wow where do i begin this holiday was 12 months in the planning to celebrate our 20th anniversary and it took a bit of convincing for hubby to agree to taking 4 kids (son 18,daughter 15,son 13,&daughter 11).Any way off we go for 14 nights 3/12 until 17/12 much to the dismay off relatives wanting us to cancel due to media attention.
We flew jetstar from Sydney and the plane was delayed 1 hour but once in the air all was ok. Arrived at Denpasar at 10.30pm which was 1.30 am our time and 11 year old becomes distressed due to being woken ,got through voa quickly i changed in to us $ before leaving just seemed easier with six off us ,declared weetbix and snack food from home but customs didn't want to know "no problem".Out to find our driver waiting now he has to squeeze six off us and six bags into his van ,kids get squashed in third row now our oldest is 6'4 and 13 year old is 6' so it was a squeeze ,i get crammed in amongst the bags and hubby quite happily grabs the front seat. Off we go the smell was amazing and we were sad to not notice this after a few days, the kids just were gasping in amazement about what they were seeing especially motor bikes and the likes weaving in and out off traffic.
Arrived at Jayakarta private 3 bedrooom apartment of Max and Suzanne, these apartments are great and good size for six off us. Got a good nights sleep.
Next morning we decide to find tommys for breaky as i have directions from forum how to get there. anyhow out the gate we go and boy can the locals spot newbies a mile off the kids couldn't believe the amount of offers for transport, sunnies , pedicure, manicure, massage and of course the whisper for billabong this then became their new game each outing to see who had the biggest tally of offers. after breaky we head to find the kodak money changer we used this one a couple of times we were then told about the one directly out the gate almost diagonal to the jk Evin was great nice and slow and never tried to short change us he has a handbag shop. Next jump in transport and go to the bintang to stock up on beer and other snacks.
Hubby then wants to go down the beach for a stroll well he thought this was a great idea and he starts chatting to a sunnies seller and made the mistake off actually picking three pairs off sunnies up without negotiating a price ,he then calls me back to haggle a price well the guy straight faced tells me 650,000 for 3 pairs i laugh and tell him 10,000 and we end deciing on 20,000 each thanks again to this forum and all the hints it gave me this made things much easier for us during our stay as i had heaps off notes ,we ran into another couple and their two kids who had been there longer than us and they would not go out the gates unless for a day trip so they wre eating and doing everything else within the hotel grounds they said it was to intimadating ,we actually started to enjoy the haggling after a day or two.
That night we ate dinner at Yutz and the kids loved the steak and i loved how cheap it was to eat really good meals ,drinks and desserts for and average off $50 au for six people.
Anyway hope this is not too boring i will do more later regarding day trips and list off food places shopping etc but the natives are getting restless so i better go feed them ,oh i miss Bali and feeling like a queen for two weeks.
later Michelle