Posted as soon as we got back but have had a chance to add to my original JBR. I'll apologise in advance for offending anyone or anything...all IMO only :o)
Have also changed links for pics...included are earlier pics, taken over the last couple of years...not a lot though, mostly 07.
Hope you enjoy.
.................................JBR.................................
I've decided to include the Brunei saga in my JBR...I wanted to give an honest report and to do that I have to include the good with the bad...even if the bad is Brunei and it's really, really bad!
Oh yea...the following is of course IMO only...I'm sure there are Brunei lovers out there and that's fine...you might wanna scroll down A LOT!
Well after a really crap year we were looking forward to our Bali trip more than ever before and arrived at Brisbane airport with our one large bag packed with many smaller sized bags, a laptop, pillows and one carry on with two digital cameras, a camcorder and two wet cameras...I don't care what anyone says...you can NEVER have too many cameras!
For the first time we were flying Royal Brunei/Air Brunei, stopping off in Brunei for a short stay/long stopover...we were keen to see Brunei but our stopover is one that I'm not sure we'll ever recover from!
Leaving Brisbane at 1:15am we were lucky enough to be able to spread out and have three seats each as there was hardly anyone on the plane (looking back...I now know why!)
A ham and cheese croissant unfortunately arrived before we could get to sleep - I say unfortunately because it was really bad! lol
Anyway - after the hostie finally took the evil pastry away I finally got to sleep and woke up about an hour out of Brunei...great flight - get to sleep all the way but wake up just in time for breakfast...which by the way was actually quite nice, although I would have preferred the pancakes that the English speaking hostie was offering to passengers ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PLANE!
Our 6:30am arrival was a little strange...we were given instructions while still on board about where we had to go once we arrived...unfortunately for us it was in really bad English and we ended up just following the rest of the passengers until we found a security guard - who didn't understand a word we said but pointed us in the direction of another guard - who also didn't understand us, but walked with us...until we found customs on our own!
Customs officers seemed confused as to why we were there...and this should have been a big warning sign for us that they had no idea why on earth you would want to visit their country! lol
After a not quite flowing conversation we headed off in search of lockers to use for the day...but couldn't find anyone who knew what we were talking about and after five people all looking at us like we had asked to buy their children...we resigned ourselves to the fact that whatever we did in Brunei that day - we would be taking two pillows and a laptop with us!
Headed downstairs and out onto the street, found a tour guide who gave us the one brochure he had on the stand and he told us that the four hour tour of the museums was very good but that it didn't start for another two hours. To kill some time before the tour we went back upstairs to the airport coffee shop to waste some time...and as it turns out, waste some money - really expensive. (I know...it's an airport...but even for an airport it was costly!)
Coffee over, we headed back out into the airport and did some people watching while waiting, waiting and waiting for our tour bus to arrive. We had researched things to do in Brunei prior to our departure...most research told us there was plenty to do and that all info could be found at the airport...WRONG!
While waiting we managed to convince the tour guy to babysit the pillows and laptop for us - so at least things were looking up, even though we were still many hours away from arriving in Bali.
The city and museum tour wasn't too bad...the first museum was nice, the second much the same, the third a little boring and by the time we got to the last one...I was happy to never have to see a museum again...especially in Brunei!
We visited a couple of mosques, stood outside the sultans palace and were informed of the 1300 odd rooms in his not so modest little home and then traveled on to the water city known as The Eastern Venice.
It was nice, it was different and it was probably the most interesting thing about Brunei.
At this point I should probably point out that there were quite a few contributing factors behind the reason I had so quickly gotten over Brunei!
Contributing factor number one...my father had taken a trip to Brunei a few years prior to our trip and he LOVED it! He's a bit of a seasoned traveler having visited Hawaii, Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong and many others, many times. He'd raved about Brunei, had often suggested that we travel there and was thrilled when he found out we were dropping in, sure that we'd love it too. He's also a little anti-Bali and happily told us that we'd skip our annual Bali trip next year in favour of Brunei!
Other than Brunei his fave destinations include Vietnam and Thailand, somewhere else he has suggested we try...wasn't that keen on Thailand before and now that I know we have such completely different opinions in regards to Brunei...I'm not likely to take his recommendations very seriously ever again lol.
Contributing factor number two: I LOVE BALI...and I mean LOVE Bali...something I don't think my father or anyone else really understands (apart from husband and daughter who luckily feel the same way that I do)...still after repeat trips, I don't think that anyone really GETS that it's more than cheap drinks, nice beaches, good shopping and hair braiding that have me returning to Bali time and time again.
So maybe, just maybe, leaving Australia and having to fly OVER Bali to another country for the day...knowing I was so close and was now far away - well maybe I was just not open to discovering a new country, as much as I could have or should have been...but I just wanted to get to Bali! I wanted the feeling of ‘coming home'...and wasn't in the mood for anything else!
So anyway back to the highlight of the Brunei trip...the water village...was very different and quite nice in a strange way. It's made up of heaps of houses on stilts, built sometimes not so high above the water. There are police, fire and ambulance services out there on the water too, as well as schools and halls for community events. About ten years ago the sultan built a heap of new homes on the side of a hill overlooking the water village - he'd hoped to move many of the thousands of water villagers into the homes...but hadn't counted on the fact that they're happy out there...and didn't want to move.
The water houses cost about $65,000 - $75,000 to build and there are new ones being built all the time. We were lucky enough to be allowed inside one of the homes for afternoon tea. Black tea and yummy biscuit things...plus air-con...nice! Spent ages talking to some really funny tourists from Singapore...they were all really funny. Lots of fun and even have us considering a Singapore trip one day.
I also spent a lot of time on the small front verandah of the water house, taking photos of the homes surrounding the one we were on/at...and was joined by a stupid Aussie who didn't have a problem with lighting a smoke in someone else's home...or putting the butt in one of the pot plants...fool!
