We ate well.
We didn't get to any of the fancy and upmarket restaurants recommended and on our list. We much preferred the ambience of eating in warungs and mid range restaurants which are still inexpensive and reasonable.
I was pleasantly surprised how many more choices there were to eat at since my last trip .
Nona was in awe every place we ate at . She was pleasantly surprised with how safe she felt, how clean Bali was, how lovely the Balinese were, how cheap everything was. None of us got ill during our trip.
Sensible and Nona were adventurous with food and wanted to eat as much local cuisine and seafood. Princess is annoyingly particular with her food, but we always found something on the menu that would accommodate and the restaurants were very patient with kids, for eg: asking for mee goreng minus any spicy stuff etc. otherwise we allowed her one pasta or pizza meal per day trying to encourage trying something new.
I couldn't get enough of Gado gado which I was craving almost everyday.
I can't remember the name of every place we ate at but:
In Legian: Blue Ocean, Zanzibar and a couple of others next to each other on the same strip, in front of Legian beach were our port of dinner call after our afternoon swims at the beach. The food was great and terrace dining overlooking beach was ‘divota' for Nona.
Also, Marzano's-Italian, pasta, pizza and 66 Corner, both are Jl Double six,which we frequented regularly.
In Seminyak :
We did get to La Lucciola, and it was fine as I had remembered, food good, but more of a location and gorgeous restaurant. The standards of lower to mid range restaurants in Legian has improved so La Luch did now seem a little expensive, but reasonable nevertheless.
KuDeTa in Seminyak. We splurged and had cocktails/mocktails and some edamame , on a prime position sunbed, didn't eat there though. Arriving fresh from the beach, so we weren't dressed flash but still felt comfortable, and were not frowned upon. Our bill came to 690,000 for 4, (just for drinks and the edamame) .But what the heck, if we compare like for like back at home, well we can't as there's nothing we know of to compare it to. It was all about the a gorgeous sunset, cocktails/mocktails in hand lounging around. Memories which we will take away from this place. Nona was in paradise and was in awe of it's set up.
Rumours restaurant - not that impressed. Inexpensive but maybe because it was our first dining experience in a covered restaurant with walls, we got to use to eating in open air and terrace type places. It also seemed a lot noiser.
Lunched at Grocer & Grind a bit more of a western set up, and fabulous salads @45,000.
Nusa Lembongan for the day.
We sailed there ‘relax' cruise run by Island explorer cruises. Sailed on a yacht with 2 couples, so a total of 8 of us. Sensible does suffer from motion sickness, and started to get a little queezy 2 thirds of the way there, despite smooth sailing. So we thought on the way back we should switch to the Bali Fun ship that took less time to sail back. The crew do also supply motion sickness tablets, freely ,tablets located next to the coffee/tea making facilities,no cookies but a plate full of tablets help yourselves.
Straight into snorkeling, once we had arrived. Princess and Sensible just wanted to look and swim with the most gorgeous fishes they had seen, and didn't want to travel to the mainland / ‘coconut resort' who island explorer cruises hav an affiliation with, we did in the end.
Next it was the highly anticipated banana boat ride. It's an inflatable , dingy type thing in a banana shape with handles on it. You mount it, as you would riding a horse and then a speed boat takes it ducking and weaving, skimming water's surface. Well Nona was going to give it a go much to the delight of her granddaughters, and the rest of the party on our yacht. On she goes, everyone helping her on and off she falls, oh dear, (we haven't yet started our ride). Everyone has now jumped in the water to give her a push back up and managed to get on and stay on whilst the speedboat, whizzed around , was a funny sight and moment , we all had a good laugh even Nona who was proud of herself.
BBQ lunch on the yacht was provided and sufficed and then to the island for a dip in the pool at coconut beach resort. Next time I come back , I will defnatley be staying a few days on this island.
The ride back on the Bali fun ship was... choppy? It travels at a faster speed and thought this would be better for Sensible. OMG, travelling at a faster speed with 3 metre waves, bashing against you, boat swaying I mean really swaying I thought that was it for us. Nona just kept on smiling and was not worried. My gosh Nona has come along way! Luckily Sensible had lied down and slept all the way back. Princess was clutching my hand , I had to close my eyes for most of the sail back. Despite the turbulent sail back the day was a great experience , you have to get there.
Thanks for reading!Next post will be on our stay in Jimbaran Bay.