Got plenty of Info from the forum, time to pay back some. Will not bore you with blow by blow description, just some items that may be of interest.
Sorry it got too long anyway. Well Bali does that to you, doesn't it.
Did the usual things, buy, eat, tailor, shoe, leather and all that good stuff.
We are 2 couple in our 50's, well traveled. First time back since the first Bombing, which happened just 1 week after we left, some 6 years ago.
Stayed 2 weeks. First week Casa Padma, second Adhi Dharma.
Hotel
Casa Padma - stayed in Superior suite, great location. Confirmed everything via email with Utima. A very friendly and helpful lady. Very prompt with emails and knows what the customer wants. Free pick up from the Airport was a good start.
Requested room was under renovation on the outside and offered to change room the next day. Could not be bothered after unpacking. No big deal, only sleep there anyway. Room good size, clean and everything worked.
Breakfast good. First morning, the restaurant manger was off and the staff was very slack. Next day onwards when the manager was back, service level improved 10 fold. Got to laugh. Remember, they don't get paid much you know. The manger was very switched on and the service was great. By the time you ask for a second cup of tea, you've got a pot of tea. Now, that is impressive.
Despite recommendations on the forum we did not try the motel (Drops) meals. The tax and surcharge to add to the price then the conversion to Aus currency is not something I can be bothered with - I'm on holidays - no calculators please. Besides, dying to try out all the other recommendations nearby.
On the whole, a very pleasant place to be. Good staff (when the mangers are around) and the location was great. Everything is just outside the door. Nearby hotels with music playing loudly can be a bother, especially those Karaoke ‘singers' yelling into the microphone when totally out of tune can be a bit testing after mid-night.
Eats
Wayan and friends, café opposite. OK food and reasonable prices. Beware of a tall food nazi dressed up as a waitress. She will snatch plates from you as you're are trying to finish your last mouthful. If Bill #1 tries to order while she is looking at Bill #2 you will need to talk to her hand. Yes, she will put her hand in front of your face. No joke and no exaggeration.
Needless to say, we make sure no change is left for tips. She must be the only person in Bali that don't smile. Wrong; following days, we saw her actively smiling and chatting up a group of young males. So if you are not young and of the male gender - look out for 'the hand'. At the risk of offending, she looks Indonesian and not Balinese. Looking out for a perspective ‘rich' partner ?
IndoNational, ate there 3 times. Once taxi from Adhi Dharma just to get into those Garlic Cream Prawns again. The DVD man dressed up as a cop was a bit of a sleeze, touching up all the women. No big deal but made the girls quite uncomfortable. Should have said something to the Aussie hosts. Guess we were in too happy a mood to bother. BTW all the seafood we tried were great, didn't have time to try the other items on the menu but they do look good on other tables and bigger then the standard Balinese size. Service very good.
Kopi Pot - usually good meals, but the grilled fish was so over done, it was tough. Coffee was good.
Auromas - very quiet. Guess not too many vegetarians around. Wife was determined to try their potatoes cakes. Apparently, they are called ‘flippies' or something like that and are only available on request. So I obliged and ordered coffee only. Vegatarian food can cause Bali Belly as far as I'm concerned (haha). Anyway, the potato cakes were nice.
Tried a Japanese Restaurant in Jl Legian, expensive !! (over 400k each) and food was just passable. All show with flames, chop chop and flying salt and pepper shakers in front of you. Actual food ? Very average.
Tried quite a few other smaller cafes, not one bad meal to be had, especially considering the very low prices that you are paying.
Shopping
Bought very good quality King size quilt covers from Total Cushions at Jl Padma Utara (500k).
Had daughter's shoes copied at Anis Shoes Jl Legian - well made (450k).
Suit made at Mia Taylor Jl Legian- good workmanship and wool material (Aus $150).
Yes, I know, we paid too much. But the quality was spot on. Why would you use up your luggage allowance for ‘cheap cheap' stuff to save a few dollars. Try replacing a cheap zipper at home - there goes your savings.
Canvas prints from my own digital photos at ‘Shoot' JL Legian - great tip picked up from the forum - they look great - at a price that is cheaper then paying for the ink.
Girls bought heaps of make-up, creams and what have you at Carrefour and Discovery mall - all happy. Don't forget, do NOT take these on as hand luggage.
At Discovery Mall, there is a 'Kid Toys' shop or something like that, on the ground floor, which sells 65 games on a 4Gb cards for Nintendo DS for about 310k as against Matahari 25 games for >500k. Worth seeking out for those interested.
Also a watch shop/stand on the ground floor which sells automatic, Japanese movement, sapphire glass, waterproof watches, bargained down to about 400k. If they are what they claimed to be (it is Bali after all) it would be very good buy - much better then Thailand or Hong Kong prices. We didn't buy, too many watches already.
