Just a bit of normal background info - this was our tenth annual trip to Bali and just somehow managed to sneak in a week's holiday in Bali in February this year. Was supposed to to go up to Karumba to visit our wonderful friends Gary & Tanya (whom I will introduce you all to soon) but of course the rainy season kicked in up there and we couldn't go so there was no other option to spend a weeks holiday but Bali.
From Brissie - so of course just a bit harder to get to Bali, usually have to fly via Sydney or Melbourne so this time we decided to do the Singapore Airlines thing and fly via Singers. This fitted in with our busy work schedule quite well, because SA fly out of Brisbane nightly at 11-45pm. We did a Singapore stopover both ways this time and of course found plenty to do and see because we hadn't been to Singapore in years. Won't go into this too much because after all we are on a Bali Travel Forum, but just have to say that the schedule did really suit us and will probably do the same next year but just transit from Singapore to Bali, and have a stop over on the way back. Hopefully tho, there will be another alternative as mentioned in one of Nicno's posts a couple of days ago.
We left Brisbane Friday night, had the overnighter in Singapore, which basically gave us all day Saturday and most of Sunday there, then flew out of Singers late Sunday for Bali. Oh what a feeling to land in Bali, smell the beautiful smells of the Bali air, the incense and of course we are so sure we smelt the Bintangs too! Grabbed a taxi and off we went to spend the next 3 nights in Candi Dasa. You would have thought that the driver would have loved the idea of getting a big trip to CD, but this didn't seem like the case. He didn't appear too happy, drove like a damn maniac, lost his way and had to stop and ring his friend to get us up there!! It all seemed to much for the poor guy, but because we had just landed in Bali it didn't phase us at all. Got to Rama Candi Dasa where we stayed about 9-30pm, dumped our bags in our 'beautiful' room and headed for the restaurant so we could drink our first binnie. Doesn't that first one just go down so well??
We had an ocean view deluxe room at the Candi Dasa which was so nice - a canopied king size bed, large room, separate vanity area and good sized bathroom separated by an area with rock walls and plants...just beautiful. We had our buffet brekky included, which was just OK. The egg man couldn't smile, the staff didn't want to talk to us, and just couldn't speak very much English, I always had to ask for some milk with my tea each morning. Look, whilst it may seem like a whinge, I just want to tell as we experienced it. Having said that, our room was fantastic, it did overlook both the ocean and the pool area. There appeared to be fair few people at the Rama, however when we went onto the street, it was quite lonely and quite. Rained for most of the time we were there as well. Whilst we did enjoy our stay there, we probably won't be in any hurry to go back to Candi Dasa for a few years. This is only our opinion tho. We did respect the fact that it was 'back to the real Bali' but it appeared to lack something for us both.
A couple of places we dined at that were worth mentioning - Café Wayans - 3 course meal including several drinks for a total of 191950 - great food and service. And Café Nyomans which was just a small warung where we had lunch one day. Nasi Goreng and Nasi Campur for a mere 15000 but the food was outstanding - another must to try in Candi Dasa. There were also a couple of little warungs outside Rama Candi Dasa where we stopped to have a meal that we paid about 10000 each for a nasi goreng, mie goreng but very delightlful.
After Candi Dasa, we went onto our favourite place on earth, Tegal Sari in Ubud. For us this is heaven, particularly room #24. We stayed here for 3 nights. When we arrived, we were greeted by 'Welcome back', 'So good to see you again' etc. I cannot speak highly enough of the staff at Tegal Sari. They pride themselves on being multi skilled and have so much passion for their working environment (wish my staff would have the same passion, but I guess I work for a damn bank and not a resort hotel!!). It was never too much trouble to have them drop us off somewhere at night and pick us up. We got them to take us to Sanur , and they drove us in their best vehicle!!. We just loved sitting on the deck in the afternoons having a drink, reading, talking, looking over the rice paddies in their greenest ever, listening to the sound of the frogs croakings and the birds chirping. To us, this is heavan.
