Audrey and her husband and son invited us to Dinner to their friends café in Jimbaren bay for new years eve so off we went to a lovely place with great food. Bela café.
We have always enjoyed sitting on the beach there watching the lights twinkle and the planes come and go. Lynne had messaged to say she was on the plane so we watched it land.
Haven't been since the bombing there and was quite relaxed and the places all along the beach were full.....and then Agung told us that it was the café 2 doors up that had the bombing and our café was a mess too.
Gee thanks I thought !
Everyone was setting off firecrackers right the way along and it had great atmosphere. Glenn commented that it may rain and Audrey said 'No the people make sure the spirits keep the rain away from here where we eat, it never rain here, the spirits keep rain away'. And it didn't rain at all.
They dropped us back to Kuta beach as they had a long drive home and we sat and took in the atmosphere of all the crackers going off that we had seen for sale that day.
How no one blew their arms off I will never know and some banged and some fizzled.
About 11.15 we were getting tired and I said to hubby we better head back ey and he agreed. We walked through the art markets and into circle K on the corner next to Ramayana hotel and no sooner had we bought ice creams, the heavens opened.
It was flooding within minutes and people were running from the beach.
The poor men with the corn carts, we felt so sorry for.
The thing we did laugh about though was the men selling umbrellas appeared from nowhere, they never miss an opportunity. Of course ours were back at the hotel and we weren't buying any more.
A browse through the circle K and ice creams finished, we decided to make a dash to the restaurant next door as the band were playing and everyone was blowing trumpets in readiness for 15 minutes time.
We made a dash and as we arrived it was fabulous, chefs dancing and blowing trumpets and really relaxed and excited at the same time. Everyone was having fun and when the countdown began and midnight struck they all shook our hands and happy new yearrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
What a great place to be.
Finally stopped and made the dash back to our hotel around the corner and bed.
We picked lynne up and dined at la Luciolas for brekkie new years day and even though they didn't have the weekend menu it was still yummy and daughter enjoyed watching the horses ride past on the beach as I promised her they would do.
The travelling and heat had caught up with her and she wasn't feeling too flash again so Glenn and her went back to hotel for a lie down and Lynne and I went to mataharis to buy a few things and change money and then over to see Audrey. Lynne needed a ring made smaller and also she wanted a lovely bangle that I had purchased there. Audrey sells some costume jewellery as well as silver and gold and it's nice stuff. One of the things is a lovely enamelled bangle and Lynne wanted one for herself, so purchases made and orders in we set off again.
I went back to hotel to find Stacey and Glenn waking so we had a swim and a bite to eat and headed off for a massage in benesari lane at Salon Hanas (used to be salon made). The girls there are lovely and massages are only 39 000rp. They always take us on their motorbikes afterwards to S&S so that's where we headed, meeting up again with Lynne. Stacey was once again feeling fine.
Smudge was not there as he hurt his ankle.
We departed and went back to ketuts to spend a few more $$$$ and I found 6.30 the perfect time to go as she closes at 7ish and no one else was there so I shopped with her to myself LOL.
Then around the corner to the new aussie owned place for dinner called Sheppy's.
He greeted us and told us that if the meals ever make us sick (as we questioned eating pork sometimes), then he would pay the bill.
In wandered Sally and Ken and Rakini so we had a chat with them and the meal was very nice.
Back to the hotel for a swim and bed and arrange safari and marine park the next day.
Following morning we awoke and after brekkie we picked Lynne up and went to safari park...almost didn't go because of the rain but it was fabulous and not raining there.
You really need to go for a whole day we thought.
We arrived about 11am and left about 3pm and it was not enough. When you get there they take you on a bus over to a section where you wander and can have photos with the animals ( Lion cub, white Tiger, baby orangutang, elephants, camels) and then you go onto another bus for the safari with a multitude of animals (Lions, Tigers, Zebras, Red Bulls to name a few)and they stop so you can take photos. All animals had loads of food and very happy.
They also have a short bird and animal show.
You can do the safari twice but the line to get on is way long so the best idea is to get there early in the morning and do the safari first before it's busy. Then go back and look through everything and watch the show...then later in the afternoon when the animals are at their most active....do it again.
The restaurant is quite nice and there are a few shops where my daughter bought an animal safari tshirt, hubby wanted one too but not big enough. 65 000 rp not a bad price.
When you have ended the day (or whilst there) there is a water theme park and pool and it is a lovely way to cool off a very hot and steamy safari.
The theme park caters at present for I would say up to 14 year olds........and that includes unlimited rides which for her age (13) was really only one.
They are building more though , bumper cars and roller coasters that I could see, so I am guessing there will be a big kid and a little kid section......but the pool is for everyone and we all enjoyed a quick cool down, so take your bathers and towel.
They also have lockers at the change rooms that you just take the key with you.
Price to get in was $25 US and we paid there and had our own driver. The drivers are allowed in for free and ours came with us.
The locals get in for 75 000rp and includes park admission and 1 safari.
I did see a bus to take you there but none of the travel agents or hotels seemed to know much about the park and no one had brochures. I now have one from the park itself.
It opens from Mon to Frid 9 to 5 and weekends and holidays 8.30 to 5pm. Phone number is 361 950 000 and www.balisafarimarinepark.com
There is also accommodation in the middle of the safari park.Mara River safari lodge.
Back to kuta we met Lynne after showers at Treehouse in poppies 1 and enjoyed a lovely meal. Said our goodbyes as we had to get back to hotel at 9.30 to meet my friend Dayu.
Next day was our last day and we just decided to have a few indulges so I had a hair cream bath and a massage. Stacey had a massage and a facial and glenn had his first hot stone massage.
We had our nails painted with all different flowers and gheckoes on our toe nails (including Glenn LOL).
We swam and ate and drank and got last minute things and tried to keep our minds off the fact that our 9 days had come to an end. No where near long enough.The more times we go the longer we want to stay.
The flight was brought forward an hour and a half although due to someone not turning up we didn't leave until only 20 minutes early in the end. Bedlam at airport with 3 flights trying to get through 1 gate all at once.
We also were horrified to find that once you went through immigration and got upstairs that all the cafes now have ashtrays and smoking and there is also a huge open air smoking section....so be prepared for smoke all over the place.
We had a terrific time but are still tired. A combination of the weather and the travelling seemed to take a lot out of us and of course because of the constant flooding rain we couldn't sunbake and read a book by the pool.
You had to stay in hotel room or shop......well umbrella purchases later we decided to shop of course.
I will post a JBR later on my shopping purchases for anyone interested.