After the tour it was a short trip by water taxi back to the mainland...short bus trip back to the airport, collect pillows and laptop and then we all agreed that we could quite easily curl up on the uncomfortable looking airport lounges and have a little nap. It was now Saturday afternoon and we'd only had about four hours sleep since waking up on Friday morning.
After what seemed like hours I woke up, checked the mobile for the time...5PM...time to head to Jerudong Park! We'd all been looking forward to this but had read on the site that it didn't open until 5pm...so for the next five hours we planned to make the most of Brunei before heading back to the airport and jetting off to beautiful Bali.
Downstairs again and out on the street...a taxi driver told us it would cost about $40...(about $31 AUD) to get out to Jerudong Park but that there were no taxi's to bring us back and that we couldn't book one to pick us up later as they had been caught many times with bookings, only to arrive later and find that the potential customers had found another mode of transport and the taxi drivers were now a long way out of the city and without a fare back...understandable but a pain in the ass for us. We were told that the staff at the park MIGHT be able to get a taxi for us but that some of them didn't want to, weren't allowed to or couldn't understand English enough to know what we wanted so...it was back upstairs for us. Husband and daughter decided to try and get back to sleep...like the sooner you get to sleep the sooner Christmas will be here thing...the sooner you get to sleep the sooner we'll be on the plane to Bali.
I headed off to the coffee shop again - black tea (not by choice) and Black Forrest cake...yum...BUT about an hour later I was sick!
At about 6pm I started vomiting...TMI I know, but it didn't stop until about 10:30pm, an hour before we left for Bali. Headaches, vomiting, cold...freezing cold, hot...really hot, more vomiting - again TMI but trying to set the scene ;o) There was a medical centre inside the departure lounge (that we couldn't access until 10:30pm) and by then I was worried that I wouldn't be allowed to fly so I opted for a quick shower in the downstairs bathrooms, a few Panadol from the gift shop and another nap on the lounges. I woke up five seconds before the boarding call and was the first in line, ready to go...ready for Bali and more than ready to get out of Brunei.
I know, short trip, long stopover and I really didn't give the place much of a chance...but to me it just didn't deserve it. It's not the cultural differences, has nothing to do with that - in fact this is one of the things I love most about Bali. It's not the inability to speak English (well maybe a little - in Bali at least they make the effort...and even when it's difficult at least they are interested in what you're trying to say!) I guess it's just the...whole Brunei experience! From the minute we were about to arrive right up until we landed in Bali, the airline, the airport staff, the people, the tour guide...everyone we came across showed not even the slightest bit of interest in understanding what we were saying...and I know we were in their country and I shouldn't be complaining but seriously...you want tourists...you have to make a little effort at least to cater to the tourists.
These tourists won't have to worry about that in future though...been there, done that and NEVER AGAIN!
Finally we were on board and Bali bound...and I really don't know if we were happier to be leaving Brunei or heading for Bali.
Flight was uneventful although of course, seeing how this was a flight OUT of Brunei...it was packed so we missed out on stretching out in spare seats - small price to pay to be heading away from Brunei.
Arrival was at 2:00AM, first in line for VOA - quick and entertaining as the visa guys joked with us about giving them our pillows!
Customs was quick too - nothing to declare?
Okay, Merry Christmas Ossie!
Walking outside was WONDERFUL...that Bali smell, the smiling faces and our name written on the card, easily spotted at that time of the morning...and we were off to our hotel in no time (after the flower lei presentation that is...had this done in Hawaii but never before in Bali).
Trip to Bali Garden Hotel was quick, check-in uneventful and before we knew it we were in our room unpacking, smiling, happy and so glad to finally be back in beautiful Bali. We were told it had rained all night but by the time we arrived at the hotel the rain had stopped and it was now just hot and steamy...A/C was on full blast in the room and just lovely!
The following morning we wasted half the day and slept until 9AM...which is when I woke, checked mobile for time and started screaming at husband and daughter that we were wasting Day 1 in Bali.
By the time we all showered and dressed we were too late for breakfast so we decided on an early lunch and wandered through the hotel grounds killing some time before we headed off to one of our usual and fave restaurants.
BGH grounds are clean and very nice. Hotel grounds are very similar to Camplung Mas or Dewi Sri although much bigger and of course, right on the beach! Kuta Beach was lovely...on my very first trip we'd been so busy I didn't even make it on to the beach but in more recent years it's become a favourite of mine...not to surf, not to get massages, not to swim but to people watch - or more so to Balinese watch...love watching the locals at play on Kuta!!
Checked out the two new pools...the beach one is a horizon pool that sits only about three meters away from the sand of Kuta Beach. It's right next to the Pizza Restaurant and separated by only the lovely wooden decking. There's a small bar close by and a grassy area in between (featuring a gazebo thing for weddings)...really nice.
Lots of hawkers hanging around the string fenced off area...offering everything from ice creams to carved silver...the ice cream guy has a great sense of humour!
The pool closer to the hotel is great. There's two spa sections as well as two sloped areas where you can recline in neck deep water and a water feature/fountain area that's different and refreshing. There's also three bales right next to the pool and another two at the horizon end...although I think these two have been there all along, just a part of the original pool. This new pool is mostly shaded and situated about three meters away from the original pool...not sure if they'll section it off or not after pool reno's are complete...hope so as this new pool is very relaxing and wouldn't be quite the same if it was combined in the same area as the much larger main pool.
Next stop was the money changer, situated next to the reception at BGH...he was very open and up front...was nice not having to watch every single move - although we did at first...relaxed in the middle of our stay and didn't bother towards the end...money was always right on the mark though. Tour guide was at the same desk so while we were there we booked our Bounty Cruise. Had been to Lembongan Island many times before but always on smaller boats and with smaller groups...but had decided that this time we'd give Bounty a try.
Our first Bali meal was Kori Restaurant...higher prices than most Bali restaurants but a fave of ours. Husband loves the ribs and on our previous trip- during his quest to find Bali's best ribs...declared Kori the winner. I love the Kori Bread Board - so over a few Kori Punches we enjoyed the sights, the surrounds, the smells and the delicious Kori meals...so happy to be back!
