Not a ‘blow-by-blow' or a ‘day-by-day' account, but a few general impressions gained over three weeks in Nusa Dua, Sanur and Kuta and a week in Singapore. Yes, I know this is a Bali forum, but my tenth visit to Bali needed the reward of some respite from the squalor of Kuta.
Some time ago I said I would report on Singapore Airlines Business Class travel. Was it worth the extra $2,500 NZ dollars? Absolutely. Travel is a stressful business whichever way it is done, but SIA Business Class takes 90% of the stress away. After the general customs formalities we could retire to the blissful cool and quiet of the lounge at Auckland airport and sample the great range of snack-food and drinks at leisure. Boarding was only 15 minutes before departure, with priority. No queuing at all.
On board, the accommodation is very spacious, with ‘cocoon' style seating that (once you get the hang of the controls) converts to a recliner or even a flat-out bed. Entertainment - if you like that sort of thing - is multi-channel movies on demand, pull-up LCD screen, and music.
The service, and the food, and the wines, are impeccable - and this sort of experience is repeated at every stopover and every ongoing flight. Beautiful and peaceful lounges, attentive and smiling service. Luggage is always a priority, and in our case, always there as soon as we arrived at the conveyor. In the words of the famous Tea producer - ‘Do try it'.
Mind you, even in Business Class, there is always the so-called experienced traveller, who arrives late and with about three times the allowable cabin luggage, and manages to be a total PITA to everyone else on the aircraft. Why airlines have to tolerate these slobs? - I guess money talks. Or shouts.
Also, some time back I said I would report back about Peneeda View in Sanur; in particular their ‘Seaside Cottages'. This resort has been altered since I was there last about five years ago. The high wall dividing the hotel from the beach has been removed, and a new sea-front restaurant built. The front ‘Seaside Cottages' therefore, enjoy a partial view of the sea, provided the wind and rain screens in the restaurant are not lowered, which they were for some of our stay.
Breakfast was included in our tariff, and was quite reasonable, despite the young waiters hardly understanding a word of English, or even my poor Bahasa Indonesia - I would have thought that such understanding would be a prerequisite for staff dealing with tourists?? BUT - and there's a big ‘BUT' here. Two things: One, up to 5 dogs roaming free around the area between the restaurant and the seaside walkway, and 2, an area of yellow sand between the restaurant and the walkway about 4 m wide.
Procedure: Every night the sand is raked to remove footprints
Problem: All the heaps of dog excreta are raked into the sand
Result: The restaurant area reeks of dog-s***.
Believe it.
But back to the cottages. Like I say, they sometimes have a partial sea-view. Reasonably spacious, with a huge four-poster bed. The décor is OK if you like 1970's darkly brooding Balinese. Between the sleeping/living area and the bathroom is an area almost the size of the font room which contained only a double wardrobe and what may have been intended as a ‘make-up' counter, if there had been any proper illumination. All the lighting had been changed to the dubious ‘energy saving' lamps. In the bathroom the overhead extract fan clattered and chugged away - well past its use-by date. Our request to have a blown light bulb replaced was ignored, however, the shower head, which fell off when I turned the water on, was repaired quickly. Happily I was not directly underneath when it did so, being about 300mm diameter and weighing about a kilo.
A reasonably pleasant resort with most of its front traditional areas unused. If it's cheap enough, could be a good bargain. Strangely enough, despite the stink, the best Nasi in Sanur
Recommendation - take or buy a few 100W screw-base light bulbs.
OK, a few general impressions.
Club Med in Nusa Dua - again, worth every cent. Beautiful surroundings and rooms. We had a deluxe garden view which was superb, but next time will take a suite. Outstanding in every way; the gourmand's dream and the alcoholic's delight. As the man says, ‘Do try it'.
Shortage of alcohol in Bali? Not that we noticed. Depends a lot on your wine-snob level I guess, but I'm a price-snob, so el cheapo Ausie wines like Banrock Station et al priced at about NZ$22 were off the menu for me. We buy that plonk for $6 a bottle. Better, were Hatten's in cask at most supermarkets - even Aussie Botollini at one bottle store just off Bemo Corner, and good quality Arak at most outlets.
Don't go to this place! We booked months in advance ( but luckily had not paid) for a massage cruise with Bali Dinner Cruises operating out of Benoa. To shorten a long story, we waited, and waited, and waited for the arranged pick-up from Sanur, before finding the cruise had been cancelled. Ignore this outfit like the plague.
We counted 83 taxis along the Jalan at Kuta Beach. None of them had passengers. The so-called Global Warming conference was held in Bali. What an absolute farce. I can suggest easy pollution solutions, like reduce taxi licences by 90% and ban motor scooters completely. Boy, that would sure pump some initiative into the korupsi brigade.
Best massage - Club Med, but expensive.
Best reflexology - just along from Matahari main entrance, upstairs. Magic
Most overrated and over-priced - Mades Warung, Kuta
Best snack-food and service - Hard Rock Café, Kuta
Resting on laurels - TJ's Mex in Gang Poppies 1, and Poppies Restaurant ditto
Best meal - Fish and chips at Fish and Co, Roxy Square, Singapore. Served to the table in a hot frying pan; superb fish
Worst meal - Mades Warung Kuta
Best experience - Sentosa Island Singapore light show. Fantastic show, but chaotic crowds
Worst experience - Kuta's ignorant and persistent hawkers along with their busted and dangerous footpaths.