Hi All and Salamat Tahun Baru...... Flew out of Bris on the delayed Garuda flight on 31st Dec ( Delayed due to conecting flight from Java previous night)... So long story short we landed 1 minute past midnight Oz time and so by the time we got to our hotel we had about 1 hr till BAli New Year... Quick trip from the airport as the streets fairly quiet. The usual party hats and hooters around that seem to be the tradition each year here.... Went for a walk down Jl Padma and surrounds not a lot happening. At 12 oclock all that could be heard was a few car horns, the hooters AND THEN out went the lights! Hmmmm not good I thought but fortunately back on soon enough. So that was our New Year. Just remebered got a Happy New Year from the guy behind the counter at Circle K but if I recall not from Garuda Cpt when we landed. Airport was very quiet by the way.
We are staying at The Lokha in Jl Padma .... which for us is right in the thick of things as we do not usually stay up this end of the woods usually more Seminyak/ Kerebokan/ Petinget way. The Lokha is a smaller boutique hotel with rooms all around a central pool area. Our room was a Deluxe heaps of room for 2 very clean/stylish and very comfortable. I would recommend it as a good choice if you prefer smaller hotels as we do. Best thing is there is a Kenko Reflexology only a couple of ,,shops up . The best 75,000 rp I spend every time in Bali. Also can be found in Ubud near market and down Jl Monkey F.
For those keeping track we have been changing the $ @ around 7195rp rp at the momnet 7050rp.
Tend to eat on all end of the scales my favorite used to be "Road Kill " on Jl Raya Seminyak has now changed names. We had an excellant meal on the upper end scale at MaJoly in Tuban. Fantastic service,food,atmosphere with all the extras. Also inc was sercurity descreetly scanning the beach with there detectors thingys from time to time. On the whole things are very quiet here albeit since Christmas locals say a few more people have arrived. Pesonally dont feel unsafe but did have a few "unsafe" thoughts flying and being at Nugarah Rai airport on New Years.... But to each their own.
We travel over every 4-6 months for buisness and I can say over the last week people we deal with have been very happy to see us and have a New Year order placed.
We are now in Ubud which the weather has been a combination of hot ,wet,dry,sunny,overcast.... So bring gumboots, sarong,suntan lotion,umbrella the works.... Heading out to Kerobokan earlier in the week the road was flooded.
Great to meet with our friend Made (and driver) who always says we should drive ourselves as we know the way and he can read the paper! We do drive somtimes but nice to give him the work... Amaved us to find out that at 8pm on Jan 1st his brother ( who he cared for) passed away and he had been watching the body for 3 nights and he still kept his commitment to meet us on the 4th to drive for us over the next week..... Has beem so interesting to talk with him and share he thoughts on passing on. We had bought him and his family a gift of a Camera, Album and photo frames. He said the camera will be good to photograph his brothers and mothers cremation in 6 months time.
Well I have rattled on but it is raining again outside and at least its dry in the internet on Jl Bisma. went for one of my favourite walks this morning(love my early morning walks in Ubud). It starts from the track off to the right at the entrance of the Museum on Jl Raya Ubud then you wind around amongst the back of house etc for awhilwe then you cut across a path onto the rice paddies. You can keep going till you come to the temple in the paddies turn roth and then follow until you hit a paved road that leads you up behing Ubud Sari then down onto Monkey Forest. About 45 min easy walk but very beautiful and peaceful. The paddie farmers are always good for a morning Pagi and smile and nod...
Well I think I have made up for my only ocassional p[osting all in one report.... If anyone has any "here now" questios happy to answer if I can. By the way know a great half day yoga retreat and also name of a Healer if anyone is interestred... went to both back in July .Great experiences.
Well cheers think i here the Gin and Tonic ice clinking .Medicinal purposes (the quinine in the tonic)! Toni