After lunch it was a bit of a stroll down Jl. Legian then off to Mata Hari for some supplies...water, fruit, sunscreen and of course...MR P Peanuts!!
The afternoon was spent in the beach pool, sharing a joke or two with the ice cream guy and drinking the odd Baileys Comet (which I often try to replicate back here...calling it the Bali Comet...never the same!)
Late afternoon we headed off to Seminyak in search of the Sunday night fire dance...supposedly held outside the Kumala Pantai Hotel...WRONG...well for now anyway!
After a lovely dinner at Zanzi Bar we wandered onto the beach and while I took a million photos of the Seminyak sunset we waited for the fire dance to begin. Darkness came and just when we were about to give up all hope of seeing the much talked about fire dance, along came Rachman (sp?), a friendly and talkative artist from Ubud. He told us that there was a fire dance but that it had stopped for a while and wasn't back to every Sunday...not just yet. He also suggested we try Saturday night as that's when they had been happening lately...on and off. Oh well - we ended up enjoying our time on the beach talking to the very interesting Rachman...we purchased two of his paintings straight up and then enjoyed a couple of hours listening to his very interesting stories. He told us to look for him on our next trip and I'm really looking forward to doing just that. Covered in sand and sipping lukewarm coke on the beach may not be much fun back here...but in Bali - and with the company of a local...I LOVED IT! Have a great pic of my husband and Rachman that I have on my PC desktop...huge smiles and a really nice memory.
Eventually though it was back t the hotel...shower and sleep - back home it takes me hours to get to sleep and hours to wake up, even after I'm out of bed...in Bali I'm asleep before my head hits the pillow and up before the sun.
I've said it in previous posts on previous trips...I like me much more when I'm in Bali.
I love the me that wants to be up before the sun - and I love taking photos of Bali waking up.
I love those first sounds of early morning Bali and I love the silence of such a hectic tourist destination such as Bali...silent all but for the odd car or mo-ped...so different from what comes within only a few short hours.
I love the smell of early morning Bali...the lady with her bicycle basket of Balinese food and a thermos of coffee...I came to love watching her chat to the BGH security guards each morning, watching her wait for the locals on their way to work, the taxi drivers and occasionally the odd adventurous tourist...and then I'd watch her ride away, empty basket for her...lots of photos for me.
Our first morning (second day but without the sleep in) had us wander down to breakfast, not quite sure what to expect. I'd experienced the Camplung Mas breakfast and then the Dewi Sri breakfast (very different from one another)...had then gone back to Camplung Mas the year before so for now I wasn't sure what we were in for. Turns out the breakfasts are very similar to Dewi Sri...buffet with eggs any style, sausage, tomato, potatoes, rice, danish, toast, pancakes and fruit as well as tea, coffee and juice. Great breakfast and having the variety means you can sample something different each day without it becoming boring (IMO - the only downfall when it comes to staying at Camplung Mas). I know it's easy to go out and eat somewhere different each day...but it's also easy to roll out of bed and have that decision already made for you - breakfast downstairs...whatever you want!
After breakfast it was off to the lobby to wait for our tour bus - off to the Bounty Cruise! The drive to Benoa Harbour was fun as I usually find any drive around Bali - the families on bikes, the bike piled high with rider AND a few dozen rugs/buckets/shirts...chickens! etc. Our arrival at the Bounty check-in coincided with the realisation that I'd left our voucher at the hotel - so I became the annoying tourist who held everything up by having to have the staff call and confirm that we'd already paid...unfortunately we had to wait for half an hour - until the tour dude arrived at BGH anyway.
Silly, stupid me.
During this time we were joined by heaps of Indian tourists, none of which could speak English (seem to have a thing about that don't I - I really don't though and can assure you I'm always trying to learn new words in Bahasa...and try to use them wherever and whenever possible)...guess it just annoys me when other people aren't so accommodating...the Indian tourists not only couldn't speak English but also made no effort to speak Indonesian or Bahasa either.
So anyway after they confirmed we'd paid we were on our way - out of the harbor and off towards Nusa Lembongan. For most of the way over I stood at the front taking photos of the mainland, other boats and of our approach to Lembongan, however as we got closer more and more and more and even more Indian tourists moved into the little corner that we had ‘claimed' at the start of the journey and eventually there were so many of them that I couldn't have taken a decent photo of anything.
We made our way downstairs, sat near the bar and watched as the poor bar staff tried to keep the Indian tourists from helping themselves to drinks! At one point the captain was speaking on the microphone, advising passengers of what our options were once we arrived at the pontoon - and while doing this he was trying to fend off an Indian tourist who wanted a bottle of water...not a glass of water as was being offered to him ...a bottle...and he wanted to get it himself!
Fair enough - even after a few trips I still wouldn't drink a glass of water...but the poor guy was busy addressing his passengers and not quite ready to discuss the availability or location of the bottled water! Ugh...their manners didn't improve for the rest of the day.
Onto the pontoon and husband was off to try some scuba diving while Jess (daughter) and I were keen to try...EVERYTHING! First stop was the water slide and for the next hour we flew down the slide and splashed into the water, egged on by the guys operating the slide who were keen to help get us into trouble by encouraging us to go down the slide face first, backwards...whatever we wanted/would amuse them...and we were having a ball until the by the book life guard arrived and told us to slide sitting up ONLY! Oh well...we knew he'd have to have a break at some time so we headed off to snorkel until he did.
My first trip to Lembongan had been a wonderful experience...the island was beautiful and the snorkeling unbelievable! The following year I returned and took both my husband and daughter with me...but the experience had been nothing like it had the year before.
This year however was lovely...the coral seems to have lost a little colour although maybe the water still wasn't as clear as it was on that beautiful May day years earlier, but the fish this time were just as magical.
At the snorkeling pontoon we met up with my husband who had just returned from diving and was thrilled by what he'd seen and keen to see more - even if it was from the top this time.
