After the wedding it was time to just veg out and enjoy our holiday, thanks to all the tips on here which I had written in my little book we had a wonderful time. Here are some of the things we done and hopefully they may help some others like you all done for us -
EATS
Warung 96 - as mentioned before this was one of our favourites, really cheap and great food, its in poppies 2, just across from the Barong Hotel and up Jl Benesari on the left.
Il Cielo - also a favourite, great steak and pasta, located across the road from the Dynasty Resort.
Bali Beach Café - Robbie the Australian owner is lovely, great restaurant with the best spring rolls ever, located in Garlic Lane.
Pool Cafe/Rest at BGH - this was my nicest meal, lovely setting and the chicken schnitzel was yummo, so was the calamari.
Green Garden - always a winner, good food and cheap.
Bubba Gumps - well after all the wrap it gets on here had to give it a go and sorry was really disappointed, all the meals were only just warm and was so expensive, oh well been there done that!!
Ketumbar - loved this place, great food, great atmosphere, definitely go back here.
SHOPPING
Shoes - small market 2 doors down from Kuta Kids at Bemo Corner, great shoes, glad I bought the 10 pairs (...)
Revlon - bought heaps at Centro, really cheap and luckily had all the colours I was after.
Martha Tillar - Supernova, find it cheaper here and they always seem to have a special on.
Billabong Jackets - the guys in the market just back from Ketuts shop - off garlic lane, they had really nice jackets and denim shorts.
Ripcurl Factory outlet - on Sunset Road, got some great bargains here.
Macro - for our big grocery shopping when we first arrived, Carefour to restock and just have another look and then Pepitos (little bit more expensive) nice and close with great selection of stuff you would find at home.
Leather - Putu at Bali Brumby, they are behind Bubba Gumps, Putu's mobile is 081 338 576 271. This is the 2nd time I have used Putu in as many years. His workmanship is second to none. This year I had 1 x tan leather full length boots made, 1 x black leather full length boots, wide belts to match and a black suit for my sons year 10 formal, the total cost was around $300.... I chose the boots from catalogues he has and they are just beautiful, very comfy...have had heaps of comments about them. My sons suit is beautiful, they put extra length on for me so as if he has another growth spurt (hope not he is already 6ft and only 15) I can let them down. Putu will come to you if it is easier, he really is a lovely person, so happy I found him - thanks to everyone on here.
Silver - Maharani Silver - this is on Jl Raya Kuta, it is across the road from the really big KFC Store and department store, on the corner. Wow whoever mentioned this place on the forum, a big thank you, they are sooooo cheap, bought quite a bit of stuff from here for my sons girlfriends......make sure you go upstairs to the wholesalers as this is where the bargains are .....when I first went up there the man said that it is only for wholesalers and I have to buy downstairs.....so I said that I got the name from Bali Travel Forum and he then said oh oh ok not a problem you can buy here hehehe, so just make sure you say you are off the travel forum and its ok. Will definitely be going back there next year and doing most of my xmas shopping!!
Jl Padma / JL Padma Utara - really enjoyed walking along these streets, found heaps of different things that are not up around Kuta end. Was looking for a tan handbag (yep to match the boots - but didn't have enough time to get Putu to make one - decided on the last day to try and find one) and walked into Tommys, here it was the exact bag I was looking for, so nice that my friend bought the same only in red...wasn't cheap but when you find something you love who cares!! Next year am going to spend more time walking along here!!
The only place that I really wanted to get to was Tegalalang and unfortunately ran out of time....not to worry will go there next year (with 47kg over probably lucky I didn't make it heheh).
Pandora Charms - had a look at the charms out the front of Matahari in Kuta Square, I was wearing mine and just didn't like the look of them, they seemed a lot more chunkier than the original, perhaps if you just bought the whole bracelet and charm set it may look better but I didn't think they went with my charms.
Gold - It was our 20th wedding anniversary so I took some old gold jewelry with me and from recommendations on here I went and seen the jewelers at Bali Rani - Kresnha Jewelry, a lovely ladey. Anyway I had them melted and had 2 matching rings made....mine is gold with a star sapphire and 4 small diamonds on each side in a bezille setting...........hubbys is 2 shades of gold with a star sapphire in the middle and one small diamond either side, well what can I say - these rings are better than what I expected, they done the most beautiful job on them, she also had some lovely Pandora charms there in gold and about ½ the price we pay.....thats next years purchase. Our rings cost $150 that was with me providing the gold and stones, they also gave me back the excess gold and stones which I didn't use - highly recommend this jeweler.
DRIVERS
Ary - 081 338 591 749 we have been friends with Ary and his family for quite a few years now....a few of you may remember him - he used to have the little shop out the back of the dynasty where you could go and have a cold bintang (its still there only there was a family problem and Ary no longer has it).
We were so happy this year as he seems to have landed on his feet, he now is a driver and drove Taj Burrows, Luke Stedman and Tom Whittaker around whilst they were there for the big Surfing Comp - so for any surfers heading over Ary is your guy.
He hires the vans (all like new and very comfy) from his boss for a cost of 200,000 per day, it costs you 300,000 for the day + petrol, so he only makes 100,000 which is still good money for him. If you decide to go with Ary please mention Tracey & Phil so as he knows where you found him............also his wife Made makes the best cakes ever!!!!
If Ary cant take you another really nice guy is Malik - 081 2368 2679, he is out the front of the dynasty, used him a fair bit whilst Ary was with Taj and the boys.
BABYSITTER
Ary's sister in law Ayu (she used to have a shop out front of the dynasty - beach side) is now babysitting. She is such a cheery person, always smiling and laughing, just being around her makes you feel good. Unfortunately we only got to see her twice this time as she was babysitting for a couple from Spain, actually living in the villa with them. I can highly recommend Ayu, the kids will love her. Her contact details are - 081 239 30380.
Well I hope some of this info may help, another wonderful trip to paradise just a shame we have to wait another 12months to get there again.
Cheers Trace.