Part 2 of our best bits from 19th Dec to 3rd Jan trip!
SAFARI PARK/ MARA RIVER LODGE
We'd decided to stay overnight here and so glad we did! The Lodge is just amazing- rooms are great- we stayed in a 2 bed Kifaru, staff are super friendly and restaurant service and food was fantastic. We arranged our own transport out with Bali Baby Hire's driver as having heard about Bali's manic roads we wanted some security/ peace of mind with bub. Yes it was great to be able to strap him in to his own seat and not have to hold him but safety wise there was no anchor bolt anyway. The driver Kinky is obviously very experienced- great driver! We soon got used to the Bali way of driving though on another occasion wasn't happy with a taxi driver pulling out in front of a huge truck with lights flashing saying he wasn't going to stop! That was close- took me a few days to stop pumping my imaginary brakes in every car!
Anyways-after checking in and stowing our bags we headed off with much excitement- first stop tigers! 4yr old was very excited to pat the bub tiger! Niece and daughter had a camel ride and did the orangutang cuddles and photos- the photos are excellent quality and I didn't think the orangutang was drugged. We then went on the safari tour where we were given the very back seat which was awesome when the tigers where jumping up at the back of the bus! For some reason one of them was trying very hard to get the jerry can off the back and licking it etc- Led me to wonder are they fuel sniffers or is there blood in there??
5.30 we headed up to the Tsavo restaurant for drinks and early dinner- awesome watching lions while you eat and hoping that glass is super strong! My daughter developed a need to visit the toilet a lot so she could look at the lions in there! Excellent food and cocktails here and cold bintangs according to hubby. 7pm they had an elephant visit out the front for guests to interact with- niece received a kiss from it! Then we went off on the night safari- just me, daughter and niece on the bus- fed the zebras- windows open and they were sticking their heads in, we could pat them as we fed them etc. Daughter who is a horse fanatic was rapt! Then off to feed the lion who got excitable and was jumping up on the side of the bus- the guide lady got a bit nervous and when I asked her why later she said he has never jumped up that she has seen and that my daughter must've looked tasty or something!
Next morning we did the tiger photo experience- thought the tiger cub might've been drugged as it was fully zonked until I mistakenly plonked Lal up on the bench close to it and it sprung to life as did the guides who were panicly yelling get her off! Oops! Pony and elephant rides, park rides and water park and it was time to go. Awesome experience which I highly recommend.
DAY TRIP- UBUD, KINTAMANI
We had booked with Aussie Bemo Made to take us out to Kintamani, unfortunately hubby was sick so didn't come. In laws, neice kids and I went anyway and it was a great day! Stopped at monkey forest for a look on way, Lal got the giggles watching two baby monkeys chase each other! On to the Ubud markets where we made a few purchases- looking forward to going back without the kids so I can have a good look around. Another stop was at some rice terraces where we took some awesome photos but phew hold on to your hats here as the hawkers are many and very persistent- had to fight through them to get back in the bus and had to flip the locks as they were trying to open the doors and windows! LOL!
On to Kintamani where we had lunch at a restaurant overlooking the mountain and lake below. was an awesome view and the buffet lunch was ok but exxy at 90kea. We were lucky to see kintamani clearly as there was no clouds obscuring the view! headed for home after- back in time for happy hour poolside!
TUBING
After her brother left to go on to Sydney my niece needed someone to go tubing with her and I was it! So glad we did this- despite the aches in previously unused muscles for 2 days afterwards it was a not to be missed experience though the day was not without it's dramas!
Driver arrived at 9.20 to pick us up- as we were getting in the bus I joked that I hoped that was water dripping underneath. Upon inspection he told us we'd have to wait for another bus as it was oil! No probs, second bus came off we went, halfway there he stopped for fuel and bus no2 wouldn't start again! LOL many tries and then several locals commandeered to help driver push start and off we went again! Arrived at bali buggy muster point in one piece despite driver stalling halfway up one very steep hill with major dropoff on the side to be fitted out with lifejacket and helmets then bundled into jeep to go down to river- rather halfway down from which point we had to walk very carefully down slippery road until we reached concrete steps which led into the canyon.
What a beautiful spot! water rushing through the rocks and jungle all around, was worth the walk. Time to get into the tubes! Hmm I am by no means petite and by no means elegant or graceful so getting seated without landing in the drink was quite a feat which I'm sure put smiles on the faces of the rest of the group and which was to be repeated several more times as we got in and out at various points along the river! At one point we had to go on the flying fox- only way you can proceed and it was good fun apart from getting myself down the rope net without tangling limbs etc as per my usual gracefulness.
It was a very memorable experience- right down to having a couple of spiders land in my raft- first one easily squashed though I dislodged the cushion under me doing it and therefore had no cushioning between my butt and the shallow rocks and then a bloody big spider joined me and was trying to climb onto my leg to get out of water in the bottom of the raft! Eek! so here i am yelling spider and trying to throw myself out of the moving raft much to the guides amusement! Got to a shallow bit where the raft stopped and one of the guides helped me out laughing and saying no poisonous spiders in Bali! Hmm lol!
At the end of the journey we were all ferried up the hill on a quad bike to waiting jeep then taken back to HQ for a hot lunch before the jpurney home which took 3 hours due to horrendous traffic and we walked the last 2.5km home or wouldv'e been stuck in that traffic another hour. Apparently it is like that every new years day so word of warning don't book any activities on New Years Day!
Okay I've ramble on far too long already so will finish with Bali zoo, waterbom and shopping on another day! Thanks for reading!