Great flight as always with Garuda- friends who travelled 4 days later with another airline had an initial 5 hour delay which extended to 24 hours, they eventually travelled with Garuda as it would have been another 24 hours to depart Sydney if they had not done this... No lines at the airport - noted the change in the location of the VOA counter however we had arranged VOA through Hadi and although there were no cues, we were happy with the arangement.
Spent first 4 nights at Ramayana Kuta - always happy with this hotel, I always request a room away from restaurant and stadium bar overlooking gardens - these are quieter rooms. Experienced an air con problem with the first room allocated however this was swiftly rectified. Comfortable beds, clean rooms, international TV channels, excellent service and good food. Find it hard to fault this hotel.
Ate at the restaurants just up from Ramayana - recommend Sendok and we also ate at the Pantai in Tuban (great for watching the sunset).
Moved to Kumala Pantai. This hotel is getting busier and busier and can be often hard to get in, even a year in advance which is one of the drawbacks unless you are sure of your dates as they will ask for a non refundable deposit. Staff not as attentive as some other hotels however there are the exceptions. Pool lounges in the sun still difficult for some to find according to some of the guests I spoke with, I now take a pool float which alleviates the hassles I have experienced in the past. I do prefer smaller hotels although the location is excellent. I have always found the beds to be uncomfortable at KP and the pillows - well that's a whole other story. I prefer NS block for the peace and quiet however I stayed upstairs in SG block and was very happy with the location of the room. Excellent prices for room service and the restaurant, room costs going up to 780,000rp in 2011.
It is the location and value for money of this hotel that brings me back.
Next we went to Mutiara Villas and Residence in Seminyak and whilst the location isn't close to the beach, it is close to all the restaurants and the hotel will provide free transport to and from the Airport as well as transport to the Bintang supermarket or anywhere in Seminyak central.
Price good, rooms great, big screen TV with loads of channels and staff very attentive. Great beds and pillows (sleep being a priority for me).
Things I discovered...
- appalling mental health care system which is totally unaccessible by most people living in the outlying villages;
- some great committed health professionals working to improve care for the mentally ill in Bali but funding is required to continue with this work;
- Cool Spa and Salon in Seminyak (just near Grocer and Grind) - very reasonably priced and nice ambience;
- Papiiya in Seminyak (Jl Raya Seminyak)- great prices on jewelry, mostly wooden and tradition items as well as market type items;
- BaliZen Jl Raya Seminyak - Arts, Gifts, Home and Garden Decor, great prices on donnas', cushion covers, place mats and runners as well as gifts lots of great odds and ends;
- Bali Motorbike Lic - after prices ranging from 250,000rp to 200AUD and deciding that it was going to be too difficult to simply walk into the police station and request one (having been told that when you do this you are often charged a huge fee simply because you are a foreigner), we went with Gusti (rents motor bikes opposite the lil Italian restaurant on the corner of the lane that runs from Kumala Pantai through to 66). Gusti arranged the lic for 300,000rp, email me if you require 'details'. I advised against riding the motorbike however I was not naive in believing that my 19 year old would not simply go out and hire one and I wanted him covered for travel insurance. With the Bali motorbike lic he is covered by my insurance company;
- discovered other points of view on many issues - always interesting to hear other perspectives;
- discovered that my concern regarding the operation by foreigners of some what appears to be charitable organisations was warranted and that asking questions and looking at documentation is always a good idea if one is to become 'involved' in any of these worthwhile projects. There are some amazing people in Bali do some amazing things however there is certainly a flip side to this and all isn't what it appears to be at times;
Restaurants.
Well I already mentioned Sendok near Ramayana and Pantai in Tuban.
-Warung Sobat - having tried to find this place in previous years we finally located it in Kerobokan, there are two Warung Sobat, 1 and 2 and both operated by the same family. Cheap and excellent, do book as it is often fully booked. I had mixed seafood grill and 2 lemon juices as well as an entree for 49,000rp;
- Ultimo Seminyak - more expensive but excellent food (Italian cuisine);
- Seaside Legian - med range prices, nice to go there and watch the sunset, love the granitas and the Mahi Mahi;
- Warung Kartini located in the lane way that runs up behind All Seasons in Legian, I think it is Three Brothers Lane - very cheap, try the fish;
- Tree House in Poppies, beach end - cheap and great food;
- Grocer and Grind - for breakfast lunch and dinner, great food, free wifi, has a nice deli with savory and sweet delights, good value for money and great coffee;
- Queens Tandoor - Jl Raya Seminyak - always excellent, mid range prices, Indian cuisine;
- Yutz - Rum Jungle Legian, always go there for my 'steak fix' mid range prices;
- Tommy's - good value, great corn beef salad rolls for 25,00rp or so, NZ cheese, ploughman's platter, great ice coffee for 10,000 - fresh fruit juices, service slow but worth the wait. They will also deliver;
- also ate from the Warungs on Kuta and Legian beaches.
Spa's
- Briella near Kumala Pantai for Cream Bath and Pedicure - good prices however I prefer other Spa's;
- Kumala Pantai Spa - massage and facial (2 hours) 241,000rp, I like the ambiance and peace here and the staff are lovely.
- Cool Spa - 130,000rp for a facial - lovely staff and ambiance.
Other thins
-Bagus Watches for watches and fake Tiffany jeweler, scarf's and rings;.
-Emma on the beach outside Kumala will make silver ball bracelets at a good price, half the price of the shops in Bali, she also does manicures/pedicures;
-Darwin outside Kumala Pantai for pearls;
-Harry outside Kumala Pantai for watches;
-Patrick outside Kumala Pantai for sunglasses;
-Annie outside Kumala Pantai for fruit;
-Ozzies Bar outside Kumala Pantai - always enjoy catching up with the crew there especially Andy.
If you get a chance, do buy a stick of incense from the lady selling it on the beach whose husband was killed in the Bali Bombing and who requires further surgery for herself.
Flew home again via Jakarta - don't mind the extra time it takes to get to Sydney as I find it more convenient to go this way.
Have more to tell but will post another day - any questions please feel free to email me:)