Hi everyone,
first off i would like to say thanks to everyone who answered my sometimes dumb questions over the last few months.
We flew with Pacific Blue flight left on time and arrived the same. We were through the airport and at our hotel within 30minutes of landing, must say i was very surprised and happy about that.
Well our long awaited holiday finally came around and then went by faster than ever. This was our first international holiday for our family of 4 (kids 12 and 11). We booked at the Febris in JL Kartika Tuban and there had been some mixed reports on here about the hotel so we wern't sure what to expect. Well i have to say that i can't recommend the place highly enough. The staff are all extreamly friendly and the whole hotel is very clean and well maintained. Our room was cleaned everyday and sheets and towels changed daily as well. This was heaven, no house work for two weeks!!! Breakfast was included and consited of cereal, toast, pancakes, eggs anyway you like, hash browns, soup, fried rice, corn on the cob, noodles, sausages, fruit and more. The first week was awesome but after a while you do start to get sick of all this food for breakfast.
The first couple of days were used to just hang out and get used to the place. Of course we could not resist shopping on our first day which i know your not meant to but it was just too much fun. Anyway got ripped off with 8 pairs of sunglasses for 400000 and t shirts and boardies for 50000 each. Still cheap by aussie standards but did i get better at the shopping game in the coming days. I was like a kid in a candy shop.
Went down to the beach and had the nails done for 15000, got the usual sarongs 20000 and braclets 5 for 40000. We had the best rice we have ever eaten down here and in the begining were a bit sceptical on weather we should eat on the beach from all the stories we had heard. Anyway we gave it a go and OMG "beautiful" "sensational" 4 hugh bowls for 80000 and the lady that cooked it was one of the most beautiful women i have ever met.
A few days into our trip we went White water rafting on the Telga Waja River with dewata tours. Paid 1000000 for the four of us including transfers and lunch. The person who sold the tour to us told me there was only 80 steps at the end "liar". Half way down our guide told us there were "350 steps". Finally made it to the top after many stops to catch breath and to give the legs a break. Would i do the raft again? ABSOLUTELY we all had a great day and the scenery was magnificent. Lunch was provided at the top, nothing to rave on about but not bad either.
Did heaps of shopping all over the place, got two pandora braclets from silverberry one had 19 beads (both silver and glass type) AND THAT CAME TO $120AUD and the other had 15 beads and was $100aud. I found silverberry to be great quality and very resonable priced. I also got 15% discount and now wished i had bought myself one. I will just have to go back to Bali again so i can get one. Just up from our hotel was Dianne's fixed price shop. She was lovely and it was great to go there and not have to haggle and go through the whole stint of bargaining. A few doors up from Dianne's is a great handbag shop i offered 300000 for two large handbags and she didn't try to hard to get anymore out of me. After paying she told me if i buy 3 more she will give me 1 free. 2 days later i went back and bought another 3 for 150000 each and yes she gave me one for free. Very happy with that.
We hired a driver from the front of Febris "Made" to take us to Kintamano Volcano and to Ubud, Monkey Forest. We first went to a Barong Dance which was good for the first 15minutes but went on for way to long. Then our driver proceeded to take us to a Batik clothing store, silver making place and then some art gallery's. At this stage i was getting quiet annoyed and told him that i want to go shopping in Ubud, so he took us there and told us we only had 1/2 an hour. "don't think so" we took our time and went through monkey forest and did a bit of shopping. From there we went to Kintamano for lunch. This place is a must do great lunch out over a cliff and the views are really special. The only downside to this place is the hawkers out the front. On our way back i asked our driver to stop so i could do some more shopping and once i got out of the car there was no way i was getting back in till i had what i wanted. I went from shop to shop for about a kilometer and bought heaps of stuff. I got large wooden girrafs and zebras, dragon kites, huge ceramic bowls, christmas decoration and heaps more. This was the best place to shop for home decorating as far as i was concerned for the whole trip.
Had a couple of easy days and then we hit waterbom park with the kids. Absolutly enjoyed this place, the meals were good value and the swim up bar to die for (i want one) the whole setting is just beautiful. We purchased a second day before leaving and spent our last day there as well.
we hired driver for 1/2 a day and went to Tanah lot then to Jimbarrin for tea. Wish we had longer at Tanah Lot as the village seamed quiet different and i could have strolled around for a lot longer. Had tea in Jimbarrin that night and watched the sunset, very special and a little expensive but when you eat so cheap other nights one can splurge on themselves once in a while.
My daughter wanted to do an elephant ride and after checking out the different options ( all quiet expensive) chose a 30minute ride with lunch and transfers. Cost us 1800000 for the four of us but was well worth the money. We got heaps of photo's of us on the elephants doing tricks and my children will remember this for a life time.
Other days were spent lounging around the pool, going to the beach and shopping of course. On our second last night we got a taxi to take us to the memorial site and this i would do every time i went to Bali to pay my respects to those who lost their lives in 2002. I certainly felt a little emotional and quiet sad. The Balinese have done a good job on the memorial and would urge anyone going to Bali to visit.
All in all we had the time of our lives and i can't wait to go back as i feel there's still heaps to explore and take in.
We went over with 20kg of luggage between us and came home with 80kgs of checked luggage and 28kgs of carry on plus two huge handbags jam packed.
Our flight back left about 1/2 an hour late but still got back to Melbourne at 5.30am and it was a chilly 10 degrees. No problems getting through customs. Declared all my wooden stuff, everything was ok nd took no time at all.
For anyone trying to decide weather to go to Bali or not i would strongly urge you to go. The whole experience from the Balinese people to the different life styles and their culture is just amazing.
I have fallen in love with Bali and it's people.
Thanks Tracey:)