I should mention Zen Spa in Ubud just up from Tegal Sari. We had a couple of massages here to die for. The surroundings itself was just magnificent, very pacifying and sensual. I think we only paid about 75000 for a massage which was followed by a ginger tea and fruit kebabs dunked in some kind of coconut cream - yum, very nice. I would certainly recommend Zen Bali Spa to you all - their services are to die for.
Next, Sanur for only 2 nights. This was our very first time in Sanur even tho we have been going to Bali for 10 years. Stayed at the Griya Santrian. We had only just booked into an Ocean View standard room, but when we booked into, they said they had our name in the computer but didn't have a room for us, so guess what?? Damn, just had to upgrade us to a superior room!! We really did love this place. For us, it was a good location on the beach, great big rooms with plenty of space, situated around good restaurants and warungs both beach front and street front. First night, decided to walk all the way up the beach walkway to S, S & S . We were so disappointed because there was only one guy there who said 'He not here tonight!!'. Obviously meaning BloodyRon (so where were you??) Anyway the place just looked great, could really imagine sitting up there and having a few drinks but it wasn't meant to be for us that night. Decided we would get back up the next night but hubby got sick and didn't go. The first night however, we got to find the Sindhu Night Markets. This was exceptional. We had spring rools, 10 micced (mixed)sates, nasi goreng, mie goreng and a couple of bintangs for a total of 41000 rp.. To get there, if you walk out of Griya Santrian, turn right, when you get to the bend with Randy's on your right, just go straight ahead, and you will walk into the markets. I would highly recommend this place to go to.
Bonsai Restaurant was also another fave of ours - great sitting on the beachront enjoying the view, talking to the staff having sunset drinks. We will certainly stay in Sanur again next year for a few days, really liked this place but needed some more time to explore it. Oh, forgot to mention, got to find Tootsies. I know people rave about this place, but I can honestly say it didn't do too much for me. Whilst it was good to see what the fixed prices were, there didn't seem too much there that grabbed me to buy anything. However I did buy a pair of thongs for 15000.
Finally onto Puri Raja for the last 13 nights of our holiday. Can I just say how truly surprising it was to be given a lovely fruit platter for our return to their hotel. This to me highlighted the fact that they do consider repeat business and the importance it places on their business. When we arrived, they immediately recognized us from our previous trip in February and acknowledged that. I would also like to add that the staff at PR are mostly friendly. I just loved seeing Komang each morning for brekky . He was 'my boyfriend' - good looking, friendly, great attitude... Agung (female) was also so accommodating and very friendly. For us, the brekkies at PR was heaps of food - fruit platter, toast with eggs of your choice and tea/coffee. We don't eat a lot more than back home, so there is no need to complain. We had been used to the wonderful buffets for the past 3 years we stayed at Bali Mandira, but of course, this was also complemented by the price. Puri Raja is good value for money and we will certainly go back.
The only draw back is the dreaded lounge hogs around the pool, and we've been through this in past posts over the last couple of days, so I'm not going there anymore. I only hope that people can improve on their behaviors for their next trip to Bali and be more conscious of what they are doing and try to be more considerate to their comrade Aussie friends.
