Went to Bali with my husband for the weekend. Most we can get away without the kids and even this was difficult to organise - gotta take what you can get! The cheap fares from Perth make this more economical than going down south for the weekend.
Flew on the Saturday 5.10pm AA flight. Left 5 mins early and arr'd about a 1/2 hour early which was great. Bussed to terminal. Quickly thru (we were in Row 1 on plane). Pretty quick thru, once I remembered the move of the VOA counters and had to go back) Waiting, waiting, waiting for our 1 suitcase. Finally turned around and someone had taken it off conveyor and it was standing all lonesome behind us - very annoying!
Then taxi to KP - 65K I think or maybe 60K?
Decided to try KP after everyone raving about it. I changed the hotel a couple of months before we went and probably only got it due to us only needing 3n. Quick check-in and room on 3rd level in SG block. Large room overlooking the pool. Large bathroom with sep bath and shower.
I can see why people rave about the hotel. We had nothing to fault with it re: location, room, setting. All good. Only thing that we were less than impressed with was the B/F. Food was just so, so and whilst sitting out the front overlooking the beach is lovely the millions of bees swarming around you was a real turn off. I know they probably can't do anything about this but just made the whole experience a bit unpleasant.
Sunday morning we went into Denpasar 1st thing. We were going to go to Gloria Jeans in Kuta first as it was quite early but taxi driver said no, no shops in Denpasar open at 9am so we went straight there. Course they didn't did they! Ramayana did open about 9.30 so it wasn't too much of a wait. Had driver wait then take us to Matahari before back to hotel.
Decided to hire a scooter for the first time (usually don't do this because of the kids). Security guard from KP took us across the road to get it there and off we went. Definitely saw a different side to Bali than we're used to. My husband said he could tell everytime something took my interest and my head flew in that direction as well as the bike! (I'm not a bike rider - I drive trucks).
As 1st time 'scooter'ers' it was a little tricky finding our way around at first. The map (admittedly just a touristy one) gives the impression that some roads are roads when in fact they're more like a small gang. Got it sussed by the end of the second day after doing quite a few turn-arounds.
Rode all thru Seminyak and out to Carrefour. Sunday arvo we rode out to Tanah Lot. Haven't been before so thought we'd give it a go. Maybe extra busy because it was a Sunday? My butt was sooo sore. Husband got a touch of BB out there which he tells me was not very pleasant. I think I probably preferred Uluwutu (sp?). We are not into the shopping much now but if you are then you would probably prefer Tanah Lot as there were a lot of market shops there.
Restaurants:
1st night it was about 10pm so we just went to Lanai next door to KP. 2nd time and I'm done with this place. Very, very average. Salad was revolting. It was soggy and yuk even before the rain came! Husband said his Caesar was ok but I'm not going back.
Went to Pearl restaurant off Double 6 on Sunday night. Yes - it is as good as everyone says! Beautiful setting and divine food. I had the stuffed chicken breast which came with gnocchi in a jar. Dessert I had the sushi - was amazing.
Monday am we went to La Lucciola for B/F. Was beautiful!!! Husband reckons he can't go back to hotel food after that!
Tip: make sure you take enough money. I was going to change money after and thought we'd had enough (we would have if we hadn't ordered so many sides which we didn't need, they were huge). Was 20K short. Couldn't give back the food or coffee cause it was gone! Had to swap a $50 Aus which they were more than happy to do - at the rate of 6000K - ouch!
Went to Delicious Onion for lunch on the Sunday. Went last trip and their pork special set menu of: crispy pork for entree, pork ribs for main and brownies for dessert - 105K from memory, is to die for!!! All their food is gorgeous. HAD to go back the next afternoon on Monday as I was pretty sure I couldn't leave Bali without having it again!
Went to Mozarella in the afternoon for a drink - I LOVE their fruit punch! Thought we might head back for dinner - had a great meal there last trip but...
after having the late lunch at D/Onion at about 3pm we weren't that hungry Monday night but decided we felt like Chili Crab. We normally go to Mini in Tuban but didn't want to travel that far. Ended up going to Indonational. Haven't eaten there before but had heard they served Chili Crab. Was a very nice meal, large serves and they put a bib on you! Crab could have been a bit 'chili'er' but can hardly complain when they asked whether you wanted 1: mild up to 3: hot! We both chose 1 but definitely should have gone 2.
Massages: used KP's and Briella. Both were fine. KP had a special on before 2pm which made it very reasonable.
Exchange rate was 7600.
Arrived at airport about 2 1/4 hours before our flight. Already quite a few people at check-in and very slow. Immigration lines were huge. By the time we went thru there was no time for the lounges. Plane left about 1/2 hour late. Flight was good till the descent into Perth. Experienced the WORST turbulence ever. I really thought we were in trouble. The plane was lurching severely one way then the other. Went on for a while, maybe 10mins or so. I was so close to hurling - clutching the sick bag. Someone was crying near me. It was awful. I was next to the emergency exit wishing I'd studied the evacuation plan more! Got thru it but I was feeling sick for the next few hours.
Straight thru customs with a quick x-ray. We don't do much shopping these days and nothing to declare.
Thanks for reading if you got this far! : )