Flew Garuda on 1st November arrived 2pm.Only took about 20 minutes to get thru immigration. Driver was waiting to take us to Ubud to stay at Tegal Sari for 2 nights.What a magical place this is and wished we had stayed longer. Stayed in their Duplex suite.Wonderful views over the rice fields, spent many hours just sitting on the balcony watching the men work in the fields and seeing the different colours change over the fields as day turned into night.
At dusk the swallows would swoop down around our balcony trying to catch insects. We weren't going to go to the Monkey Forest as we had been there before, and what with all the rabies stories, we thought we would give it a miss. But on our last morning at about 8am, we could see the monkeys across the rice fields jumping out of the trees. Some of them came into the rice fields and were bathing in the water channels, playing and having fun. Obviously getting themselves ready for the onslaught of tourists at 9am! We couldn't resist, so we went. Fabulous watching month old babies with their mum's.
One monkey did climb on my back and made his way down my arm. He attempted to bite my thumb, but I flicked my arm and he jumped off. Phew! No rabies shot needed.
Our driver was there at 12pm to take us to our villa in Sanur so it was farewell to the lovely staff at Tegal Sari.
Sanur-Lazy Dog Villa. Got to the villa at about 1.30pm Tuesday and was met by the owner Ray. It is part of the Jade Villas complex in JL Cemera.
Bad news he said. There was no power,it had been out all day.The villa itself was fabulous.Private 9 meter swimming pool, full kitchen,king size bed,marble and teak bathroom,separate outdoor shower, airconditioned bedroom, and huge outdoor living area with ceiling fans.All for $US100 per night.Pity we couldn't see how anything worked.
So we went up to Hardy's to stock up on supplies to go into the fridge that also wasn't working! Got back and just sat around in the heat waiting. Power came back on at about 5.30pm. All good, off to our favourite restaurant Massimos for dinner.
Next day, the driver for the villa took us to Denpasar to visit Dr Indra Guizot. Had heard such good reviews of him on this forum and he didn't disappoint. I had a clean and polish for 500,000RP. Also we were straight in, no waiting.My husband needed a bridge done as he had a missing tooth, top of mouth, about 3 back from the front tooth.
Dr Indra made two temporary crowns for him and we went back 3 days later to have the bridge completed.No pain at all,quick and easy. Cost $680AUD. Would have taken him weeks if not months to have it done here in Melbourne and would have cost $2000-3000. My husband is very happy and so is our credit card!
That night, Wednesday, we were sitting at the villa at about 6.30pm deciding where to go for dinner, when BANG, the power goes out again.
Two days in a row.We had read in the Bali Advertiser that the local power company PLN was having a series of rolling blackouts over the island for November/December, but two days in a row really annoyed me. The owner Ray had said he had been meaning to get a generator but hadn't.
So we walked up to the main street and lo and behold, every shop and restaurant had power. Even the house next to us did, so it seemed to be just our villas.We walked about 3 klms to Zen Villas were we had stayed last time we were there to see if they had power. Yes they did, and they also have a generator.So we got their phone number to call the next morning.The power came back on about 9.30pm
Next morning Thursday, we rang and negotiated a price with the Australian manager Trisha and reassured that they had a generator and packed our things.
The villa owner Ray came around and he was very understanding why we wanted to check out.He couldn't guarantee that it wouldn't happen every day we were there.. Infact he only charged us one night instead of two.
Onto Zen Villas.In JL Kesari opposite the Hyatt.Beautiful villas with own private swimming pool,king size bed, fully airconditioned lounge/kitchen.TV's in lounge and bedroom.Welcome pack of Bintangs/coke/pringles/chips etc.Paid $168AUD per night.Sure it cost more than the other villa but at least we could use the power!
Arranged driver thru Zen to take us to Carrefours,Matahari and Discovery Plaza in Kuta for shopping trip.
The next day, my husband woke up with the flu. Poor thing. Got some tablets from the Apotik but they were no more that lollies.
On the Saturday, we walked out of the villa at about 6.30pm to go to dinner and for some reason, the pool lights didn't work, as we'd leave them on for when we came back.It was then we realised, there was no power!
Walked down to see the security guard as reception was closed. He didn't speak very good english, but said two words I didn't want to hear- "no generator". We rang the manager on her mobile who was very flustered and assured us there was one and was trying to get it set.
Went out to dinner, came back 8.30pm, still no power. Rang manager again, still trying. She sent us a text message just as it came back on at 10pm saying she would give us a discount.She ended up not charging us for the extra half day stay till 6pm, so all good.
The next day we asked another security guy Made if there is a generator. He said "yes". Where is it I asked. He pointed about 50 feet away at a room near reception.He said that the other security guy didn't know how to switch it on.Only in Bali.
No problems for the remaining 2 days.Mainly just shopped and walked along the beach. Husband feeling tired due to the flu so I would leave him at the villa and go shopping alone.
Had massages on the beach with "the pink ladies" and feet scrub. Half hour massage 30,000RP, foot scrub half hour 40,000RP.
Went to the Beatles Museum at the Sekuta Contodel apartments on the last day.Cost 20,000RP for a life membership which includes a free drink. Fascinating place, owned by a New Zealander who obviously loves the Beatles.Gold records,photos,signed guitars. Even a stage set up with life size mannequins of them with guitars and drumkit.
Then onto airport for that dreaded flight home. Our luggage was 12kilos overweight. Check in guy just smiled and said he would give us only 10kilos overweight at $8.50US per kilo. Forget it .We would try to put some things in our carry on luggage. So there we were, sprawled on the floor at Denpasar airport, suitcases open, everyone looking at my dirty underwear. Husband decided to ditch the 8 bottles of Bintang as they weren't worth $100AUD anyway and they were also complimentary of the villa.There was no bin around so we just told them they could have them.Reweighed the bags, still 6 kilos overweight, but he just put them thru. We must have paid for it with the Bintangs. Universal currency.
Got home exhausted from the overnight flight....already planning next trip!
Favourite restaurant-Massimos Italian. Always great.
Worst restaurant-Sale e Pepe. Inedible tasteless food.
Recommended restaurants- Bennos on the beach and Cat and Fiddle.
Australia is my home, but Bali is my heart.