Arrived in Bali on March 16th with my younger sister I will call her 'S' for sissy. Her 4th trip back since first going in the 80's.
Air North was great 2:15Mins with tail wind. Roast dinner served and a free glass of wine. Arrive approx 8:30pm & we were out and running, flew thru VOA & Immigration just in time as a Jetstar flight had landed also.
Looked for their Mascot DennisC but he did a miserable no show. The usual 2 desks in operation at immigration.
My driver Putu, wife and children all big smiles & waves there to meet us. This is the first time all the family had come to the airport to greet me. Now I know how others feel when they are met by families. It is real special.
Head to Rama Gardens Hotel in JL Padma just for an overnight as we are booked into Hidden Garden Villa the next day for 4 nights. Bags dumped and were off for a wander down garlic lane. I luv Garlic Lane, we think about catching the early Hulu's show but decide to crash out instead.
Up at 6 am or some silly hour looked across at Wally 1's old room from last August and realised I truly missed the miserable plonker. Nevermind, we do the usual trek to Legian Beach.
Have breakfast and then to Garlic lane to get our shoe orders happening at Dolphin Leather. Prices have risen slightly, but I don't really care rather pay $20-30 AUS for reproductions of my work shoes that are still 25% of the price here at home.
Then we head off to Wayans. Schools on holiday this week so Wayan is actually around the whole time. I must say her prices have gone up considerably. Denim shorts my son wears in past 2 years have gone from 90,000 Rp to 150,000 Rp. Well I negotiated in between.
At least with Wayan you can get the larger sizing in most items. She does do a roaring trade and one day there I almost turned around and walked back out as there were a dozen or so customers. The coast was soon cleared and I managed to get some tops for the family at home that was requested.
Ketut in the opposite lane is in my view the cheapest however the sizing is always a problem for my tribe at home. I think she needs new stock also. I think Ketut is a lovely lady and the cold water is very much appreciated.
Back at the Rama Garden we are advised about our pre organised transfer to the Villa. The Villa transport mode turns out to be motor bike x 2. Now this morning at 'ours' I see two guys, 1 motorbike and 7, yes 7 crates of Bintang. However even without the luggage my sister freaks at the mode of transport. So we thank the Villa staff and I try to organise my own driver.
We go shopping again, then a text from my driver he had received a customer for the remainder of the day and although doing his best to help me out it could only be can early transfer ? This is a problem as with check in time at the villa plus we are in the mist of shopping and don't want to down handbags and desirable prospective purchases. ( Hey girls you know what I mean !).
So we thank Putu for his efforts by text and later at hotel try and sort out another transfer option.
For some daft, dumb and dumber reason I didn't want a taxi. Anyway I ask for Jason - the hotel asks for 40,000Rp. We agree on 25,000Rp which is still a bit much.
We get this half baked demolition derby van for this price and Jason with his reasonable car has since left. Well the DD Van only makes in ¼ of the way down the Gang of the Villa and we are left carting our luggage. They are still doing the paving in the gang and it was hell lugging the bags - worse than woollies trolleys over the terrain.
At last we are at the Villa !!
Thats it for now more to come. :-)) The dinner I cook for some Balinese friends.