The three of us snorkeled and found some lovely bright blue fish, some cute little gold ones and then a lot of little jelly type ones!! Jess was stung all over by baby jelly fish and was scooped up onto the pontoon by Bounty staff who applied vinegar to her stings and then to their own. For whatever reason I wasn't being bitten so after a while I returned to the water and eventually found myself swimming in amongst thousands of zebra fish. I'd been so caught up in watching them below me that I hadn't noticed swimming right into them...it was really beautiful!
Also found that the cute little gold coloured fish will swim right into your hand, flick their tail and dart off...cute and funny to see.
After snorkeling hubby and daughter headed off to the tube ride - fifteen minutes for $?? - can't remember but they enjoyed it so it was worth it.
Next stop was the banana boat...me, Jess and two Indian ladies dressed neck to ankle in a sari/legging ensemble...not as fast as we thought it would be but when it was just Jess and I the driver was more fun.
When he asked if we wanted to go fast we assured him we did and when he took off we held on tight - then he did a little zigzag thing and off we went! It took ages for us to get back on the bloody banana - I couldn't stop laughing and eventually had to be dragged by my life jacket. When I was back upright and clutching my stomach - so sore from laughing - I scared the poor boat driver who was worried that I'd been hurt in the fall...not at all...just heaps of fun and lots of laughs!
The next trip was just us again so instead of the usual course we were taken on an extra long, faster ride (without the zigzags)...lots of fun and still lots of laughs. We then opted to head back to the slide...strict lifeguard was on a break so it was head first slides until lunchtime - when he returned and we headed off. Back onto the boat and lunch was a buffet of salad, fruit, seafood sate and fish stews. The Indian tourists had their own buffet in a different area...papadams and curries galore...but they were still willing to try everything else on offer and after many attempts to guide them back to their own lunch the staff seemed to give up and let them do what they wanted.During lunch we were entertained by the Bounty Trio...they did have a name but we missed it and later forgot to ask :o( anyway they were great - very entertaining although at the risk of flogging a dead horse - the Indian people were talking so damn loud and walking straight through the three of them...yea yea...they're rude, I know you get it!
After lunch it was time for a short rest and a chat to some of the crew. They told us that the new steel tank ‘thing' sitting on the back of the boat would soon be a tank where passengers could swim with the dolphins...they expect this to be up and running by March '08 although the staff are at present unsure exactly how it's all going to happen...tank is awfully small...and I can't see how or where they will manage to keep a dolphin. :os
All too soon it was time to head back...so it was back on board The Bounty and afternoon tea was served...SAO type biscuits that were covered in sugar - strange at first but yummy! Also on offer was orange juice and corn on the cob - again...strange...one of those only in Bali things that make you laugh, smile and sigh all at the same time!
A quick nap on the way home and we were all too soon back at Benoa Harbour and being transported back to BGH.
Watched the start of the sunset from the beach horizon pool and then moved onto the beach to watch the rest of it. The locals started to gather on the beach and I watched them wander about looking for washed up pieces of wood to be used as goal posts...while I took heaps of pics of their wonderful soccer game! Occasionally they'd wave, dance or cartwheel in front of me...wonderful grins on their faces...reminding me why I'd rather be in Bali than be anywhere else on earth!
Dinner was BGH pizza...the one with pine nuts is okay but the meat one is delicious!!!!!
Off to Circle K for supplies - and then stopped to look at some gorgeous dresses while hubby was befriended by some locals who were amazed by his Size 12 thongs! lol They all ended up trying them on and looked funny with their tiny little feet in these huge, boat like thongs!
After purchasing a few shirts, dresses etc it was back to BGH...I sleep best when in Bali but never look forward to having to close my eyes - partly because I know there's still so much happening outside the hotel room walls...and partly because I know that each sleep brings me closer to having to leave!
The following day hubby and daughter headed off to Treetops while I wandered around doing some Christmas shopping. We intended to do Treetops the year before but hadn't managed to fit it in...so Jess was really looking forward to it. We paid for the tour - pick up, drop off, guide, two hours on the courses, lunch, temple visit...can't remember how much but I'm told it was well worth it and that the lunch was THE BEST EVER!!! Was also told about the accident that they'd not just witnessed...but had been a part of!
They'd been driving along (guide doing the actual driving) and all of a sudden there was a really loud thud and the driver slammed the brakes on... they'd hit some poor guy on a bike!
After stopping and looking back all three of them in the car saw the cyclist get back up and onto the bike - so off they went...
the driver saying...sorry, I'm sorry...over and over again - to them, the one's in the car, the ones who had not been run over! lol Both agreed that it was another Bali moment to add to all the other classic ones they been busy stockpiling over the years!
While they were off swinging from tree to tree I was wandering around the shops, the stalls, the beach and Discovery. Didn't have much luck in Discovery - was looking for mobile phones but instead found a sign saying BACK SOON...when I asked how long soon was I was told that they guy in charge was having a sleep and would be back later.
I laughed and said okay, I'll come back, but the Aussie guy standing behind me muttered to me that seeing how he couldn't shop here he'd just do his shopping in Australia. Funny how two people can look at a situation so differently...I thought it was funny, very Bali and was happy to come back - the other guy, not so much.
Lunch for me was a huge chocolate muffin from Bread Talk - I swear the thing was calling out to me as I tried to leave!
The afternoon was again spent in the pool - trying to recapture the Bali tan we'd lost many, many months ago.
Dinner that night was Bubba Gumps. We'd never been before and had never really had any interest in going but it was close and we're now so glad we did. Yes drink prices are a little bit dearer than most places...meal prices too are a little higher - but we had a ball!
Prior to visiting I'd already read about the STOP FORREST STOP thing that they had going - but to experience it is something else...lots of fun!
We ordered Popcorn Shrimp, Onion Rings and Cheesy Fries (spicy)...to share...(although hubby also ordered ribs...surprise, surprise) and I'm so glad we stuck to entrees as it was more than enough for the three of us (although after watching the staff do a few card tricks we somehow managed to fit in dessert!)
