Hi, My family & I left for our first trip to Bali on April 14th.
My husband - R, my 17yo son-A, my 13yo old daughter-B and myself.
My sister, her husband, 17yo daughter and 14yo son had arrived for their first visit 5 days earlier overlapping with our visit for 5 days.
We all had a fantastic time.
Day 1
We flew Garuda - all went well. Getting thru checks etc was smooth and quick. We decded to prebuy alcohol/perfume/aftershave in Sydney to pick p on return (so easy!)
On arrival we were met by our prearranged driver. There are hundreds of drivers waiting and somehow my children spotted the sign with my name!
We drove to hotel via a money changer and supermarket.
We stayed at the Kumala Pantai and could not have been happier. Yes we stayed in one of the 3 new wings (the 3rd of which is not quite completed) We were the first in our rooms. We had a room with King bed connecting to a room with 2 single beds which meant we had 2 bathrooms and 2 private balconies - Very very nice....
The new pool opened the day we arrived with swim up bar - just lovely.
Breakfasts were more than adequate, the outlook over the beach was simply beautiful.
It was great to meet up with my sister & family. First night we all had dinner next door at the Seaside restaurant; great food & atmosphere and all teenagers loved the upstairs pool table. (prices reasonable too)
Organised Sim cards just up the road from KP - lovely helpful guy who set phones up and explained to put 010161 in front of Aust ph no.s - 0(cheaper that way), & when calling land lines in Bali add 0361.
Day 2
Shopping!!! We started at the tailor. My husband (R) was fitted for a suit. Next we went to Discovery where I organised my prescription sunglasses.
Shopped for a while there and then we went to Supanova and I stocked up on the wonderful Martha Tilla (great products). Son A had caps embroidered opposite MT counter.
On the way back to Hotel found the ‘pillow shop' I had heard about on the forum and I ordered some lounge cushion covers - only 2 at first to see how looked.
Dropped washing to Laundry across from KP. We did this every evening and picked up the next day - very well done & smelt just beautiful- lovely man & family. Really made our holiday!
Dinner tonight at Drops Restaurant - good night.
Day 3
We had prebooked Bali Baik Bike tours and we were picked up from Hotel foyer at 0700. We started off at restaurant for breakfast near volcano- fantastic views. Next we went for a tour through coffee plantation - interesting, tasted ginger tea, coffee, hot chocolate & others. My son(A) became unwell with slight fever and abdo pains so spent most of the bike ride in support vehicle dozing. Everybody enjoyed the bike ride riding thru local villages - magic. B found the bike ride a little hard towards the end but Wayan came along and took her the rest of the way with him on his motor bike - which she thought was unreal. Everybody had a great day.........
Lunch at (Tour operator) Wayan's house - cooked by his lovely wife, was absolutely beautiful- fantastic food.
Returned to hotel(shower & Changed),we had prebooked the Glory bus and headed off to Glorys for dinner - ok night.
We went shopping after dinner + organised phone recharges.
Day 4
Pre arranged driver to take us to the Safari park, we were picked up at 0800. Yes it is as good as everyone says. We had the Safari bus to ourselves with my sisters family! FANTASTIC.Teenagers had Photos with baby Arangatang, baby Lion & Snake!!! fantastic, Trainer had trouble keeping baby Lion still for photos (not drugged today)
Elephant ride- not such a good idea after yesterday (my but was a little tender) but still a great experience! Wow isn't their hair course?! Water park nice at end of day, teenagers all enjoyed the ‘Bouncer ride' behind the water park 'Mad' as they put it!
Going early turned out a great idea as at 10ish the park became quiet busy.
On returning home my sister & I went to the Melasti for a facial, B had a creme hair bath and my niece had a foot/leg massage.
Dinner at the Flying Piano - great atmosphere, we all had a great time, the Band(trio) were in fine form singing and meeting requests from different nationalities with ease. Unfortunately Pedro was not there!! but B enjoyed a short play herself on the baby grand, much to her shock a guest tipped her!!! (something to tell her piano teacher!)