Well, the highlight of our trip is the Wedding Blessing Ceremony which we were so fortunate to be part of our friends weddings ceremony. Just a bit of background again.. we met Gary 10 years ago when hubby & I went to Bali to get married ourselves. Being the second time around, there were no guests invited, just ourselves. However we met Gary and then his ex wife, the night before we were to get married. They were trying to get us to go to Jimbaryan the next night and we kept on saying we couldn't because we had something else on. However after countless drinks, we told them we were getting married the next night and invited them to our wedding as our 'only' guests. Of course they didn't believe us (well, would you after hours of drinking??/) Anyway, they were there the next day anyway. Since then we remained friends, however, Gary's first marriage ended and then he married his beautiful Russian girlfriend, Tanya, last year. They didn't have the full wedding thing, just got married in a registry office in Russia, so I think Tanya thought she missed out on something. Needless to say, Gary organized this beautiful traditional Balinese ceremony in secrecy from her. She thought we were going up to ride the elephants this day. Anyway, we arrived at the Palace of Tabanan about
10-30am and were greeted by the Prince himself. This was arranged by Bali Weddings International and another company that runs alongside them (email me if you want any more particulars) Hubby & I were both witnesses to the ceremony, and it was here that the four of us were fully clothes in full traditional Balinese attire for the ceremony. I might say that we all looked just absolutely stunning and were so proud to be given this wonderful opportunity. We had morning tea with the prince at the palace, had lot of photos taken, then were zipped off to a village in Tabanan where the ceremony took place. This was truly amazing - a series of Balinese rituals to express the true meaning of two people being united by marriage. Boy, it certainly leaves the 'to honour and obey' for dead - who really takes any notice of that anyway?? The actual ceremony was in a clearing somewhere amongst the village rice paddies where an area was made for such things as weddings and lunches. The actual buffet lunch was made by the Mayor of Tabanan's wife - what a feast of traditional food it was!!. This was also accompanied by a couple of beers and Wine of the Gods. Afterwards, we walked through the rice paddies and had more photos taken.
So for anyone that is reading this and wants somewhere special to get married, let me know, and I will give you the full details. It was certainly something different, traditional and very meaningful. We didn't get back to Legian until about 6-00pm that evening.
Other things to mention whilst in Legian - the drownings of the 3 germans. That was really sad. I came across it just after it had happened. The locals along the beach were sad, they say that the waters are housed by devils. Its a pity that the Europeans are so uneducated about the dangers of the waters in Bali, in particular the rips.. There are so many signs everywhere but no heed is taken. We were talking to 'my boyfriend' Komang at breakfast the next morning, and he said that there were 2 balinese boys that drowned the previous week. They had been playing soccer along the beach and then dived into the unknown waters to be taken by a rip. This is so sad, and like the Bali Bombings, there is never any mention about the deaths of Balinese people.
Of course, we visited all our favourtie eating places which always come up on the forum so I won't go into too much detail. However I will emphasise once again the food and service of Agung Bali, Secret Garden, Kubuku in Poppies 1 - year after year, these places always offer the best of the best. We did try Sani (cnr Melasti & Benasari) after good comments on the forum. Well, all I can say is they must have had an off night the night we went there. There were 6 of us, and each of our meals were just ordinary. Won't be any hurry to go back. Oh Seaside restaurant is just still as great as ever!! Great food, cocktails and service. Can't say enough about this place.
Oh, there's a new Kuta Night Bazzar just past Alam Kul Kul going toward the big bend. It opened just last week. We didn't get to go there, it opens at 4-00pm daily but we did speak to someone down at S & S who said it was really good. So if you are going to Bali soon, go and try it.
Talking about Sami & Suzi's - down there every night for drinks. One night they had over 50 people. There was a wedding on organized by Kerry & Milton who were also down there and the whole wedding party was down there. I think they drank a couple of cartons themselves before going back to Indo National for Bubi Guling for the wedding feast. Sami was so happy and positive - said he would be able to afford bubi guling himself after a few good nights - Suzi, well... not so positive!!. There were always the bills that had to be paid, she said. Its always good to see that one partner in any marriage has to remain positive and complement the other!! Really enjoyed ourselves at S & S every night. Meant some great fun poms down there. They really know how to party and have fun.
There's always so much more to say but I'm going to finish off now. Hope I didn't bore anyone. Its been a week since returning home, so I've had a great time myself going back in time and reminiscing. We have already gone to work and booked our next annual trip. So for us, its another 48 weeks to go till we arrive in paradise again. I'm sure there is no other place on earth where anyone could go and find fun, happiness, love, friendships, great food, and the burning desire to want to go back year after year.
Bali is our heaven on Earth, our second home, and where we learn acceptance of others and true happiness. Our best friendships have been made in Bali. We all love Bali for the same reasons and lets pray it remains safe forever...
Salamet Malam ...until next time.