Got up at 1.30am to get to Perth aiprot and catch 4.50am AA flight.
Decided not to buy booze at the airport (JB was 2 for $AU50). Checked the Bali forum webiste at airport to kill time and posted first message since the site came back up.
We boarded early and would have left early but two passengers were missing. We left on time and landed in Bali at 8:30am ( or a few minutes before). Only our flight was there and there was only one VOA desk open initially. A second one opened up a few minutes later.
The customise guy just waved us through. The 'Ubud Taxi' drive was waiting for us and we on our way pretty quickly. Not sure what time we arrived at the hotel (Tjampuhan) but the was some slow traffic on the way to Ubud - Big tracks and a few other hold ups.
The Hotel was nice and the staff were very friendly. The gardens are very well kept. The hotel is just over the bridge from Ubud. Our room was right down the bottom near the river and we could hear it that night as we fell asleep - very tranquil. They have two swimming pools. One is natural with no chlorine the other is a normal pool. Lots of stairs, especially when you get a room at the bottom of the resort. There is a little bridge over the river just behind the small shrine in the resort.
We ate lunch at the hotel with a few beers was 450,000. We at dinner at Cafe Wayan for half that. We stayed at Tjampuhan for two nights then headed to the Dynasty at Tubad for the remaining 4 nights.
Another slow trip. we arrived at 1pm and our room was ready - Delux Pool View room. Nice to see the familiar staff at the Dynasty again.
We has room 233 which was on the right hand side (North). It was a bit noisey in th evenings - we didnt stay out late. So, I will get a garden view room next time.
Beer is 34,000 normally and 17,000 at happy hour. Cocktails are 60,000 and not on special at happy hour, but they have some buckets for 130,000 at happy hour of selected cocktails. Happy hours are 12pm to 1pm and 5pm to 6pm.
This time in Bali it was HOT. Even the Dynasty pool was hot. Even the lazy pools were hot. We were told that it was really hot a few days before we arrived.
Breakfast was fantastic as usual. My wife likes the muesli in the yogurt - berka or something. I had bacon and omelette and cups of tea - I am boring.
We didnt but much. We had to locate a metal dragon fly for my wifes neice and eventually found them at the mnarkets in Melasti street eventually bought other stuff to - bintang beach towel, stubbie holders and a metal butterfly for 250,000.
We bought some tee shifts in garlic lane for 35,000 (Quicksilver).
Most of the time we spent in the pool trying to keep cool.
We ate at the Queens of India one night and had Aga white wine with the meal. We at on Saturday night at the Golden Lotus in the hotel. very good service at both places. We had most lunches by the pool at the Tropcial Cafe. I usually had Nasi Goreng for 85,000 (incldued satay stick and chicken leg)
Chnaged money at the Kodak shop and bought beer and coke and water from the super market next door to the kodak shop.
I checked some cheaper accomodation for the next trip. I looked at the Febris, Inna Kuta and Kuta Beach Club. Not sure whwre I will stay in March. The Dynasty is renovating from Feb to May 2010.
Thats about it. I wish I was still there.