Day 5
Awoken at 0430 with A crying with severe abdo cramps, called reception and arranged for a Dr to be called, in what seemed like 5 minutes there was a knock on door and in walked an absolutley stunning lady, dressed in a gorgeous suit followed by another lovely lady with a suitcase. After examination we were given prescribed medicines and advise and the Doctor left, we then paid the nurse and she followed the Dr. We rescheduled the days plans and A improved quickly as day progressed.B & I went shopping and then went to the miracle clinic for a facial together - truly outstanding.
Went to pillow place and ordered the rest of our cushion order after finding first order satisfactory.
Met our DVD man in hotel foyer - order delivered.
Walked up the street planning to catch a taxi to dinner, our driver went past with his family in car - big waves - next thing he came back past without family and we organised trip to restaurant with him.........
Dinner at Rumours - very busy - thankfully a lovely family from Aust/Ballina said they wouldn't be long - so we sat at bar until table ready. Everybody enjoyed their meal.
Day 6
Shopping Garlik lane, Poppies II, Suite fitting - sleeves too short, back middle riding high, also collar shape not right, we were asked to return in 3 days, I also organised for a top to be copied in 3 different colours (brought fabrics from home luckily as told they didn't have any that would work) I also organised to have a pair of shorts copied for B in white (had bought same in Bali in black when no white available in her size). Went to leather place and organised for my faithful black slip on shoes to be copied as I haven't been able to replace at home! Lunch at the Sky Garden - fantastic - air conditioned and the ice coffee would have to be the best I had in Bali!!! B's Fries were also the best!
Next Poppies I then Kuta Paridiso to confirm our return flights - we were able to confirm return seats also. Taxi back to Hotel.
Met Driver in foyer at 3 to go to Tannah lot, lovely drive, Fantastic views and we all enjoyed the markets.
Returned to hotel for shower & change and proceeded to Bianco for Dinner.
Fantastic evening - everybody agreed a ‘standout' food great, cocktails lovely, staff fantastic, atmosphere beautiful- a great night! Teenage boys were entertained by barman performing tricks - very clever.
Walked home afterwards browsing along the way......
Day 7
Kuta Galleria; went to Serbic Antik to try and organise some curtains but unfortunately I couldn't find the colour I was after. More shopping- went to Matahari.
Lunch - Bread Talk - very nice A&B really liked same.
Met up with sister & Family at the Green Eden, Boys x 4 all had massages - thoroughly enjoyed, girls all had pedicures - not bad.
Back to Hotel talking with my sister as she packed!!!
Next all 4 girls went to Melasti-Myself, my Sister & neice had manicures, B had a full massage not the 1hr head & shoulders I ordered - she was a little surprised.
After this B & myself went via Bintang to top up supplies.
My sisters & families last night!!! dinner at the Seaside again - another great night.
Farewell - sadly.
Day 8
Our Driver arrived 0800 and we headed off to Ubud;
On way 1st stop a Batik factory - nice.
As planned arrived in time for Barong Dance 0930 - most enjoyable.
Next we stopped & toured a silver factory - interesting to watch them making jewellery.
Monkey Forest - Fantastic, we had emptied pockets, removed sunglasses etc as advised but A still had a packet of tissues in his pocket - they found it and the cheeky monkey pulled all the tissues out and had a great time- provided us and others with a good laugh ( I with much difficulty retrieved packet & tissues to dispose of same)
Lunch in Ubud at the Deli Cat - nice, the Norwegian apple cake was unreal! just out of oven as served!!!
Then we had our driver drop us at the top of Tegalong and we criss crossed down looking at shops - great! A&B spent last ½ in car with driver.
On way home we went to Denpasar to check out a fishing shop...good experience is all I can say. "Shimarno outlet" - not one Shimano product in shop.
Dinner at the Panterie Restaurant
Great night another standout, we all enjoyed, disappointed flamingo guitarist only plays Sun/Mon but great night anyway.
supplies at Bingtang(just up the road) on way home
Day 9
R & A went quadbiking - Had a fantastic day, picked up in hotel foyer at 0930 and arrived home 4pm. A who normally won't eat beef unminced! raved about beef dish!
B & I had a lovely relaxing girly day which of course incl shopping bought another medium suitcase to fit ‘extras' in, and found that perfect handbag for B she had been looking for and lazed around at hotel.
When boys arrived home we went to pillow place-some were wrong, picked up the rest and organised to come back in 2 days for remakes.
