JBR - Part 4: LEGIAN
I use Legian as a base. It is usually a ‘culture shock' to arrive from the more multifaceted Ubud, but it's an extraordinary shopping mecca.
KUMULA PANTAI HOTEL
What a disappointment!!
Having stayed here 1 year ago, we booked 2 interconnecting rooms in H block again. We stayed on the top floor the first night, before we were moved to our permanent rooms on the 1st floor for the final 4 nights of our stay. The rooms on the 2nd floor had a faulty air-conditioning unit & were not ready on our arrival, despite arriving after the designated check-in time. One room in particular smelt heavily of cigarette smoke. The sheets on our bed, when finally made, were stained with blood & something else... YUK!
Our ‘proper' rooms on the 1st floor had great air-con but the walls were soiled, as were the fridges. Our mattress was like lying on a slab of concrete. Worst of all, the bed base creaked LOUDLY! So loudly in fact, that just to sit on it, never lone roll over caused a creaking so loud that it was very disturbing & uncomfortable.
The gardens were gorgeous, as always & the smorgasbord breakfast adequate.... though not too keen on the way food & juices are recycled for the next day.
The saving grace for these hotel rooms is the bathrooms, which appear quite luxurious with the heavy, glass, frameless shower door, floor to ceiling marble tiles & a full bath. Having said that, there was a drainage problem in the shower & it was the norm to stand in a ‘deep pool' of water whilst showering.
Though the hotel is well positioned on the beach & very reasonably priced, I do not think we would stay here again for the reasons mentioned above, as well as the fact that a ‘bogan element', for the want of a better description, seems to have infiltrated the hotel. I am past tolerating sub-standard accommodation on holidays & am not appreciative of certain people. Having said that, I am sure we will not be missed, as the hotel always seems to be fully booked.
MONEY CHANGER
Used the Money Changer on the left hand side of Rum Jungle Road as you head toward Jalan Legian from the beach. Always a good rate, trustworthy & airconditioned.
SHOPPING
SEMINYAK Shops
Too many appealing shops & too little time! Lots of new boutiques & homeware stores seemed to have popped up in the last 12mths.
VENETIAN MIRROR BALI, Jl Mertanadi No 83, Kerobokan
Another look at this stunning store of Venetian mirrors saw us purchase a medium size mirror. It was well packed with box & foam - & travelled home soundly in our largest suitcase.
GENEVA FURNITURE, Jl Raya Kerobokan No 100
Ordered replacement cushion covers for 2 sunlounges, bench seat & Marlboro bench that I had purchased there a few years previously. All well made & ready 3 days after ordering.
GENEVA HANDICRAFTS, Jl Raya Kerobokan No 100 (upstairs)
Never have I bought so little at this store. It just seemed to be same old, same old.
IN DÉCOR, Indonesian Handicrafts, Shop 1 Jl Raya Kerobokan No. 8
Diagonally opposite Geneva, this store has a variety of attractive silver vases, bowls, platters etc. Having already purchased similar items at Tegallagong, they did not receive my patronage this trip, but I enjoyed a look.
SAKURA, Tuban
Just south of Kuta Square on Jl Kartika, this store is a favourite for my teens. (Too) many dvds were purchased here for my family as well as friends.
CAREFOUR, Sunset Rd.
Always a noteworthy shop filled with fascinating items at bargain basement prices. Had stunning glassware here that really surprised me. I would have loved to have purchased it, but just too impractical to try to bring back. Instead purchased skincare products, Ando thongs for the family (large sizes for teens hard to come by), Bali smelling 'Flower Shower' concentrate & more.
The general shopping centre that accommodates Carefour has various stores & food shops that are worth a look. The Dolce & Gabbana store had impressive t-shirts & shorts we purchased for the teens at fixed prices.
BOSE STORE, same shopping centre as Carefour, Sunset Rd.
All the latest gear here. Quite similarly priced to Aust.
Having just purchased a sophisticated zoned surround system at home, my husband was interested in comparing.