I ordered a mud cake thing and Jess went for the Ice Cream/Choc Cookie thing...OMG...if I was paid I couldn't even tell you what the pie tasted like as after one little tiny bite of the cookie dessert - I was hooked!!!! YUMMO!!!
We walked out of there with full stomachs, a Bubba Gump glass, Shrimp Co hat and a Bubba Gump T-shirt...and vowing to return! It's certainly not as cheap as other places in Bali but it's a lot of fun and well worth the money. The staff are really friendly, the food is lovely and the atmosphere is great!
One staff member in particular - Joel - was really funny. At one point we were standing looking at the photos from the movie in the memorabilia section - Joel walked up, pointed to a picture of Tom Hanks and with a huge smile told us...that's me when I was much younger ! Lol
Afterwards it was a quick trip to Circle K for water and Panadol (hubbys ear sore) then back to BGH.
Wednesday morning we were up early and wandered down to breakfast - yummy banana pancakes - followed by a walk along the beach then off to Bali Colada (beach side of Discovery) for a yummy freshly squeezed ice cold OJ.
When Discovery opened we wandered around window shopping for a while and then headed to the arcade - a small truckload of tickets later, we won Eeyore slippers :o) and a heap of other little things...key rings, photo frames etc. - all part of the fun!
Took a pic of the arcade security guard hard at work - was busy playing the shooting game...perhaps he was in training! lol
Did a little bit of shopping - souvenir stuff mainly, then headed off to Bread Talk for a snack and then off to find a Bluebird.
Taxi to Camplung Mas - hubby wanted some ‘gold' key ring Xmas presents made up and we've always used the same guy for this sort of stuff and have never had a problem. I still wear a gold Bali symbol bangle that I bought four years ago and it still looks great.
Jess and I wandered along the laneway out to Melasti St - I love shopping along there - friendly faces, lots of bargains and we ended up buying heaps. Sarongs for a friend, handbags, shorts, shirts and a dozen of the little strapless dresses...complete with sparkles!!
Hubby caught up and we headed out to Melasti St - not as laid back as the laneway but I still love shopping here. Love the little chats that everyone is interested in having and I love that they are as interested in you as you are in them. Jess and I stopped to buy some Bali thongs while shopaholic husband (only in Bali) headed back to buy some Holden shirts he'd spotted back up near the laneway. After buying a few pairs of sparkle thongs the lady from the shop brought out some milk crates for us and we sat down and had a chat. They were all amazed that Jess is only 13 and said that she is very tall for her age. We talked about children, family, where we were from and how many times we'd been to Bali - all the usual stuff...then Jess asked if the shop owner had any kids - she told us she had one daughter who was in the village with her father. Jess asked how old she was and she replied...she is eight, yes, eight o'clock!
Another reason why I love Bali!
The shopaholic caught up and we continued down towards the beach...stopping to buy a few more handbags and to browse in the gallery type shops closer to the beach.
Headed to Papa's after a quick stop to take a few beach pics...hardly anyone on the beach - waves were huge!
Have made sure to have at least one meal at Papa's each trip - love it! Again, not the cheapest place to eat but the view is gorgeous (especially at sunset), the staff lovely and the food delicious!
As usual ordered a Kintamani Pizza (love them) and Jess and hubby opted for wedges and nachos...all really nice!
Dessert was a shared Warm Chocolate Cake with Butterscotch and Baileys Sauce - I really have to start ordering two of these as no matter who I'm with they always claim to be too full to eat dessert and then along comes MY dessert which of course looks absolutely divine - and I end up having to share! Trust me...you do not want to have to share it - if you haven't tried it...YOU HAVE TO TRY IT!
After lunch we wandered around the beach for a while then headed back to BGH - husband and daughter took a nap while I wandered around taking even more photos and then we met up downstairs at the Tari Spa. Husband went for the one hour traditional massage - Rp. 125,000 and Jess and I both had an hour long facial - Rp. 150.000.
Was so relaxing that Jess fell asleep half way through...would definitely do it again - sooooo relaxing and my face still feels all soft!
Still sleepy, Jess went back up to the room for a ‘rest' while hubby and I went for a walk down past Discovery. A few little shops here and there offering bargains - bought a few items of clothing and a few little presents for Jessika's upcoming birthday (handbags).
Found a DVD shop - bought a few to watch on the laptop for the rest of our stay and would return later in the week for more. Stopped in at Bread Talk again - for more snacks...writing this it seems like all we did while in Bali was eat - we didn't...but who could blame us if we did - everything tastes better in Bali. We're always commenting on fruit and bread and pretty much everything - how it tastes better than most of the crappy tasting fruit etc that we get back home. Jess was amazed when we told her that the fruit we get in Bali is very similar to what it tasted like when we were kids...juicer, sweeter and with an actual taste to it!
Stumbled across a dance show - not exactly sure that it was Balinese -was interesting to watch though. Back to BGH and managed to drag Jess out to Pandan Restaurant - hadn't been there before and was pleasantly surprised. Meals were nice, cocktails were too and was very reasonably priced. They have movies every night at 9pm...we chose the wrong night and decided not to stay for whatever it was - some shoot ‘em up boy movie :oP
Our entertainment was a Bali cat...I ended up sharing my meal with him -couldn't help it - he was too cute! Four or five cocktails later we headed back to BGH for showers and sleeeeeeep...all that eating and sightseeing makes you very sleeeeeeeeeeeeepy.
Thursday saw us once again heading to Waterbom and after hiring our usual bale, offloading everything into a locker and loading up the splashband we were off. First stop was the Boomerang - I'd tried it when it first opened and was sure that I was going to die - perhaps from flying off over the edge and crashing to my death in the car park behind Waterbom - or maybe from the serious wedgie! This year of course was just the same - the repair man hadn't worked out a way to make the ride fun, exciting and wedgie proof - so after one go we decided we may as well go again...and then again!
