Well.....here goes.. 2 ladies mid thirties....myself - Dayle (been 5 times) - total shopping holiday, girlfriend - Jacky (been 9 times)- more relaxing holiday....and we did do it well. I had been hanging for this holiday since the Jetstar sale in July and it was worth every minute of waiting. I soooo.....LOVE THIS PLACE!!!
Stayed at Bali Garden Hotel for 1 week - excellent location especially for the shopping - hotel is very tired but if you don't mind that, it's a great Hotel on the beach at a great price. I can see why it has so many return customers - maybe I will stay again but would like to try the Ramayana which looks lovely and the Bali Rani looks very lovely too.
First time staying at Tuban and I did enjoy it there because so close to Matahari's etc. Close to Dianne's and the big white elephant...centro. Only negative was that it was too far away to bump into Hools...maybe next time :-)
SHOPPING
Shopped mainly at Geneva (got to love it there....), Dianne's, beach markets, Centro (probably great if you have time to search out the bargains) and loved searching for the specials at Matahari's..and of course Supa Nova for the fabulous M.Tiller.
DVDS
Ordered from H*lgie before I came and he dropped off at Hotel about 150 movies. A lovely man very easy to do business with. Rest bought at Sakura's and a couple of others. Think the quality is okay as have not yet seen them but for 1$ who cares!! I'm sure from last experience only the real latest releases are pretty dodgy.
BIKE RIDE
Did the Bali Baik bike ride with the wonderful Wayan and I believe that everyone should do this - it was fantastic. Wayan is one of the loveliest people I have meet and his wife Made (who should open her own restaurant) was gorgeous and made us a fantastic late buffet balinese lunch. The best meal I had in Bali ! I cannot rave about this tour enough as I found it fantastic. Because I'm so unfit I was sore for about 3 days after it so next time I will do it until about 2 or 3 days before I leave. There are 4 hills near the end and you just walk up them the rest is down hill. The road is quite pot holed but worth every bit of it. I was always at the end (kept stopping for photos - and oh yeah because I'm slow..) and Wayan always kept behind me for safety. I felt completely safe on this tour. Breakfast at Lake Batur was breath taking and one of the highlights. We were with the lovely Leanne, Chris, Sandra, Natalie and darling Hayley on this tour (3girls) and they were a pleasure. What lovely people. It could have not have got any better. It's must do!!!!
FOOD
Did not have one bad meal in Bali. (Got to excuse the spelling..) Had dinner at Kori's - gorgeous restaurant with Bob Bali and Nicno (Nicki). Thank you guys for asking us. T'J's (always been a favourite) Thai Express (Hot!! And lovely) Dewri Sri (hope I got that right)- seafood buffet - lovely and fresh. Watan butu ? nest to BGH - lovely. The pool bar at BGH - very nice. Did not have one bad meal - everything was lovely but the best was with Made's home cooking...delicious!!!
MISC
Used Puja from Bali insight tours for pick up and a shopping adventure that I planned - he was wonderful and would definitely use him again. Lovely man.
Thought the streets were quite busy but that was probably because of school holidays. Even bumped into a fellow BTF on the side walk talking about MT - Bali balee (hope I got the name right!!) hope you are having a great time!!
I had the best time in Bali. Everything was fantastic...except the flight being cancelled at the end but I'm over that now I'm home. At least we got put up in the Ramada Bintang --how huge its that!!! I found it lovely but don't think I could drink or eat too much, as was on the expensive side. At least at the BGH it was affordable to lie around the pool and use the pool bar many times.
We met so many lovely people and heaps were from Australia. The BGH seemed to be teaming with them. I cannot remember (except when young twenties and partying all the time) when I have met so many people that were so friendly. This time it was constant chatter with whomever you happened to walk pass or sit next to.
Staying in Kuta it occurred to me how much I would miss the constant TRANSPORT???, HAIR BRAID???if I stayed away from the more commercial side of Bali- though I do love Ubud and bike tour was great to get out into the villages. I really loved this holiday - if I didn't have young children I would have spent much more time there. Can't wait to bring the kids next time. Hope I didn't bore you too much with my waffling (or spelling). I'm extremely envious of all you now that have holidays to come. Hope you have fun!! Cheers, Dayle xx