Hi all, left Ballina to Sydney 2 Aug and stayed with friends. Garuda flight Sunday morning left on the dot. Good flight and then the VOA. After all these years of having it you would think they would have it better organised. Hour and half later got bags and customs. Got stopped and had to open big case, 2 chalk crosses and a circle, asked if I had medicines in it said no so he looked through. Had some herbal tea in a container which would have come up as organic but once he looked at it he said all okay. Outside to a sea of name cards, checked around 3 times finally found our driver. We were staying at the Tamakumi in Sanur, have had dinner many times so decided to stay there for 10 days. I think we had the best room in the place, it was what they called a suite which was a huge room and seperate dressing area and large bathroom. We were next to the pool and had double doors onto terrace and another double window next to the bed so stacks of light, they also had plenty of ceiling lights as well not like some hotels. Only 17 rooms so very small but beautiful pool and gardens. We were the only Aussies until the last two days, mostly european, japanese and korean. The belgium owners live on site and were very friendly. The Sanur Village festival was on so a lot of kite flying, wind surfing and kite surfing going on at the beach which was quite breezy. At night it was cool and sometimes if you were in the shade on the beach it got cool. Did a lot of eating around the place, the hotel restaurant was always good so was Piccadilly but could get very busy. Lotus Pond, Rickys also good. Lazer Bar food was terrible and beer was not cold, at the Retro you could get a small beer all day if you sat at the bar for 9000 but don't go before lunch as not very cold. Bonsai food okay service shocking, Bennos good, Mango good one day bad another, I am sure there are more but you lose track. They had the street parade on the Sunday, was supposed to start at 3.00 but they were still driving down to the start at 3.30 finally got past us at 4.30 plenty of music and girls in costume, but they all looked really miserable, are'nt they allowed to smile. Lots of guys were carrying a huge float like a bull with a little boy sat on the top, every so often they would turn it in a circle and I hope the boy was tied on some how as it would have been a long drop, they were enjoying themselves at least. Spent time by the pool and also wandered along the beach. Did some shopping at Jennies but she was going to do a buying trip so not a full stock. Left sanur for tuban on 13 aug staying at the Santika. I had always thought of tuban as the quiet part not any more traffic was horrrendous. Nice room at santika near the new pool what a difference that pool makes. Beach an absolute mess but should be great when finished more like sanur. A lot more aussies at santika than there used to be years ago. What was with all the Harleys and big bikes going around tuban and kuta they were staying at the kartika, A few times packs of up to twenty bikes with 2 cops on harleys leading and clearing traffic would go down tuban could hear them coming for ages. Did more eating around here. C line that is next door now called Garis Garis but same owner and great food profitorles to die for on the desserts, Daddys cafe good, Italian next door great and tiramasu on dessert menu (as you can tell I like my desserts) Thai next to them great and Impala further down nice. Next to green garden is a little place called Warung really good food does not do western but the spring rolls are the best I have ever tasted. Went and looked at the Bali Garden nice grounds but like a building site on either side and I hope those huge pipes are not sewarage pipes into the sea as I do not think they would be deep water like they have in sydney. Did more shopping and went over to look at a hotel in legian called Puri Raja, as I am trying to organise a hotel for my brother, sister and other halves to meet for my 60th birthday. They are all coming from the UK and there was a site that has this hotel in a deal including airfares. Looks okay and not far from eating and shopping. Did not do any tours as have done them before and not into extreme sports so a relaxing holiday was all we wanted. Left Bali on friday night had the room for extra day so no rush to move out. Garuda on time again but full arrived in Sydney 10 degrees had a few things to declare but no problems and over to catch the plane to ballina. Had a great time and the balinese are as lovely as ever. Hope this was of interest to some people as I've never done one before.