The usual rides followed...Macaroni - that one makes me swear every single time. I've been on it about two dozen times yet I still swear...ALL THE WAY DOWN. After working our way through the rest of the ‘slower' ones, I did what I always do and floated around in the Lazy River while the daredevils went over to the scary side of Waterbom. After a while I got bored and decided that it was about time I tried the rest of the rides...and off I went. I started on the Toboggan one - that was fun...once I learnt how to make it go slower ;o) and then I ventured on to the Race Track...or as it should be called The Wedginator!!!!!! I thought the Boomerang was bad but it's got nothing on the Wedginator...that thing is dangerous...but fun...and dangerous...but not so dangerous that I didn't go on it three times...but still, dangerous!
Next stop was the Smashdown...ahhh NO! Maybe next time, maybe not - besides I'd been enough of a daredevil for one day I think!
So the next stop was actually the pool bar - banana smoothie followed by a quick game of volleyball.
After a lap around the Lazy River it was time for lunch. Ribs and Papa's Pizza - yummy!A bit of a rest for hubby while Jess and I went back to the not so fast slides and then over to the fast ones and then the Boomerang. Jess decided she wanted a nap so I went to the little pool near the kid's playground and lazed around in the water - watching a storm build up over Waterbom - never happened though.
Later Jess and I went to the kids pool and spent half an hour laying down under the bucket...weren't expecting it to hurt as much as it did when it tipped - there's a hell of a lot of force behind all that water - was still fun though and while I stayed laying on my stomach getting a back massage/pounding every few minutes - Jess had a ball trying to stay seated/standing against the bucket waterfall.
Bruised and battered we went for ice cream then headed back to the bale to collect towels, husband etc then cashed in the splashband and cleared out the locker.
Back to BGH for a quick shower and then Jess and I decided on a walk before dinner, leaving hubby to shower and rest before meeting us next door at Kafe Batan Waru.
Jess and I headed to the Kodak shop to have a photo printed - just needed the one to give to the engraving guy at Discovery...wanted a key ring made up with our faces engraved - Xmas present for hubby.
On our way back ended up at the same place I'd bought two bags earlier in the week and found a t-shirt, sunglasses and perfume that I wanted to buy. At first I was told a ridiculous price and offered to pay half. Was told the usual - first sale, no tourists etc and informed seller that I'd bought similar items elsewhere for much cheaper and would only pay the same price as I already had...not triple. He then offered another price, I said...no, sorry...and walked away only to be called back and told...okay. So I got out the money and was about to hand it over and he upped the price!!!!
I said...no you said my price was okay...and I was told...yes its okay but I have no customer! I repeated my price and he again asked for more and I told him...no thank you...and again walked away, only to be called back once again and told...okay, okay. This time before I went back I repeated my price and was told...yes...but as I walked back he again asked for more money and told me it was for good luck. By this point I was furious. Stupid, I know - to them it's a lot of money - to me it's not...but I've never once led anyone to believe that I would buy something I had no interest in...have never offered a stupid price and because of the cheap prices, rarely haggle for too long anyway.
In the end I said no thank you (once again) and walked away - the seller then came running up behind me with all 3 items and a bag, yelling...your price, your price, okay, okay you must buy!!!
I did...as like I said I've never led anyone to think I was interested in something when I wasn't, I've never haggled only for the fun of it...but this guy pissed me off! He showed me the three items as he was putting them in the bag and suggested that if I needed anything I should come back to him and he'd give me a good price!!!
I told him...no thank you and we both laughed...then he asked if I wanted a boyfriend! lol
Further along the street we stopped to look at some beads and the guy from the next shop asked Jess who her friend was...her reply...it's my Mum...and the guys reply was...ooooh Mama...poor Jess - screwing her face up and laughing at the same time - she couldn't wait to tell me what he'd said but couldn't believe it happened either. lol
We headed off to the restaurant where hubby was waiting - ordered some Nasi Goreng and fresh juice then some baked cheesecake...all yum and all cheap. Quick swim in BGH first pool then headed back to our room to watch DVD's and to fall asleep.
Friday morning we were up early and with breakfast out of the way we went for a walk along the beach, did a bit of shopping and then headed off to the snow exhibit - which we were an hour early for so it was off to see about an appointment with Dr. Rudy...who we were also early for! Sat down under one of the fans and threw down two cold bottles of water - stinking hot day already - and then went upstairs to the arcade. About three times the price of the Discovery arcade and most of the games were either broken or didn't spit out tickets. For all our efforts we walked out with some stickers! Back down to Dr. Rudy and we were told that there were no appointments available for another week...oops...we were leaving in a few days - should have thought about doing this on our first day I guess lol.
Headed back to the snow exhibit - and loved it! We'd taken sand shoes and sarongs with us as well as the socks from the Air Brunei comfort packs...and Jess bought some gloves from just outside the entrance. The start was full of ice sculptures - star signs, garuda, temples etc...then upstairs there are two slides...one very wide one and another one with two lanes - much faster than the wider one. The three of us went on the wider one together and ended up in a heap at the bottom...freeeeezing...but fun! At the bottom of the slides were a few more sculptures as well as a snowman, snow covered trees and a few ice benches where you could sit and have your photo taken. One of the guys working there took Jess over to the trees and when she was standing in just the right spot he shook the trunk and she got covered in snow...she loved it and as it was her first time in the snow - we took heaps of pics. Climbed the stairs and went back down the single slides...another crumpled heap at the bottom but still heaps of fun! By this time hubby was over the cold (hates the snow) and was happy to wait outside for us. Jess and I continued on the slides and occasionally took a quick break outside where we found hubby enjoying a drink and a rest. After our third rest we ventured back inside and ended up sliding with a heap of young Balinese girls who were having a ball. I had the camcorder and got some great footage of the girls laughing and screaming as we all flew down the slides. Eventually though it was time to go - Jess I'm sure was well on her way to getting frostbite but was far too busy to notice lol...the huge smile on her face didn't hide the blue lips lol
So we headed back to BGH - hubby was complaining of a sore ear which he thought he may have hurt when diving - so we ducked into the chemist at Discovery, bought some ear drops, seen him off to the hotel and Jess and I went for a walk along the beach, found a spot and waited for the beautiful sunset...that didn't disappoint!
