Day 4
We will be going to Bali again in sept/oct for 23 days and will be taking four of our five kids. We decided this trip to see what a 2star has to offer and chose the Baleka to have a look at.
so, this morning we treked it out to see how the Baleka compared to my imagined expectations!As we walked into the reception,I was happy with what I saw,and the staff were pleasant.Walking out into the gardens seemed nice although the pool was on the small side,it is clean.Some paving renovations need to take place as this is what lets it down a bit.
I liked the location as you have two entrance/exits to main areas that we tend to shop and walk down. Maybe someone with a sense of direction can clarify what streets these are!
We asked to see the rooms that our proposed booking would have us in.
Oh my Lord...no way !! the standard rooms look like something from a convent where they used to keep the nuns in the old days!!These rooms where directly opposite the pool,and they were giving them a lick of paint,but it still wasn't what we wanted.Maybe a backpacker or someone travelling budget and alone wouldn't mind.
Ok,after my look of...well I'm not sure how to describe my look, but Sri (the manager I think)got the idea. I then asked to see the very nice new looking rooms on the left as you walk out of reception.
These are really,really nice! All new furniture,almost like a modern Japanese style.There is also a seperate room upstairs,so would have been ideal for our family.The bathroom was very nice to.But,unlucky for us,they are booked out of course!!
So,we settled at looking at the rooms to the right of the reception area,being interconnecting. Now,they were not bad at all,just after falling in love with the new rooms it seemed a little less attractive.
Being fair and realistic, these rooms are much better than the standard.So,we may be staying there,depending on the upgrade cost.Our next choice would be the Jayakarta.
All in all the Baleka seems nice enough for our family,I like the idea of the bar that comes off the main road,so drinks in the evening and some company other than hotel guests is likely,and if need be the kids can watch dvds in the room whilst we chill out.Still being in close range of them.There was some renos going on with some of the rooms,just hope they will be done by september.
we popped into Centro to pick up some prescripiton glasses,from two different Optiks.As I was being fussy about my frames and my son requested a certain frame as well.I was very happy with the proffesional service and the cost.Much,much cheaper than home.It's not even worth the whinge of not getting a rebate from a private health fund!!
I got my Furla design glasses from Optik seis at a cost of $205 and my sons Converse glasses at Optik Melawi at a cost of $104.
We then caught a cab to Supernova and I stocked up on Martha Tiller creams.I haven't used it before, so I got a bit of everything!! Nine items cost me a total of $52!!! wow, try getting one face cream at that price in Australia,and they had a 15% discount on.What a steal!!
I have worked in the cosmetic industry prior to being a full time mum.First with Revlon,then Clinique/Estee lauder and Chanel.So, ladies I got to see the mark up from Factory to the Department stores.It is ridiculous!! I am impressed with the M/T Biokos face care range and the treatment serums.It is no different to anything else I have used here.I will definitely be getting some for my mum and sisters next visit.
The taxi waited at supernova and then onto Carrefour we went.
This place had a big range of anything you need,more like Big W than K-Mart.It was hubby's turn to shop and he got several pairs of very nice Carvill jeans for 74,500($8.76) a pair. I also got a couple of white t-shirts for my 15 yr old with a skater man /joke on the front for $1.75!! Hubby also stocked up on razor blades.All in all if you have a good look around you will find quite a few bargains.Just watch out for the rollerblading price check bloke,he scared the 'bejeebees'out of me as i rounded a corner and he flashed by!!LOL.
Back to the Melasti for drinks and a swim.If you like Magaritas,I have found the King of Magaritas at the Melasti pool bar!!Panji was his name and he was making a lemon Magarita that I just couldn't get enough of.MMMMM,I wanted to take him home.(that mmm was about the magarita not the bartender!I am a married girl!!)
We had dinner at Wayan and friends,very nice food(will definitely go back) and cheap ,as well as being next door to our favourite watering hole:The Legian Pub! So we finished the night there,playing pool,enjoying the live band and joking around with the staff.Gonzo and Jimmy are always a laugh.
Day 5 (briefly)
breakfast this morning was a bit ordinary (yuk),I don't know why.Maybe different kitchen staff on today.
Off to Mataharis to get my Revlon foundation for $10.50! lippy and nailpolish was around the $5 mark I think.
Then out to the street shopping,and down through Poppies 2.I really do not enjoy this area,with people grabbing at me and trying to shake your hand and then they won't let go.It becomes a polite tug of war and finally with a bit of a chuckle and a no thankyou I am on my way,I find myself darting through trying to avoid this situation and only stopping at the shops that aren't trying to man handle me!It was so hot with no cloud cover,so my skin was searring!
We headed back to the pool,and of course it was overcast and sprinkling.We always seemed to be shopping in the heat and swimming when the weather changed.My tan was becoming uneven and strappy.Oh, well time for a few more magaritas!
We tried Yutz as was advised on the forum.We were both very impressed with their steak.By far the best steak I have had in Bali,maybe even Perth! I have two chefs in my family and I won't repeat that to them!!
Hubby had the big rump with mash and veg for 85,000 and i had a nice fillet steak with baked potatos and veg for 48,000.
from here we got a cab to visit our friend Agus at Redskin Tattoo to organise my design to be done the day before we leave. We need to have an early night as we will be doing the Bali Baik tour tomorrow.
still to come...The bike tour,now I DONT ride a bicycle!! Being the youngest of four girls my mummy never let me have one in case I fell off.Then again I was also told not to run cause I could hurt myself.I think you can see why my paranoia of needing to look at the ground whilst walking in Bali has come from.Which has also led to my not having any sense of direction.Thank God my husband is a patient man!