Firstly a huge thanks to everyone on the forum. Your wonderful tips and hints and magic always help to navigate Bali in the best ways for both, always a win/win situation. I love this forum because it is so 'wholistic', a lovely energy and vibe that permeates it and makes for a fabulous trip, terima kasih! This goes for Nicki who with her wonderful knowledge and connections gave us superb service and fab rooms/hotels!
Left Cendana in Ubud lunchtime and made our way via Puja (125,000 rp one way) to Kumala Pantai Hotel in Legian. We had 11 more days of bliss to go.
Have already mentioned the hotel which we did love. The pools are stunning and really make your stay, I guess being a visual person, seeing that beautiful pool in front of our room every day with people having a great time made me smile!
We were in Y (Yudistira) block which faces south? (direction) and was perfect, no noise, privacy (we were on the end of the block on the ground) and room was adequate. Few logistical probs with the room but no biggies. Had laundry every day, had thought to get it done outside but was lazy. Not expensive at all, even with the added 21% tax.
Found the position was perfect, on the beach with the full luxury of having many beach side restaurants (on Raya Pantai Kuta) to eat at, our favourites in order:
1. Tekor Bali
2. Zanzibar
3. Blue Ocean
4. Seaside
5. Lanai
6. KP Italian Restaurant
All had similar food / drink choices but we found that we went back to Tekor mainly coz the staff were superb, made the strongest drinks (whereas some of the other places made drinks weaker and weaker the more you drank, may be a good thing?) and the food was delicious. I found Zanzibar's staff so friendly and remembered you which was a lovely touch. I couldn't complain about any of the restaurants. Food was fabulous and mostly we paid around 150,000 - 300,000 rp dependent on the amount of drinks we had (mainly mojitos or arak attacks which were around 20,000 (arak) - 50,000-70,000 (mojito). We found sometimes certain alcohol wasn't available as mentioned on the forum.
My fave drink non-alcoholic was the lemon juice with ice and sugar syrup. Much more refreshing than a soft drink like coke and so cheap (16,000 rp).
Nice to have a Circle K right on the beach in amongst these restaurants. The guys in there were always so helpful and friendly and prices were reasonable.
Found the traders to be less than their 'enthusiastic' self. A lot of the taxi drivers and traders were sad saying that many people had stayed away because of Amrozi. It was very quiet in Bali, great for us as tourists but bad for them. Much money was spent on tips even though there's service charges and tax everywhere, you know it doesn't get to them.
Other highlights:
Massage/pedicure/manicure & other treatments: used Briella & Eden Green mostly because of their position near Kumala Pantai on Jl Werkudara. Both fabulous and well priced (I have their brochures, ask if you want to know prices for anything). Massage for 1 hour @ Briella 65,000 rp and EG 60,000 rp. Found the pedi @ Briella better than EG. A little less rough and rushed and better look on the toes. Best treatment ever was at Ambiente (corner of Jl Padma and Jl Sahadewa 'Garlic Lane') where two lovely boys washed out feet and then spent an hour doing a reflexology massage of our feet. The reflexology in Bali is not the real deal (certainly the 4 I had). There's lots of massage and pressing but not like here in Australia where is more medically based but the relaxation effect is incredible. I wish I'd had more treatments here as it was beautiful. Both Briella and EG are airconned so they are nice little places to get cool as well. Also had a massage at Spa and Tan (new place) in Rum Jungle Road near the Permata Bank just opp Jayakarta entrance. Very spick and span and cool, but I found a less than satisfactory massage, too quick, 50 mins not an hour and quite painful even though I asked for ‘limbut' (gentle) massage. My partner got much better probably coz she went for a mandi lulur as well. Who knows but I didn't go back, first impressions stick. 65,000 rp.
Banks/ATMs: there's a Commonwealth just around the corner from Tekor at the beginning of Double 6 on the beach with 3 other ATMs. You can get US$100 out at a time. Loved having one so close. Permata Bank in Rum Jungle Road is attached to the bank so security there. You can get lots of money out here but they charged me nearly $AU9 through the CBA to withdraw so I only did it once.
Money Changers: Thanks for the advice on forum re the Kodak guy at junction of Rum Jungle & Werkudara. Lovely guy who counts money in front of you, feels good and no commission. My partner said why don't we try someone who was giving a much better rate and I said in Bali you don't get anything for nothing. Sure enough the guy was rapt to have us change but gave us AU$100 in 20,000 rp notes, first warning then gave us less than what we should have got as that was his commis! We laughed and said forget it and took our money back. Always good to give things a go to experience it yourself instead of being fearful, but to be prepared is to be forearmed!
