this trip. Ate at one of our favourites, Murni's Warung.
Another day, we went to Candi Dasa for the day. Went to the quiet little fishing village, turn right just past Legends Cafe. Ate at Warung Pini and caught up with the delightful owner, Wayan. Popped in to our favourite hotel in Candi Dasa, Resor Prima. Why do we like this place so much? I really don't know. I've stayed at five different hotels in Candi Dasa, including the fabulous Kubu Bali which deserves all the good reports it constantly gets, but Resor Prima is the place I really feel most at home.
Balinese style brick and tile. Clean and comfortable, aircon, fridge, TV, H&C. Pleasant garden, pool and right on a clean white sand beach, which is unusual for Candi Dasa. Not flash, but great value at about AU$20 to AU$25 per night per double room, including breakfast. Only one couple staying there, in fact they'd only had one room booked for a month. If anyone is looking for good cheap accomodation in East Bali, give Resor Prima a go. Handy for trips to Amed, Tenganan and Padang Bai. Safe swimming on the adjacent beach and snorkelling off the beach on a live coral reef with plenty of fish. Candi Dasa has a supermarket, honest money changers and some live music in some of the restaurants.
We were supposed to come home last Tuesday, but when we phoned to confirm, we got the welcome news that our flight had been re-scheduled to Thursday. We told the apologetic Air Paradise guy not to worry, as we were delighted. Two more days in Paradise, with Air Paradise generously footing the bill for the last two nights accom. We were tempted to book into a US$1000 a night place for a couple of days, but we couldn't do that to them, could we? So, for bonus nights, fly Air Paradise!
Going to Bali just a few days after the recent acts of stupidity, I suppose we may have been a little apprehensive, but we had absolutely no reason to worry. At all times we felt perfectly safe, far safer in fact than walking around some parts of Northbridge, Fremantle or the Rockingham beachfront late at night. Our friends in Bali now need our support more than ever.
Hope I haven't gone on too long. Any questions, please feel free to ask.