Here goes............ from the very beginning....
Group of 10 family and friends all off to Bali for 12 nights..... Most of us Bali virgins. Our flight out of Adelaide was at 0705hrs on 16th Sept with Qantas.... HOWEVER, Qantas called us at midnight the morning we were due to fly out to inform us that the ‘flight was cancelled' ... No Explanation, No Compensation and No Sympathy! They gave us the only option of flying via Melbourne at 1340 that afternoon with Jetstar and eventually onto Denpasar at 2300hrs (instead of the scheduled 1600rs) .... NOT HAPPY.
So anyway we backtracked to Melbourne, then flew back over Adelaide and finally arrived and got through the cattle herd (Immigration!) and checked into the Jayakarta Hotel around midnight.
We were put into 500 block (not 300 block as requested and confirmed) and our room was looking onto a metal cage and brick wall, smelt of mould, had tiles off the wall, and the bed sheets were ripped!! After the stuff up with the flights I was in no mood to be messed around!........ The next morning we moved into Room 401 which was overlooking the lovely gardens and was clean and in reasonable repair....... While I'm on the rooms.... Our beds were fantastic...... so comfortable, supportive and soft. From the 10 rooms in 500, 400 and 300 block I saw in.... looks like they could all do with a coat of paint and the chair cushions in bad need of a wash but the grounds and facilities the Hotel provides makes up for it.
So after several Bintangs (oh I love Bintangs) and cocktails we got to bed around 4am!
Most days we all went out separate directions and did tours, shopping etc and met up for dinner every night..
We ate at most of the Forum recommended places......
TJ's Mexican (Friends 80th bday - great chilli con carne, very fast service and lovely staff- all enjoyed the night),
Yutz (unbelievable steak and margaritas),
Kori (oh the ribs!!!! I wish I could have brought 10kgs back with me!!)
New Melasti at Jimbaran Bay - for my 28th birthday! (awesome seafood...... had chilli crab, lobster, squid and prawns - all cooked to perfection and delicious sauces - drinks menu light on though - beer and few spirits and only one cocktail with Arak!!! Eeek!) We all had a seafood feast and drinks for 10 people was $340 (just got the credit card bill!!)
Blue Ocean (pizzas fresh and delicious and large only 50 000 rph)
Seaside in Legian (tasty pastas and burgers and make a mean strawberry daiquiri!)
Lotus in Ubud (don't waste your time or money. All our meals were below average, nasi goring tasted like microwave rice from san remo but with less flavour!, club sandwich, tuna burger - all very disappointed - very slow service) Such a shame because the gardens are lovely
Pappas - nice Italian food - great bruschetta. Band were very funny! Some of the English translations not quite right! Made for a good laugh!!
Italian Restaurante - don't waste your money...... most of our meals were below average. I ordered sizzling prawns 90 000 rph which was 4 prawns in a banana leaf (not sizzling plate or even hot!) and very small portion of rice! Partner had a doughy and boring pizza - not as described on the menu and they didn't have vodka, Bacardi or brandy!
We did Ubud markets and got paintings and small stone carvings, went to the monkey forest - naughty little things!, Went in nearly every shop in Kuta! Matahari (great for makeup..... I bought my Revlon make up and concealer for 50% cheaper than at home).
Made great friends with the beach sellers and especially Wayan and Tiger Itchy Bum (yes that's his name!) who sold us icy cold Bintangs on the beach every night while the sun went down. Bought ‘Real number 2!!' and ‘genuine fake!!' Chanel and Gucci bags, sunglasses and watches!! Most of the sellers very friendly and had a laugh..... we had the odd one fire up...... speaking of swearing....... I took over a heap of $1 coins to give to the little kids on the beach...... a group of three indo kids around 4years came up selling the leather bracelets.... We all bought one each and handed them our $1 coins...... and they turned around and said ‘F^&k you' and ‘F^&k Off'!!!! I couldn't believe it!!! So needless to say no more $1 coins were distributed!!!
Went to the Safari Park - held the Orangutans (the best 10 mins of my life!) tiger and lion cubs - and yes no doubt they are drugged.
Went Ocean Rafting with Bali Hai - great day out. 2 snorkels, seaweed farm, lunch and beach club - think it was AU$80 each - well worth it.
Spent lots of time relaxing at the pool - pool bar not always staffed but our beach guys were always there!! We would just walk the 20 steps to the beach and buy a few Bintangs for 14 000 rph and bring them back into the pool!!!....... the pool bar always seemed to have staff on after a couple of trips!!
The Jayakarta was a nice place to stay, great location next to all the restaurants in Legian, rooms ok, grounds amazing. Although on check out they tried to rip off my brother saying he needed to pay for an extra nights accommodation and demanded he be out of the room by 6pm instead of the 10.30pm we had paid for. The Hotel was chocka-block by the time we left - great the first week then bedlam! ..... I wouldn't go over to Bali this time of year again..... school holidays! - they should be banned!!! On 3 occasions we had to call room service because we didn't have our bath towels replaced.... Apparently they were still at the laundry!
Breakfast became a nightmare as well. Great selection of food though...... eggs 20 ways, bacon, sausages, so many pastries and cakes, noodles, chilli chicken!! Pancakes, yoghurt and fruit..... so much selection.
All in all we had a great trip - bags came back very heavy and overweight (not charged though) bought some great things, had awesome experiences and loved the Balinese people.
Thanks to all who contribute to this forum.