Went to suit place -collar now different on each side, marks noted - assured when spot cleaned and pressed all would be good - told to come back in 2 days.
Tried to find ‘The Pub' - no luck - taxi, walked, asked, walked, ended up going back to Seaside Restaurant to appease all -another good night had by all.
Day 10
Waterbom Bali - Great day!!!
Definitely don't need to worry about missing gym class today - my god those stairs!
But yes everybody enjoyed themselves.
Afterwards picked up glasses from Centro (happy with glasses). Went to money changer who attempted to short change me and as I discreetly warned ladies that came in next - they pointed out the ‘other exchange rate' (they had been warned about as they arrived by another tourist)......in small diagonal numbers was 1 rate followed by big bold numbers of another rate! I then questioned the moneychange lady and she reluctantly corrected this gap as well........
Taxi to the tailor - very disappointing burn marks and seams all boldly standing out but of course my darling husband thought I was being too fussy, I wanted to leave and cut our losses but R thought I was being unreasonable -so I ended up opting out of it and stood outside.............while he paid and thanked them for his suit..........
Shopped and found watch for myself and B and nice bracelet for A.
Dinner at Trattoria - very nice.
Day 11
After breakfast A headed to beach & hired a body board.
We walked along beach.
Next R went for another massage while B & I headed to Seminyak shopping,
B happy when we found a present for our dog - who we were all missing.
Met up with boys for lunch at Tommys - fantastic.
Picked up shoes from leather man, organised for originals to be repaired and revamped to 'new' as he put it.
Went to Toms music store - Ash happy as bought more drumsticks.
Went back to Supanova to have more hats embroidered for presents as A & B were so happy with ones they had bought on day 2. B & I took the opportunity to buy some more Martha Tilla...- also bought a MT lipstick and mascara x 2 which are also good.
On way back to hotel taxi kept breaking down, thankfully I spotted a nice bag in shop window so we bailed out - and I bought the bag - very nice, I had been looking for another carry on multi purpose bag, walked rest of way home via pillow place & picked up remaining cushions(all good), plus 2 pair of sunglasses for A from the ‘pillow man'.
Swim in pool, packed suitcases!!!
Dinner at the KP restaurant - nice.
Driver rang to ask where we were(waiting in hotel foyer) - had wrong night to take us to airport! - confirmed right night - tomorrow......
Day 12
Ash off to beach & hired body board again after breakfast.
R - massage
B & I tried another place for manicure & pedicure........
I asked for my nail polish to be removed as so bad,
and my actual nails were all scratched horizontally.........
went back to Eden and had all our nails repainted!!!
Met by driver after lunch - we drove to orphanage. Took bags (clothes and other items incl toys/dolls/balls/sheets etc) we had brought with us and stopped at a supermarket on way to buy rice, sugar, noodles, exercise books & chupa chups.
Fantastic experience, made feel very welcome. Told 21 of 25 children deaf. All children appeared happy and well. (signed well) A & B really enjoyed visit.
Driver dropped us back to Carrefour - wow there is nothing they don't sell!
B was taken aback by the cooked chickens with heads etc intact.
Taxi to JP's Rest - couldn't find, ended up asking taxi driver to let us out. We walked & found without any trouble.
Dinner at JP's lovely - great way to finish! Poor Aloved his meal but had trouble with spiciness, When waiter came to take plates, A apoligised saying how he loved his meal but sorry couldn't eat as too spicy for him, The lovely man wanted to recook the meal for A - which A was quite touched by - we didn't have time unfortunately. Then he didn't want to charge for his dish! they couldn't do enough for us......
we were more than happy to pay as everything just lovely and service outstanding.
Back to hotel to freshen up, pick up luggage & meet driver to go to
airport, no dramas checking thru all went very smoothly, except for.......
plane 1 hr late leaving....... oh well
some sleep on trip home.
Bali was certainly a great experience and we all enjoyed our trip immensely, it is easy to see how people fall in love with Bali and why some return so frequently.
We loved the Balinese people they are very loving and beautiful.
We found most Non Bluebird Taxis fine too, a couple of times there was the 'no metre con' but we would wave them on and check out the next one.
Loved all the Restaurants we went too.
I would like to thank all the experienced forumites who shared their experiences and knowledge. Our trip would have been no where near as fantastic without all this information and all your tips...................
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!