I only started on this forum well after our May 10 trip and thought it was too late, but I have got so much out of this forum I thought I would still write one for a bit of fun.
After a wonderful family holiday in July 09 with our 2 daughters this trip was just Hubby and I for 2 weeks 8.5.10 - 22.5.10. Flew Virgin from Brisbane on a Saturday. Great flight so was not prepared for the onslaught of mass confusion at immigration ! VOA counter had moved and the lines were so long you could barely get to this counter. After VOA we finally settled in a queue and there must have been at least 200 hundred people in this area. Some took to pushing and shoving which got everyone's back up !
Our queue started to move reasonably well, so I smugly thought at long last I have picked well (I pick the worst queues in supermarkets !!)Then our line ground to a halt with 2 people at the counter taking 25 minutes to be processed. When they finally left our queue erupted with cheering and the officials didn't know where to look. To the right of us a girl fainted...it was so incredibly hot. Best part was when a gent to the right of us finally got through and stood there beating his chest and waving his arms in the air yelling "I got through yee hah " and then the whole room went crazy ! The officials had 2 changes of shifts while we were waiting and took at least 10 minutes to change over. After a very long 2 and a half hours we were through.
Onto the Adi Dharma where we always stay. So many staff remembered us from 09 and we were made to feel so welcome. Had a ground level deluxe room and it seemed like most of the other guests had to pass us to their rooms and many stopped for a chat !! Met so many wonderful people this way.
SIGHTSEEING
Some of the highlights of 3 separate days of sightseeing were :
Tanah Lot, Tirta Gangga (water garden),Tabanen, Amed, Amlapura, Gunung Kawi (temple) and Penglipuran Village (traditional village)
SHOPPING
Lots of leather goods from a fellow recommended to us in 09 by a local shopkeeper. To try him out last year, Hubby had a leather jacket made and it was so good this year Hubby had 4 leather belts and a pair of boots made. I had a leather jacket, handbag and 2 wallets made. Ordered them second day we were there and picked them up a week later..all perfect !!!
Had a long list from my youngest daughter which took 2 days to complete !!!
Bought wallets, handbags, overnight bags, silver elephants (Ketuts Garlic Lane) watches (Bagus and Euro Watch stores in Kuta),linen - all the usual stuff !
EATING
AMINOS Coffee shop (opposite Barong Hotel)- great coffees and iced caramel lattes YUM
GOSHA restaurant on Melasti Street - Steamed garlic crabs - really good !
CAFE LOCAL (On Benesari halfway between Adi Dharma & Barong Hotels)It advertises "a Belgian Touch" and the Belgian stew was superb !! Pizzas were great and the chocolate mousse to die for !
PANDAN restaurant (Canidasa Beach) I had chicken steak and hubby had beef steak. Food was excellent and so was the setting. Wooden table and thatched umbrella next to stone steps leading down to the beach where water was crystal clear ! While waiting for lunch I went down to beach and although I usually hate having my photo taken I asked hubby to take one of me on the beach because water was so beautiful and as he was using the view finder he did not see the approaching wave so guess who had to sit all through lunch with soaking wet shorts !!!
Adi Dharma Cottages restaurant (faces Legian St) - great chicken cordon bleu !
Last year the 4 of us went to Bali Elephant Camp and shared 2 elephants for a half hour ride. Loved it so much, Hubby and I went for an hour ride this year. Our elephant was a female named "Deli". As we left the compound there was a man approaching us with a dog. Our Mahout started waving and calling out to the man who moved away quickly....turns our Deli is afraid of dogs ! The hour ride takes you through rainforest area and through a village. Deli stopped constantly to feast on the vegetation and all was well until we rounded the first corner in the village where a little dog was sprawled out in the sun. Deli started rearing up and side stepping and the dog just watched in amusement as this huge elephant bolted away !! At the end of the ride, after a cool swim in the pond Deli took us back to the concrete platform to unload. Platform is level with our seat and approx. 8 foot high. Just as I was about to hop off my bag slipped to the ground between Deli's front right foot and the platform. She then tilted her head to take a look and all I could think of was " please Deli don't stand on my bag !!!". Quick as a flash her Mahout gave her a command and she gently lifted up my bag with her trunk and swung it over to me !! Best part is after the ride when we feed and pat the elephants. Last year my eldest daughter and I spent ages just talking to and stroking our elephant "Marsela" and I swear she understood when we told her how gorgeous she was.
Rest of this holiday was spent walking, shopping and catching up with the shopkeepers we had met last year who are now friends. It was a fantastic 2 weeks and so good to have time on our own.
Have now booked for July 2011 which is a long way to go but now I always feel a lot closer to Bali when I am on the forum.
Thanks for reading