Dinner was pizza in the room followed by a quick swim in the horizon pool, another in the first pool and then back up to the room.
Saturday morning we weren't really sure what we were going to do.
Options were Bali Zoo, Bird Park, Kintamani (which I had done before but have been told hawkers are quite bad now), Lovina (another one I'd done but husband and daughter haven't) or the new Safari & Marine Park. After talking to the guys at the BGH tour desk we decided that the Safari Park was the way to go and arranged transport with the tour guide. We dashed off for a quick breakfast before returning to our room for cameras, sunscreen etc...and then we were off. The trip to the park was nice - lots of beautiful scenery as usual and our guide was chatty and friendly too. When we arrived I was surprised to see hardly any cars in the car park and barely anyone else there. We were led to the safari bus and driven to the first stop where we visited the leopards - very nice - as well as the crocodile/alligator things...don't care what they were really, hate both - also saw fish, birds and lovely cold bottles of water lol.
Headed off in search of the white tigers which as expected, were beautiful...we'd seen them a number of times at Dreamworld but everything's better in Bali.
Found one sleeping alongside the glass of the first window and another two further away in the gazebo in the middle of the enclosure. At different times we'd each look at what we thought was the fake tiger - sprawled out on a log about five meters away. It was Jess who first thought that it was real...I had a second look but when I couldn't see any handlers around, was sure it had to be fake...until it moved!
We walked over...why we did that I don't know lol...we'd just established that it was real and still decided to get closer :os As we did get closer a handler arrived and asked if we'd like to have our photo taken with it. It was at this time that we realized what the arm band was for - when you've had your photo taken with the animal of your choice they mark it off on your arm band and from then on you have to pay...well maybe when the park is in full swing and operating to capacity - at the time though we got to take heaps of pics and lots of videos. I'd read that the tiger may or may not be drugged - IMO it's not...was sleepy yes but when it did wake up it was quite alert - just very uninterested in what was going on around it.
After leaving the gorgeous white tiger behind we headed off to the safari tour and lined up for the bus to arrive. Included in your entry fee are two safari tours - one on either side of the bus (for different photo ops) or one for in the morning and one in the afternoon when I'm told the animals are more active. We intended to go again in the afternoon but ran out of time - hint...get to the park at opening time and not a minute later!
The safari tour features an owl in a tree lol, tapirs, monkeys, elephants, sun bears (very cute), tigers, cows, zebras, lions and a whole heap of others...all of which I can't think of right now...oooh apart from the freakish, cranky ostrich...HIM I remember!
By this time it was really starting to heat up so it was off to the water park for us. Hubby took a quick dip and then decided on a snooze under a palm tree (by this time his ear was really hurting). Jess and I headed to the kids slides and the guys operating the water area laugh as we got stuck on not one or two but every slide! Was heaps of fun though.
After we'd dried off it was off to the restaurant which unfortunately lets the park down a little...but I'm sure with time they'll iron out any problems...including this one. When you first walk in there's a large area with menu's above counters but you can't order at every counter...some are just there to display food while the one across from it that looks identical...is the one that takes your order - even though they have a different menu above it and look as though they may very well be separate! You also have to take pieces of paper with you to order and they stamp the back for each item that you want. By the time we got to the main counter to pay we had two pieces with stamps on them and another piece with nothing. Confusing? Very!
We eventually managed to order and found a table right near a fan and enjoyed the lovely décor, music and...at the time more than anything, the fan.
After twenty minutes Jess received her meal but we were still waiting for ours ten minutes later. There were people who had ordered after us eating their meals so by now we were a little more confused than when we'd arrived. A little while later a staff member asked if we were still waiting and went off to find out what was going on - in the end we were told that they'd thought the meals had already gone out and set about cooking two more. (we had thought that the people at the next table may have received our meals but weren't sure so didn't say anything...but am sure that this very problem will occur many, many times until they change the set up!) When we'd finished eating we were offered dessert which we declined as we weren't game lol.
Back out into the park and we found Tsunami the chimp...who is the most gorgeous creature on earth! The handlers were keeping her entertained with a pen lid and she seemed to be enjoying spitting into it, sticking her finger into it and wiping it on Jess lol. She removed N's hat and put it on herself, threw it on the ground and jumped down to pick it up...then kissed him... a HUGE kiss that we caught on video...priceless!
I was dragged away from Tsunami when the bird show/orangutan show started close by. The show was entirely in Indonesian...which we didn't mind as we got to see the bird tricks and the orangutan plus we had the added bonus of trying to pick up on what words we did know.
The orangutan was very funny and the birds were very clever. At one point hubby volunteered to assist with a trick and was later rewarded with a voucher to have his photo taken with the orangutan...which Jess and I gate crashed - no-one seemed to mind though and we took a heap of pics and a lot of video...luckily the cameras had both been turned off when I was holding it and it pulled my strapless top down at the front lol. I don't know who was more embarrassed...Jess or the handlers (who although they laughed, also blushed A LOT!) The orangutan seemed very interested in rubbing hubbys shaved head...then his own...was very funny but all too soon it was time to leave him - did get to take the lovely monkey smell with us though and I think it was still lingering when we arrived back at the hotel!!
After leaving the park we were taken to the obligatory sliver shop where we purchased some very cheap earrings that are just lovely. We then began the journey home at the worst possible time to be on the road in Bali - traffic bumper to bumper and at times we didn't move for more than ten minutes. Eventually we arrived back at BGH - exhausted, hungry and all too aware that this was once again our last night in paradise :o(
Loved the Safari & Marine Park and look forward to heading back there on our next trip to check out the marine side of it. There'll be swimming with the dolphins as well as a number of marine animal shows, some interactive which sounds great. Closer to the beach there's a rollercoaster and dodgem cars but there were still being built when we were there and we're told there will be ten rides when the adult fun park area is complete!
