Wednesday
Bali Baik day - pick up at 7am hotel lobby, poor chap had to come all the way from Ubud to pick us up as we were the only two going on the tour from Tuban area. Drove back to Ubud to pick up other tourists, off to Kintamani for breakfast. Met another bus load of tourists so there were about 16 of us all going on the tour. 9am had a lovely buffet breakfast over looking the volcano. Off to Coffee plantation for tour and taste, the coffee bean processing is very interesting!! On again to fetch our bikes. All kitted out with helmets and off we go, stopped at a ‘rice paddie' on way downhill had explanation of workings. Anyway wont go on too much it was a 24km ride mainly downhill, the uphill climbs were quite challenging, but a lot of us hopped off our bikes and walked it. If you are a very keen cyclist at the end of the trip where we left the bikes and were picked up by bus, you could ride another 20 kms mainly uphill, all of us opted for the bus !!
Back to Wayans Balinese compound for lovely buffet lunch, met his lovely 2 month old son whom Em didn't want to put down. Wayan sponsors local school so if you do go on the tour he would love some exercise books. Back to Tuban by 5.15pm. the poor bus driver had a 4 hour trip going backwards and forwards from Ubud to Tuban so the 150,000 rupiah extra was justified I feel. Great experience, will do again.
Mr Honey Man called said he had returned from Java and when can he see us, said no point as going home on Saturday, no probs it only takes a day to make the glasses up!!
We only needed reading glasses etc, believe transitionals take longer. Said we would come back to Bintang supermarket tomorrow, no probs he says I will come to your hotel - 9am thurs with a selection of frames and the eye test goggles.
Off to The Pantai for dinner
Not far from us, walked through the Ramada Bingtan Bali hotel to beach area, next door up some steps. You can watch the planes land. Nicely set out - tasty food and good prices - only 5% tax here, better than the 21% at some places.
Thursday
9am - Mr Honey Man such a nice chap - great big smile that the Balinese always seem to have, very friendly and helpful. Had our eye tests sitting in the lobby at the Dynasty much to the amusement of some Asians walking past. Chose our frames which he had a large selection of and some very fashionable ones that Em had seen for a couple hundred dollars here. Said he would meet up again @ 6pm.
Dropped of some laundry at Simply laundry only 7,000 rp for just over 1kg of washing. Off to Supanova, we thought this was a pretty old place compared to Carrefour, so back to Carrefour. Had manicure at Yopies only 30,000rp very professional, will go back again. Em had pedicure and massage.
Febris for Stone massage and scalp massage - 2 hours of bliss. Shopping at Diannes fixed price store - lovely tops for only 25,000 and 40,000 rp.
Met Mr Honey Man - prescription glasses perfect and Ems looked fantastic, so cheap.
Off to Ours for dinner
Ours was ok, I know a lot of people love it there. Back to Billys Bar - why not try a small Bintang with a slice of lime in, its yummy :) There are some motorbike chaps who operate like the bluebird taxi service, so after a night of singing, dancing and yes quite a few bintangs we hopped on the back of two bikes and went the back way to ‘The Bounty' never feel too old to be there, its such a mixture of people and the shows they have on stage are very entertaining. Next door to Paddys, but Em was feeling a little under the weather so we left in wee small hours of morning. What a great night.
Friday and saturday
Lazy day around hotel, no shopping, massages or pampering just quite before journey home Saturday. Lunch at the Stadium Bar - Adelaide where playing Collingwood, pleasant way to spend a sat afternoon, more a soccer girl myself, but it was entertaining.
Em had a temporary tattoo at a place opposite Stadium, don't know if we were over charged but it was 50,000 for each tattoo. I even had small butterfly on my shoulder apparently they only last a few weeks..
Dinner at the Melasti - Very nice, had Tasmanian salmon for only 35,000 - delicious a real treat. Will return.
Back to hotel to await pick up for Airport. The Dynasty has a nice departure lounge, you can stretch out, watch dvds etc, tea and coffee until flight. Em and I were the only ones in the lounge as our flight was 2am. We had settled in when a chap came in at 10.30pm said your bus is here!!! No one had told us the flights had changed and we had to rush about getting backpacks etc out of the lockers, get our cases from the hotel all whilst other people were waiting on the bus. A little annoying the hotel didn't inform us, and the Creative holidays guy was cross they hadn't told us (first time I have seen an irate Balinese) but anyway we all made the flight. Apparently the airport was being closed for renovations so all flights at and after that time had to be pulled forward.
That was the end of another wonderful week in Bali. Oh and by the way I love my Martha Tiller products, usually use an expensive Estee Lauder cream, but am now converted. And about the temporary tattoo, we had no reaction whatsoever (I had heard stories about infections). Thankyou to all the people who gave so much information on here to make our holiday even more enjoyable :) Back to work and reality but cant wait until next Bali holiday.......... Bye for now. Jane