We returned to Perth on Sunday after a week in Bali.
Garuda flight absolutely chock full both ways, but food and service OK.
Passengers out of Bali are allowed a ludicrous amount of carry-on baggage and after the longest take-off roll I can remember from many years of flying, we finally staggered into the air and clawed for height very slowly and rather worryingly.
Arrival was a problem. The officials gave my wife the wrong visa, which resulted in a long wait. The upside was that when we emerged to collect baggage, our two modest suitcases were waiting, surrounded by FIVE porters and NO customs officials, who had gone off for a break. We could have taken gallons of wine. Bugger!
Two and a half years ago we stayed at the Vila Rumah Manis in Seminyak and loved it, so we had booked there again. Big mistake.
We arrived, slightly puzzled by the lack of people, and were shown to our villa.
Oh dear. The whole place has been left to rot, literally. The thatched roof had a hole about 25cm in diameter, the plunge pool looked as though it was full of ink, and the walls were filthy.
We refused to even consider this, and negotiations ensued.
Luckily we were able (for an extra $US50 a night) to move into the Jasmin suite, and even that had to be mopped out becos it leaked like a sieve. Fortunately it did not rain for the rest of the week and the suite, with huge private pool, was really very nice.
The whole place had a couple of just-useable villas, but the rest are uninhabitable and they really should close it down.
The owners (The Bounty people) intend to bulldoze it and build a mega-hotel, apparently. Extremely sad.
This was my sixth trip to Bali and I have never seen so few tourists. For example, I went to the Terrace (up steep stairs on Jl Legian) one night to find huge dining area with me and four other people.
On the plus side, Indo National was a good discovery and much visited.
Panterei Greek place near Bintang supermarket was chosen for wife's birthday. Very ordinary and expensive food. Irritating, amateurish singing of mainly Spanish (why?) songs far too loudly. Then a couple of Frenchies got up for a karaoke session and we left. Not good enough for a place that claims to be classy.
Went to some other eating places that were OK and a couple of fun bars, but overall our hearts went out to a place and a people that are obviously struggling. Geneva was a good find and I got lovely wooden pencil/bits and pieces box for desk. We only saw ONE floor!
Finally, the departure check-in queue just stagnated. We were there for about an hour, in which time they processed ONE woman (I suspect she was grossly overweight with luggage and arguing about it). Much muttering in the queue.
It was also the first day of the new liquids/gels rules, and many passengers had obviously not heard anything about it. Much frantic repacking. Yet another case of travel agents not doing their jobs.
To add the last insult to injury, I was then gouged 60,000 Rps ($8.35) for two small cans of Bintang.
I have always enjoyed Bali, and in many ways, I enjoyed this trip. But I doubt I'll go back.