They also have accommodation that we'll be looking at for something different - although Jess isn't keen in case there's a mass break out and the animals go on a rampage lol
There's also a restaurant for overnight guests - from what I can work out it's floor to ceiling glass windows with 360 degree views of the lions in their enclose...sounds really nice and would certainly be different.
Can't wait to go back.
We weren't sure where to spend our last night in Bali as there were still a few fave restaurants that we hadn't managed to get to this trip...and Jess was keen to get back to Discovery by 9pm for the Christmas carols upstairs lol. Back here it wouldn't have been something that she was interested in but she was keen to see and hear them sung by the lovely Balinese. Eventually we decided on Poppies and after braving the Saturday night traffic we arrived and enjoyed garlic prawns, sate, pasta and ribs...all delicious as usual.
Afterwards it was a quick as we could dash back to Discovery and while hubby stayed with Jess to watch the carols, I ran around grabbing a few last minute Xmas gifts (engraved key ring included). Christmas shopping complete I tracked them down to find out they'd missed the carols by an hour :os ...oh well! Hubby was again in pain with his ear so he headed back to BGH and Jess and I searched around for a few more last minute things. On the way out we made one last stop at Bread Talk for some breakfast supplies (would be picked up from BGH at 6:30am for 8:30am flight) and then it was back to the room to pack, the three of us sad and depressed that another trip was over.
Most nights after dinner we'd managed to fit in a swim in one or both of the BGH pools but the last night we were stuffed...had been going non-stop for days and after packing we were quick to bed and fast asleep.
The following morning we were picked up right on 6:30am and taken to the airport where we checked in with Air Brunei and encountered the rudest staff ever. I'm not a morning person either but one lady and one man in particular were soooooo rude, snapping at us when asking if we had any aerosols etc. I did have some after sun lotion in my bag that I'd packed especially for the flight as both Jess and I dry out and look like flaky old hags during and after a long flight. The night before I'd tipped some of the contents out so that I'd be under the allowable amount but the check in guy couldn't have cared less. He asked me to open my bag, which I did, he spotted the bottle and then pointed out that the bottle held more than was allowed and I pointed out that there was only a small amount in the bottle. Now I'm only going off advice that I was given prior to leaving Australia...but I was led to believe that this would be okay...and can't see why it wouldn't be. Maybe I'm wrong...I often am lol - but even if I am - the guy was SO rude and snatched the bottle out of my hand and told me I couldn't have it back. I never argued with him - only ever said...there's hardly anything in the bottle...and even after I said it was fine and that I'd leave the bottle, he continued to go on about it and snarl at me. Way to get customers...might have to have a word to the sultan about this! Lol
Anyway...managed to get away from the happy check-in people and then had a short wait for the flight and before we knew it we were off...to BRUNEI!! Arrived...waited...plane supposed to leave at 11...still there at 1...no-one telling us anything...sat watching every second person walk through the beeping metal detectors...no-one bothered to stop them...sat there, IN AN AIRPORT DEPRATURE LOUNGE, watching French Kiss - with Meg Ryan - the movie that has a very long intro featuring a woman terrified of flying because she thinks the plane is going to crash :os
Eventually we board the plane...this one's still dirty but has personal DVD players in the back of each seat. Plane is mostly full (of course...again, it is LEAVING Brunei after all) and we're on our way.
In the air and I find the games on the TV and think that finally there's something I like about Brunei - then discover the control is broken and I can only watch movies so once again I'm back to disliking it...immensely! Within ten minutes half the plane had relocated - lots of controls broken and one man who had been boasting to his wife about having three seats to himself ended up with a young, noisy, game playing kid either side of him! :op
Meals okay - obviously nothing memorable though as I've drawn a blank. List of movies available was good, wide range...watched a few but missed the end of one as the damn pilot turned it off to tell us we were landing lol
Left the plane and Brunei behind for good - hubby was so keen to get off he even left his Bubba Gump hat on board!
Baggage claim was slow but gave us the chance to watch the sniffer dog in action as he sniffed around an elderly Asian lady who was snatching up her bags out of the dogs reach. The customs officers told her to put the bag on the ground and she did - until the dog got closer to it, then she snatched it up again...a little too late as the dog was already sitting and the customs guy was already on his radio! lol
We watched her bag being emptied and at one point she seemed to indicate that she had food in the bag - whatever it was must have been harmless though as she was soon on her way - after having to repack her bag though.
Customs was quick - declared the photo frames that I'd bought...wasn't sure about them when I bought them but they were so pretty. Customs were a little worried about some seeds on the frames (I knew there were coffee beans on the frame but I'd thought the seeds were actually beads lol). They ended up scraping everything off the frames and breaking open the seeds which weren't dried as the coffee beans were but were in fact very green inside...oops!
Then it was out of customs, into the airport, off to the money exchange to cash in Brunei money...will not be needing it ever again, decided to keep the rupiah that we had left for next time...then we were off outside to wait for our ride...back home but feeling homesick for Bali already!
Took longer than usual to adjust to being home this time...Bali blues set in so quick and we're all just wanting to go back...NOW!
Planning to return in May - I'll go ahead with Jess or on my own a week earlier and will meet up with hubby who is hoping that by the time he arrives I will be starting to slow down a little - not likely lol
This last trip has been IMO the best...but then I said that the last time and I'm sure I said it the time before that too and I'm sure I'll be saying it after my next trip!
Bali just keeps getting better, becomes more magical and feels more like home each time we return...and that's why we do!
Website...for now...
www.indahbali.co.nr
Facebook links.
Brunei:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2000259&l=b0631&id=1014730121
Bali 1:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2000261&l=26f39&id=1014730121
Bali 2:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2000262&l=7d2ed&id=1014730121
Bali 3:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2000263&l=dfae2&id=1014730121
Bali 4:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2000265&l=cff03&id=1014730121
Bali 5:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2000266&l=47d8f&id=1014730121
Bali 6:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2000269&l=a913b&id=1014730121
Bali 7:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2000270&l=025b8&id=1014730121