Departure day
In line at airport tell hubby.There is some guy called skiggy from the forum on our plane,so if you see anyone looking like a skiggy let me know!Andrew laughs and says oh yeah we will pick him out in this crowd....
Onto plane and we strike up normal chitchat with fellow sitting next to andrew.when he tells us where he is staying.I say your skiggy arent you?he and hubby look blankly at me........
Believe it or not having only"chatted"on forum i remembered that skiggy couldnt meet up at s/s as he was changing hotels on the arranged day...There he was next to us on the plane!
Great start already!
Pacific blue flight fine,went quickly.
Arrived to that bali smell and sound that stays with you always...
Money changers at airport waving at us change $100 at 7700
(Hit streets and it was 8050)*We took traveller cheques,cash and debit card.Next time would do all cash.Exchange rate varied at some places as much as 6oorp between t/c and cash.Kodak shop on Jl Padma seemed to always have goodm rate for both.did all our money there.*
Bye to skiggy and family...wont see them again..and off to melasti beach resort
Room:clean big enough for two.nice view of the pool
Bathroom:disappointing that it had a bath but only a handheld shower.We decide we can live with that.
Eager to get out we go for stroll down local streets.oh how you miss it..You buy,just look maam,silver?billabong?massage?do your nails?plait your hair?20 motorbikes that arent selling....,sunglasses?watches?etc
As we had stayed at dynasty last time decide to get cab there to see if its changed and to go to discovery shopping centre.(fare 17 000)
Did not notice huge changes except for drink prices are now very high there.much higher than 4 years ago.
Checked prices of things at discovery for an idea of what not to pay on streets.
Back to legian.went to where the Padma restaurant was four years ago.Now called Biancos and completely refurbished.(JL Padma)
The padma restaurant had been my favourite since my first bali visit in 92.Had gotten to know the staff really well but had heard they had all lost jobs.Thanks to another coincidence received contact info for them from chez on the forum(thanks again)!
Bianco has huge screens to watch sport of your choice on.Rugby and Afl coexisting nicely.
Had chicken stuffed with spinach for tea.Yum(was to be the nicest meal I had in Bali..not that any others were bad!)
Hubby had nasi goreng which was fantastic.
First bill in Bali 4 cocktails.2 mains,2 aquas 350 000.
Eddie,survivor from padma days chatted to us for a while.Explained how the outdoor area had been created.If you go there go out the back dining area.look up and you would think the tree out there had been there forever.its massive....In Bali style.It had been planted there by crane.....
Went for few other drinks at places .Uncle Norms(85 000 -2 drinks)La Vita Loco(120 000 4 drinks)
Day two..exchanged for 8150
Nothing like waking up in bali on that first morning!brekkie at Hotel.
eggs anyway,rice,spaghetti,cereal,fruit,potato,etc.I didnt mind but hubby wasnt impressed.
Hit the shops.
Whether prices good or not this is what we paid for average bali stuff.170 000(2 male shirts,2 female tops)180 000 (2dresses,2 female tops)80 000(balibong thongs,female shoes,both turned out to be bad quality)245 000 (foundation/lipstick Matahari)40 000(2 pairs sunnies)
Always love the interaction with the sellers.They always take things in good fun.
The pools at the Hotel were great.Although at 5.3 I couldnt touch the bottom at all in one!Apart from the kiddy pool!
Found some good night spots.
Legends bar had good band with female singer(Legends band) 2 for 1 Bali Moon cocktails from 1pm to 10pm(they come out 2 at a time!)35 000.Also have specialty cocktails such as "plucka Duck" 68 000(5 spirits)etra 20 000 keep the plastic duck it comes in...I brought two home..
They had a xmas in june night there.60 000 All you could eat smorgasbord.,complete with father xmas,and michael jackson,elvis presley impersonaters and a fire throwing barman.great night.
Hula cafe with its drag show was also fantastic.went there a couple of times.Very um,interactive for some.They involve the crowd and welcome photos and video..although hubby didnt know where to look when after he had his photo taken with one of the "girls" who had draped herself around him at the table...was asked"You give me a tip darling?" went to hand it to her,she guided his hand and said much better here darling!"placing his hand on her ..cleavage?
Anyway.never done this before and have rabbited on a bit?and not on bali time anymore...post some more later re trips,s/s experience.etc/
Hi Skiggy(jbr?)fiona,Dennisc,Geri and Buderim who despite Dennisc"s description and staying at my hotel i didnt meet!