Well in short, I cut my holiday one week short due to an illness I got while I was over there, so had two weeks instead of three, still enough time to shop like a lunatic. Here's my info and will update my web.shots when I get a chance, once I do, will post the link here.
Flights -
Garuda over and back ex melb. Both were absolutely brilliant. Getting to bali in the afternoon is much better than the evening with jetstar. I upgraded and flew back business class, luxury at it's best. Especially being able to stretch out and sleep a bit. Will definately do the return trip bus class from now on. Oh and the extra kilos were handy, though I was only 22 kilos anyway. Flights were both half full, or half empty whichever way you look at it, so had seat to myself on way over and way back. Lovely!!! Got through customs easy in Melbourne and declared all my wood.
Hotel -
Ida Hotel, what a lovely little hideaway this is. I would highly recommend this to all you travellers out there. It is in a perfect location, it is as quiet as of a night. The pool clean and lovely area. The massage girls are really nice. I had deluxe bungalow and it was beautiful. The ONLY down was, for someone like me travelling on my own, there wasn't anyone hanging around the pool area at any time, so it isn't a place where you'd meet a heap of people. I did meet some all the same and were very nice people. I would just prefer the bigger places to meet people. Other than that, there is no reason why i would not stay here again. Brilliant place...
Restaurants -
Un's - has to be my new favourite restaurtant. In a small lane between poppies 1 and the main drag down to the beach (beside KFC part of kuta square). You absolutely must have the chicken maryland. My god it is beautiful. You also get a complimentary frozen arak and a little fried chicken rissoley sort of thing on arrival.
Indo National - was as lovely as always, had the grilled seafood, highly recommended.
Ifiore - opposite centro, lovely italian restaurant, opened since i was there last year, I had a fish dish there and it was beautiful as was the tiramisu.
All other restaurants I ate at are all well recommended on here, so wont go into them again.
Shopping -
Timmy's shop just up from Mades Warang (towards beach). He will sell you a bike helmet good price, i got mine for 100thou but i think you will get them cheaper. Lovely little fellows in there, always asking you to get them a beer.
Nyomans shop 111 in Kuta art market. She is one hell of a lovely woman and will give you good prices. She also has some larger sizes for those of us a tad well endowed!!!!!
Ketuts in garlic lane is still good for fixed price stuff.
Emily the Strange was a shop i discovered, funny shyte in there. I loved it.
I got 15 pair of sunglasses for 350thou rp (about 23thou each) off the beach seller outside bali garden.
Watches i couldn't get for under 30 thousand this time. Might have been able to get them elsewhere, but I couldn't.
For those with teenage boys who like to wear their jeans down around their ankes and their jox showing the brand name, you can get really good jox in a few shops in kuta square for 72 thou. I got CK, D&C, Tommy, Armani. My nephew will love me.
UNDERBELLY had hit the streets by last week. The DVD shops were closed the first couple of days I was there, but opened no worries later on.
Billabong hoodies were all the rage. I can't remember the price though, but try the shop next to Ketuts in garlic lane, they have them.
Other than that, i bought lots of wooden cats. Yep, im a cat lover. hehehe.
The Rate on the street yesterday when i changed money (which I always used the money changer to the left hand side of the front door of matahari in kuta square) was 8900 for the aud. Just another warning to probably preach to the converted anyway, but DON'T change your money in a money changer who has a rate way better than the banks. You WILL get ripped off. Or they will definately try. They tried with me but i was just too smart for them. Just tell them you'll call the cops. *w*
Motorbike Hire -
Puja Indah. Turn right from Posers restaurant and it is about 50 or so metres on your left hand side directly opposite soft comp dvd shop. 4E JL padma utara. 081558087272. I hired the bike for 3 weeks, 500 thou for 20 days, (25 per day). The scooter worked just fine, they have helmets too, but I ended up buying one and bringing it home anyway. NO, you can't use them here, but handy to take back next year. I filled the bike up, cost me 10 thousand. hehehe 1 dollar to fill a bike. How nice would that be here??? Beware, if you don't ride here, then don't try to be the hero and ride there, it is NOT like here at all. The plus about riding over here is you know how to ride a bike, that's it. And get an auto, it's so hectic you don't need to be worrying about changing gears as well.
Overall, apart from getting sick (not sick from anything in Bali, unfortunatly an inner ear problem had me off balance for most of the time) I had a ball. I have no regrets coming home early, 2 weeks was still enough time to get a tan and spend heaps of cash.
I'm tired as hell, but staying up to cook a roast lamb which I have been craving. Enjoy everyone
Cheers
Lisa