Got some German made 3000 mAh Eurocell rechargeable AA batteries at a shop at the top floor which looks a $2 shop. They work out to be about $15 for 2. About Aussie prices but the specification are exceptional for those into digital photography and uses AA for their cameras such as Canon. Storage self-life at 80% after 1 year - can't get them in Oz.
DVD 10k each. Buy 10 get 4 free - everywhere. Quality a bit hit and miss, but what do you want for a dollar.
All the other usual sunglasses, T shirt etc, we paid near ‘forum recommended' prices and after bargaining usually with a smile give back a bit more ‘for good luck' and try to spread it around a bit.
I work on the principle that if they know you are not easy target and still get good luck money from you, you are being nice to them and they appreciate that more then thinking they made easy money from some dumb tourist. Bit of a mutual respect thing I guess.
A couple of dollars is nothing for us visitors and could mean a good meal for the family that night. So what, if you paid too much for a pair of 'Levi 501'. For a lousy 100k they sell you the jeans and even take it up for you. So an extra 10-20k for good luck is nothing when you pay more then $10 just to have them taken up at home.
If I may say so, please don't be rude to the sellers. They are by nature quite timid people and are just trying a scratch out a very basic living and perhaps feed a family. Some of the bullying and stand over tactics by tourists are quite disgusting to see. Don't be one of them.
Adhi Dharma Hotel
We had stayed in that hotel for about 4 years in a row. We were very close to the staff and have helped them out here and there. Just little things you would do for anyone, no big deal.
That was some 6 years ago. When we arrived, all the staff started to run up to greet us by our names. They remembered and asked about our families by name. It was quite amazing. Many kisses and hugs. It was nearly tearful.
It only goes to show just how much they do appreciate a little bit of kindness and they don't forget - even after 6 years.
Others
This is our 5th time. There were plans to do other islands, Ubud again, East Coast. But too relaxed and too lazy - just wanted to hang around the pool.
Jimbaran was canned after all the rip-off prices stories from others.
Ladies did go to the Zoo and loved it. Negotiated with a taxi driver to 'rent' a car for the day. Pick up 9:30 am drop back to hotel 4:30pm 250k. Way to go - spend all day there and see everything at your own pace.
Got a driver to take us to the beach at Nusa Dua for a quiet swim away from Kuta, and visited some temple on a cliff - sorry can't remember name - but worth a visit - on the opposite side of Jimbaran. 200k negotiated with Taxi driver.
We pick taxi drivers from our many short trips. You know the ones that communicate well, polite, helpful and don't try any rip-off stuff. We get their mobile number and call them in advance to arrange for car to ‘rent for the day'. That XL phone card is a blessing.
XL sim card with an old unlocked phone was a great idea - thanks forum. Cheap calling home. Great chasing up local shops when they are ordering stuff in for you. Saved a lot of walking in the hot sun.
Weather was around 28c everyday with sometimes cloud cover - great.
In general, the place was a lot cleaner, foot path less dangerous and many more ‘modern' shops. Sellers will accept a ‘no thank you' and not persistent as before.
Hotels tend to be very heavily booked. Book at least a couple of days for your arrival if you are thinking of trying out the ‘walk in rate'. By my experience these days internet rates are pretty hard to beat. Walk in deals may still work on isolated, quiet hotels. Don't forget they are quiet for a reason.
Quotes
'2 rp ? Come on you are not serious, I'll give you a serious price'
'Why you laughing. This is Bali price, you have to bargain, what you give me ?'
'What you pay ? You paid too much. Give you 2 more for xxxrp' Actually I took up that offer :- 'must be same, no tricky tricky OK ?'
Sign at Shop 'Shop assistant wanted, 600,000 Month, 'Must be pretty' Nearly rolled over with laughter. Where are the Union Organisers when you need them.
Can't put into words the many interactions - you guys know what I mean. The look, smile, the way they sum you up in a flash. The way they react to your reaction. Very enjoyable games. Can't put a price on that. May be some good luck money for the experience.
End
There were many other things we liked to do. What the heck, may be next time. May be ..... until then we will miss their smiling faces, their child like simplicity and appreciation for the little things that we all too lightly take for granted.
One Regret / Request
Walking towards the beach along the right hand side of Jl Padma ( corner of Jl Padma Utara ) is the start of the Hotel Padma compound . I happened to look over the wall to see what is in the inside of the fancy hotel .
Shock, horror, half fallen down tin sheds held up by half broken stick. They looked like the staff quarters. I hope I am wrong. But if that is the case, what shame. How can anyone expect the staff to live in such squalor while servicing guess immersed in luxury ?! It would generate resentment and worse.
I didn't have my camera with me. If possible, could some kind hearted forum members take some photos and post them on the net. That way, when potential customers are searching the net for Hotel Padma images, they may get the real picture.
Sorry it got too long. It was meant to be a quick points posting. Well, hard to do that when writing about Bali. Thanks for reading.