Sad to leave Ubud - have loved the time spent there. Here we come Seminyak - Kusnadi Hotel for 10 nights. Lots have been written about Kusnadi in BTF - we loved it last year and weren't disappointed again - familiar faces and new friends made. Smaller room this year but again we were fine with the accommodation and of course their breakfast buffet. Had been told there had been renovations and more rooms. I was able to have a look at the penthouse but for me climbing up those stairs would be an effort - ground floor room, by the pool anytime for me.
Across the road is the Captain Cook Bar - sadly Geoff had passed away - new managers and it looks so clean and fresh - my husband's local while we are away.
Caught up with friends that had stayed at Ubud Bungalows at Waterbom Park - everyone had a great day - hubby did lose our wristband on one of the slides but was able to produce our receipts for the admission and towel rental so that the amount of the band could be verified - again a sigh of relief..... at least it was him this time. Heaps of people - long queues to get in and for the slides.
Jimmy Disc Centre (in Jl. Padma) for dvds - we didn't purchase very many this time - but are really happy with the quality of what we did buy.
Carla's Spa - we loved Carla's last year so made a point to go back (a few times) - I have a Hair Cream Bath that includes a scalp massage (pure bliss) also massaging shoulder and arms. Last year wasn't charged to have my hair blow dried/straightened - still good value and to have straight hair for me in Bali - heaven! We use the spa in Jl. Padma Utara No. 5 - opened from 9am to 11pm. Look at their packages before starting as you can save a lot.
Briella Spa
Jl. Werkudara
I had a Green Tea Scrub to counteract aging and toxins - didn't have a separate room - curtained partitions, so not totally relaxed to have to shower when someone is next door - but quite ok since having our daughter don't really worry about privacy.
Newly opened restaurant 'Swish' in Garlic Lane - lovely owner - trying hard to get the restaurant up and running - we had overheard a group of people talking about it at Uncle Norm's, walked passed one day and gave it go - lovely food - nice feel to the restaurant. Owner made us feel very welcomed and chatted about the restaurant and what we thought of the menu/service.
The Mugshot coffee shop - a daily ritual for my husband after his walks. Again owners are a lovely Australian family - they have an adorable pug puppy Diesel - our daughter fell in love with him. Fresh salad baguettes/cakes/gluten free/free wifi - available 7 days a week.
Indigo Kids and Little Princess fixed priced children's clothing. Our daughter warms up to the bargaining - but once she starts - lol. Frangipani hair clips, head bands, bracelets, small guitar for a friend. In Kuta Square new accessories shop Stroberi - pink décor - what else could I girl want - really reasonable prices - bought quite a few things for presents for her friends' birthdays coming up.
After reading about Biku through BTF I had really wanted to visit. Biku is a tea house in Jalan Raya Petitenget no.888, in an old Joglo house from East Java that was once an antique shop, that has now been transformed into one of the most relaxing environments for sipping your preferred cup of tea, checking your emails and nibbling aussie scones, meat pies or enjoying any of the other light or full meals from their extensive menu. The range of teas is mind boggling, and takes up pages of their menu.
The first attempt at visiting Biku we were greeted with a sign saying that it was closed for a family wedding (blast) , turn around taxi driver - at least we found it and did return - fabulous - and champers to boot for only 45,000 rp a glass. Traditional Afternoon Tea 65,000 rp, children's tea time 35,000 rp. Ganesha Bookshop shares floor space as well. A link is http://www.bikubali.com All I can say is try it - delicious - maybe book ahead - busy when we arrived and we were asked to sit in an outside area - ok, but we were not going to order until we were able to get a table inside. We were quite happy to share a table with others that came in after us if they wanted to.
Thank goodness I went on a diet before we came and knew I would have to shed a bit of weight on our return.
The Red Carpet - Champagne Bar (Jl. Oberoi 42C, Seminyak). The major attraction being their fresh oysters and vintage champagne. Your oyster starter can be in the way of a shot or a plate of Natural, Kilpatrick or Rockefeller. The choice of Champagne is one of the most extensive I have ever seen, and some of the prices of the rarer vintages are scary. We just had the basic oyster shot each and then a tea.
Padi - Padi Collection in Jalan Werkudara - good prices for women's shoes/sandals - half of the shop had silver jewellry at half price - beautiful pieces.
