This should be the most boring JBR in history!
2 years ago we went to Bali for the first time in 10 years. We did everything.
Last year we met up with old friends from the UK...Bali virgins so again we did everything.
We did not intend to go to Bali this year but Pacific Blue put on direct flights Adelaide to Bali at about one third the price we paid last year... so here we go again.
After all the chasing around we did previously, Lynn's directive was that we would do nothing this time (hence the boring!).
Booked at Bloodyron's (Sanur Beach Villas) for 16 days of relax (1 week there last year).
Those who don't know Ron + Irma's place...tiny compound in the far south of Sanur, 6 x 1 bedrooms,
3 x 2 bedrooms about half of which are permanent guests. A small place,
Big pool surrounded by tropical gardens great spot. Very quiet ...(or so we thought!!..see later)
OK flew PB 5 hours 10 from Adelaide. No hassles at all. Had a beer, Lynn a juice. Then a lamb shank meal for $A8.50 each.
Fine.Landed early. VOA no bother but 20 minute wait through immigration. Ron had arranged pickup so at Villas pretty quick.
All we intended to do was eat, sleep, drink (well me anyway) etc.
Felt like being home...R & I great hosts. Social centre by the pool...the big red esky always full of cold beer.
Pay 12K per bottle or put in 200K for 24 slab. All on honour system which I don't think anyone abused.
Won't divulge my consumption but put many to the test. Partakers consisted of guests and often Ron's mates, generally
expat Aussies...Billy the Carlton tragic and his wife Gael, Neil the esky Fuehrer, Dave Kookaburra, Crow, Tony, Pete etc.
Guests included Hillary and Brian, Pete, Big Pete and Kerry, Andreas and Nana (From Latvia), Daniel (from Germany) with his Finnish
wife (sorry forgot name) etc. etc. Good friendly atmosphere.
All got on well together - maybe exception of the honeymoon couple who seemed to have other interests! Many of above post
on the forum.
Ron put on a BBQ one afternoon which went down very well.
Eating:
Beach side:
Kesuma (4 times) great value seafood restaurant on beach 5 minutes walk from SBV.
Bobby's(10) Just north of Sanur Beach Hotel (15 minutes from SBV)
Donalds (1) next to Bobby's
Cemara Beach (2) Next to Donalds
All above favourites of mine. Clearly Bobby's my first call for lunch but cannot give a logical explanation why.
All good food, cold beer, low prices, usually a sea breeze which was most welcome.
Road side:
Tudes(1): Opposite Mercure. Hardly ever saw a customer. I found out why. Avoid.
Mama Putus(1): North of Mercure. Not bad. Always full of Mercure guests but nothing great.
Gardenia (4): just opened as we were there. Owners Gloria and Ming have an interest in Spirit bar,Sindhu.
Small hotel with restaurant - developing. Intention is to do a daily special plus general meals.
My impression was excellent. Give it a try .. will only improve as they get sorted out. Ron intending to pass business there if he can't juggle all at SBV. Good recommendation!
Sanur south :
Little India (2): good but if you want hot say so.
Gateway to India (1) ditto
Cat and Fiddle: (3): Much better food than I expected. Drank there before but not eaten.
Other :
Coriander (1) : Ron's recommendation..Good. North of Hyatt
Beach Cafe (1) : (Sindhu) very good but a bit expensive
Trips:
Into Denpasar. Museum OK but market not great. Back in Sanur before lunch.
Went up to Ubud one morning. Visited the Ubud Botanic Gardens. Very worth a visit. Pitcher plants worth seeing. Then an early lunch in Ubud at Ibu Oka which sells only the Babi Gulung (suckling pig). First pig for the day carried in at 10:45 am. They only sell 3 pigs a day then close hence early start.
At 25K for a substantial serve of pork, rice, vegies, crackling etc. A must visit...though maybe not too often.
Went out on a glass bottom boat trip - 1 hour cruising around the reef for 440K for the two of us. Worth doing. With about 10 minutes to go driver asked if we wanted to
visit Turtle Island. Thought "Here comes a rip off" but gave it a go. Worth a quick look. Got back after about 1.5 hours and expected the hard word for a bonus
but the guy didn't even hang for a tip - so I felt a bit humble.
Ron ran us to the Beatles Museum (basically a bar full of memorablia) but well worth a visit. Entry 20K including a drink and....life membership!!!
Activities:
Suggested to Lynn halfway through first week that it might be an idea to hire a couple of push bikes to get around Sanur. She thought a good idea but had reservations as she hadn't ridden a bike for a long time - she estimated 47 years. I told her you never forget how to ride but realised it was nearly the same time for me.
Ron had an old bike out the back so he said to give it a try.
Lynn went first. Of course all there came out to watch. Irma and the staff, Gede, Kumon and Ketut (Ok spelling probably wrong) all were in hysterics as she rode along the street wobbling from side to side with all the aplomb of a blind rabbit on cocaine. She got back to applause and I had a go. Well for some odd reason my sandals got
caught up in the pedals as I mounted and I ended up flat on my side on the road. Clearly a faulty bicycle design. Then I rode off with a much more professional manner than Lynn
...though for some reason she didn't agree with me.
Anyway we hired 2 bikes and after a few wobbles got the skills back and did OK. One afternoon Lynn not feeling the best so I decided to go for a beer to The Bonsai Cafe about 4km north. Missed the turnoff and ended up at the bypass north of Sanur. So turned around, found the Bonsai then rode back..must have been a 10 - 12 km trek so pleased with myself.
Every time one of us got back to SBV was a round of applause!
Lynn has never been a good swimmer..last january managing to swim a few widths of Ron's pool. This year she gradually built up her prowess to manage on the last day 20 lengths (@13 metres) in the morning then 30 in the afternoon. Very proud of herself which I support.
Other :
Mentioned SBV a very quiet place. Halfway through holiday found that the Hindu temple 100 metres down the road was having a festival. Thursday & Friday Cock Fighting then religious events - all with amplified music. Anyone can have religious beliefs but sounded like a guy with stomach ache moaning for several hours.
Money changing. Never had a problem in last 2 visits so put funnies down to Kuta. Have used a booth between Trophy and Santrian always with never a problem. They won't touch your cash till you have counted and agreed deal. This time I was walking from SBV to Bobbies along the beach when I tried a booth just south of Mercure.
Rate was 7800 to dollar which was OK so changed $100. Was proffered Rp 700 K plus 8000 so trying to do me out of 72000 - got full amount after pointing out the "mistake".
Later Kodak shop opposite Mezzanine tried same trick.
Prices :
Bike hire 280K for 2 for a week. Kumon reckoned we should have got down to 200K. OK not too bad. Also Lynn bought a shorts & T shirt for her 1 yo grand nephew. Paid 50K. Cumon reckoned she should have paid 20K so on our last day Lynn went out and managed to bargain down to 20K for similar outfit. Pleased with herself but annoyed about earlier price. Bought a bag for 30K identical to one she paid 60K for 2 years ago.I bought 4 polo shirts. Paid 45K last year which I was happy with. First 2 45K with no real argument so probably paying over the top. Last 2 she wanted 350 K but I held out for 45K each. Called a mean prick for cheating her.
return : No hassles. Got to airport 4 hours before flight so had to wait 1 hour before checkin. 150K departure tax each. Then through to International section. Paid for Dewa Lounge 100K each.
OK $A12 or so for sandwiches, Dim Sum, beer, (lousy) wine & spirits plus internet, TV and comfort for 2 hours well worth it.
Any recommendations on other lounges??
Regards to all,
Martin