This is just a brief report. Husband and Wife in mid 40's. Garuda from Perth was great. VOE easy and quick. Taxi to the Hotel took 20 minutes. Bali Ayu is a great budget priced Hotel in Seminyak. Rooms are quite large and have all you need. Staff are efficient and friendly. We moved to Ubud and stayed at The Yulia which is right in the middle of Monkey Forrest Road. Family run Hotel. Very friendly. Rooms nice.
Places to eat.
Bebek Bali is across the road from the Bali Ayu. Don't be deceived by the entrance. Once in side this will be one of your best dining experiences in Bali.
Aashiana is in Ubud near the soccer field. Only just opened but wonderful food.
Pizza Bagus is just south of Ubud in Pengosekan. Unreal food and they deliver to your door as well.
Bali Pesto in Monkey Forrest Road. Been there a while but has moved just a few doors down and has taken the original menu with them. Just wonderful food and great setting.
Hope this helps to add to your list.
Tours. We did 2 that I would like to share.
Downhill Cycling. Picked up at 8.00am and taken to Pacung for a scrumptious breakfast. Then we drove to Mayung where our bikes were waiting for us. The roads are quiet and gentle. We saw and learned about Coffee and Cocoa plants growing by the side of the road. The scebery is spectacular. We met a couple of local farmers and bought some fresh fruits from them. The ride is about 3 hours long, but it was gentle and we stopped heaps and took loads of pictures. At 12.30 we had lunch in a rice field. The lunch is packed in a big cooler(esky) and is taken with you from one of the local restaurants in Ubud (sensational food). We left the bikes here with Gusti and Wayan then drove us through some more of the local villages where we learned a bit more about the local village life. Fascinating. We were back at our Hotel at 2.30pm. This is something you have to experience yourself to understand just how magnificent the people and the countryside are in Bali. We paid $55 AUD each. You can book and pay online or book at the office in Ubud (0361) 7474142.
Candi Dasa. We were picked up at 8.30 am. Our first stop was at the Klunhking markets. Very traditional and you can purchase just about anything in the way of spices, fruit, vegies, household goods. They do not see many tourists here as it is mainly for the local villagers. Next stop is the Bat Cave temple. Very interesting history to this and well worth the time we spent here. Next we go to Kusamba. The beach here actually has black sand. Just up the road a bit we stopped at Padang Bai which has beautiful white sand and a beautiful blue lagoon. Great swim here. Then we stopped in Candi Dasa and had a wonderful lunch sitting by the ocean. After lunch you drive through some of the most spectacular scenery on the East Coast. Our final stop was back in Sanur where we went to a wine tasting at The Wine of the Gods. Quite good wine for the price. People are friendly and are so interested in what they are doing. We got back to the Hotel at 4.30pm.
This cost us $45 AUD.
Wayan was our driver on both occassions. He is the most friendly, informative and passionate person you would ever hope to meet.We learned and saw so much we never new existed and we have been to Bali 5 times now.
If you want to check out these tours the website is www.travelaboutbali.com
Exchange rate was 6600 - 6900.
DVD's ares till available everywhere at Rp. 10,000 (buy 10 get 3 free, buy 20 and get 7 free etc. etc)
Streets are quiet, especially at night. Met some fellow aussies, but mainly I am told at the moment it is Taiwan, Japan, Russia who are providing most of the tourists.
We did note a lot more security checks. We felt completely safe.
Great holiday. Beer is still magnificent as is the weather, people, food, shopping. Can't wait for next year.