Other eats: Ryoshi in Jl Seminyak, give it a miss, lacking in service compared to other Asian eaters there and food was average; Zula in Jl Dhyana Pura No 5 which was divine! Vego restaurant with the most amazing Dragon Bowl of salad, tempe, seaweed and vegs. Incredible 65,000 rp and a Lemon Vera drink with Lemon juice, Aloe Vera, Honey & Ginger. Its related to the Earth Cafe in Jl Laksmana. I really loved this place, felt like a little piece of heaven.
Cafe Moka: just love this little place, cool and yummy sweets.
Papa's Cafe: divine position on the beach in Kuta (near Hard Rock), beautiful toilets, yummy food and superb service. 175,000 rp for coffees, juices, two breakfasts.
Some darling soul on the forum mentioned the Japanese eatery at Carrefour (Teppanyaki). This was one of the best damn meals the whole time, unbelievable a little cheap place at one end of the food court. Two teppanyaki lunches (chicken and prawn) incredible and sooooo cheap, 23,000 and 26,000 rp for the meals and they were as good as Teppanyaki here.
Aussie Bali, Flying Piano, Yutz's, Bali Colada, Tommy's (lovely breakfasts), Cafe Marzano, Grocer & Grind which was one of our favourites. Ok, its so Melbourne, but the food was fantastic and well we loved it, Melbourne food with Bali prices, perfect.
Can't think of all the others but food was an absolute highlight.
Periplus bookstores I love even though the cost is very high for books/mags but as I'm a bookworm I spent a bit of time here. Got the Bali Street Directory and Shopsmart Bali & Lombok.
Anyone wanting any info from these books, just ask, I'll scan and send along maps, whatever, they are great!
Malls: Carrefour - amazing place, supermarket come mini department store with lots of little shops plus food court; Discovery Mall - absolutely loved Centro got some fab clothes/shoes there (Jacques Ruc sandals for 109,000rp love em); Bali Galleria/Matahari - front part is expensive designer stuff which I wasn't interested in but go to the Mall Galleria and you have a Matahari there with a Hypermart (like Coles/Kmart rolled into one and more) have to leave your bags at the front; Matahari at Kuta Square.
Best sandal shop Shibana on Jl Basangkasa No 42 (northern part of Jl Seminyak) same side as Cafe Moka but further north (almost opposite Haveli). Best sandals I found anywhere, she starts very high price, honestly not sure what sandals are worth when she says ‘but they have leather soles'!!! Very good business woman, even me who thinks I'm a good bargainer, probably coz I realllllly wanted some sandals and showed my keenness, silly. 3 pairs for me 2 for partner, around 100,000 each, multiple beaded areas, obviously overpriced but hey I love em.
Haveli I adored coz just as I was leaving the shop found a beautiful wrap around bracelet with silver and bronze 60,000rp such a wonderful surprise. Not so interested in their homewares even though so beautiful.
Sarongs in Double Six, 20,000 rp each. An absolute glut of shops along there with so many. Would have loved to have bought more than 12!
My favourite clothes place is Widia, on Jl Legian 450 btw Jl Werkudara and Padma on east side. Went here 2 years ago to get some pants, you know the cotton ones, cargo pants tie at the waist, with pockets. These are great quality, different colours. Got dark purple, lavender and light olive green last time 40,000 then and now 55,000 this time for light green & choc brown (so AU$6.50). Being a tall gal, I never find tops that fit me, luckily at Widia the pants fit. (widiagroup.com).
Internet: there are so many more little places to check your mail now and many places (all the ones on the beach plus KP restaurant) have wifi access. We used the place opposite KP, 200 rp a minute. You get a water once you've been there ½ hour. You can also make phone calls from the two booths they have there. Some keyboards a bit dicky but all over fast connection and cheap cheap cheap. Went to Bali Cyber first but as its a little distance from us we kept to this place. Its right next to a coffee and eating place. Place further up past Jayakarta, shut in (too stuffy for me) and 250 per minute.
Left on Thurs 4/12, had a late checkout (6pm), off to the airport around 9, got there and it was so quiet, no hassles getting through with luggage (we were underweight, unbelievable!) and we had a trainee check in guy so it was easy. The flight was so empty we had seats in the middle to lie on to sleep, albeit for only 3 hours or so, but it was heaven and I can't remember the last time I even saw an empty seat on any plane in Australia. It was as always with Garuda a fabulous flight and it felt so good to be back home.
Decided to declare a few things and a little Balinese cockroach had decided to hijack some food I had which totally shocked me, I just didn't expect that as I'd brought stuff from Oz that I hadn't finished. Right out of Border Security, the guy had the eyes to see anything untoward.
The most relaxing, effortless, blissful holiday I've ever had!
Any questions, just ask!
Hugs
L x