DISCOVERY MALL
Surprised to find one of my favourite stores, Vinotti, had closed down in this shopping centre - & to add insult, I had missed their ‘Closing Down Sale'.
Went to Breadtalk & purchased the usual supply of delectable items.
Didn't linger too long... there was no air-con in the general mall area & it was HOT!
BALI MALL GALLERIA
Vinotti is still here & I always find new homeware items that I cannot not purchase.
Matahari has a good array of ladies shoes, bags & bling jewellery that is hard to bypass.
Menswear on the first floor has a selection of clothing items, again at seriously compact prices in contrast to Australia.
King Koil Beds is on the ground floor of this shopping centre. We very nearly purchased a beautiful, opulent new king size bed, but for the outlay of LCL to Perth which were inhibiting.
JENGALLA POTTERY, Sunset Rd Kerobokan
Where on earth is this seconds store? Drove up & down Sunset Rd on several occasions & just could not spot it!
TUPPERWARE, Denpasar
Went to great lengths to find this store on recommendation of the BTF. Just a load of coloured plastic that I was not interested in. Ha... What a waste of time!
ERLANGGA 1, Jl Nusa Kambangan No 28B
Been there done that! Nothing of great interest here for me, but again a recommendation on the BTF. Purchased a trendy, very large, cane beach bag for just $AUS4.... a lot of locals shopping here.... on par with the Tupperware store!
BATHROOM FIXTURES, Denpasar
Purchased another Toto towel rack to match my others at one of these stores along Jl. Teku Umar. Love these bathroom stores!
OTHER SHOPPING
Too much to continue to itemise. Suffice to say there was the usual concern with baggage weight. Successfully had a zip replaced in one of my teen's cricket bat bags for a minimal cost at a surfboard cover manufacturer, purchased many beads & Pandora-ish looking bracelets in Sarong St, dazzling dress jewellery in Matahari, real deal surf gear at Billabong & other outlets, not much at the every obliging Ketut's (think my boys are over the copy gear now!) She was as busy as ever, however.
MEALS
Breakfast at KP was filling. Dinner was usually our next meal.
LANAI to the RHS as you walk out of KP, on the beachfront. An especially memorable meal of seafood - fab dinner, the heavens opened & we scurried to shelter to continue in close vicinity with other diners undercover... rather intimate with interaction with other diners.
SEASIDE to the LHS as you walk out of KP, on the beachfront. Picturesque view to the water, pool table for the kids, food average -nothing to write home about in comparison to previous years.
ULTIMO, Seminyak
A pleasant & popular Italian restaurant that required a booking to secure a table for 4. Food was fine, prices average, full of activity & rather fascinating to people watch. Pouring with rain as we left... so lucky to grab a bluebird cab as we exited.
TOMMY'S CAFÉ, Rum Jungle Rd, Legian
Went here for lunch on the day we arrived, which was a scorcher. With faulty air-con in our first rooms at the KP, we needed to escape. Although only fan cooled, the cold washers at Tommy's Café were a welcome relief, as were the chilly Iced Coffees for us & Iced Chocolates for the teens. We enjoyed delicious club sandwiches, which were really fresh. A simple, understated café that is easy to miss, but worth a visit for lunch.
O-CE-N BALI by OUTRIGGER, Legian
Took a tour of these fairly new studio rooms/suites/penthouse accommodations available to rent, or to purchase via Leasehold Agreements. Felt the accommodation common grounds were fairly sterile with little personality, but a fine fit-out of the rooms. Prices varied between USD $266,000 - $955,000.
On real estate...
Whilst at the Novotel ND, enquired as to the availability & cost of any apartments for sale. Interesting to hear 2 in an adjacent block to where we were staying were for sale at prices around the US$350K mark, I think.
OVERALL
Another fab holiday! So many personalities met, individual experiences had & memorable moments retained.
Thanks to everyone who continues to put themselves in ‘imminent peril' by placing individual opinions, JBR's & other comments on the BTF. Ultimately, we all benefit from your ‘fearless' behaviour.
Until next time....