Through the Boomerang Café & Bar we heard about this organization at Mt Batur:
http://www.yayasanpeduli.org
We had thought everything was going as it should but alas - on our second last day we went to a nearby authorized money changer before we set off for our night's activities. The rate was really good 8,700, initially only going to change $100AU, hubby decided to go back to the hotel to get another extra 100 to change - handed me back the security box key which I put in a zippered part of my wallet with some notes..... thought everything was ok. Walked up the road to The Boomerang for a drink and a chat to the friends that we have made - good people.
Arrived late for Happy Hour so had to hurry down a couple of drinks - any excuse! Long Island Teas (no coke) and margaritas are my favourites. It was getting late so we decided to go to Yutz's for a little light dinner - very busy night but we were seated a table up the back but in a very dark spot. It was there that I had a horrible feeling about leaving my bag - took our daughter to the toilet ad asked hubby to look after it. Nice night out - or so I thought.
Next day nothing unusual until mid afternoon when I was getting my bag ready to hold our daughter's Nintendo/travel diary that I checked my wallet for the security key. Not there!!!! Looked again, can't be - look in the rest of the wallet - small wallet so easily checked. Looked in my bag - zippered parts, felt the lining in case it had dropped out - looked through everything at least 5 times - far out! How do I tell hubby? Deep breath - here I go - he took it quite well but we went through everything - drawers, cupboards (even though no reason it would be there), in rubbish bin, under the beds, through our clothes - everything we could think of. Walked back to the money changers in case it was dropped there - nothing - retraced all our steps - nothing.
Decided best be upfront and go to reception and see what could be done - dear Dewi our usually very quiet receptionist was on duty. I said to her 'I am so sorry but I have lost our security box key' with that in a very loud voice 'You are not joking with me are YOU!!!' No, I said I would never do that - You sure you sure - checked your room? Everything Dewi! You know that will cost you $200US - boss at his village and no one else can help, we will need to get a locksmith from Denpasar.' When do you leave she asked - tomorrow lunch time - tomorrow!!!! Putu was called and with mutterings of probably silly Australian woman has lost security key, we were told should be ok by the time we need to leave at 12.
Tried not to appear stressed - hubby still taking it quite well - daughter more stressed than either of us. Again we went back to the room even though we new it would not be found.
We had enough but knew finances were being stretched at an all time low especially with KL still to come - thank goodness for a stepdaughter than banked some more cash for us into our account - and another thank goodness for banks being opened on a Saturday.
Our last night in Bali so wanted to enjoy it, tried not to let the little setbacks get to us.
Off to have our hair done and massages at Carla's from there to the Corner Bar for a quick drink before we walked to Uncle Norm's. As I have mentioned we do a lot of walking, sweating, so don't see a problem having a drink or 2 on our travels.
We were taking photos with our mobiles - I used mine as a camera all the time - my husband used his as well and mine doesn't have a flash - we didn't realize he had left his on the counter. Very quiet at the time we were there, only 2 other girls have dinner/drinks on a table - we sat at the bar. The staff were unusually slow at fixing up our bill, didn't really think anything of it and took off for Uncle Norm's. Stayed for a little while -had a good laugh again at the sellers of cds, brightly lit spinning toys, little girls who put their head on your should trying to sell bracelets - my husband laughs at me as I am a softie! Did a final bit of shopping at the market across the road.
We had planned to have our last dinner at La Monde and as usual walked our way back. There was a sports bar that hubby wanted to try - huge screens everywhere with sports - bliss for him! It was there that he realized his mobile was gone! Oh no, what else could go wrong - we are not careless people usually and just couldn't believe it. He took off (knowing shorts cuts through gangs/hotels) and got back to the Corner Bar - of course no one knew anything about the mobile - it was the last place he had used it.
Well the mood of our last night's happiness disappeared he was so angry with himself - tried to make the best of it - but it wasn't a very happy time. We were to go back to the Boomerang to say final farewells to our friends but hubby not in the mood at all. All of his work contacts gone - photos we had taken. When we got back to the hotel we were told the owner was still in Klungkung but the locksmith would be at the hotel at 10am.
Poor hubby - still cross with himself next morning - but it is only a phone in the end and can be replaced. Caught up with our friends at the Boomerang for that final goodbye - always find it hard to say goodbye.
Highlights - meeting wonderful people during our travels - the Muir & Town families both from NZ - hope to keep in contact with. Restaurants in Ubud -Nomads (have excellent teas and of course cocktails), Ibu Rai, Lamak, and in Seminyak - Biku for 'High Tea', The Boomerang Bar & Café their staff Ray, Dian and Sami (new friends) and of course my hubby not blowing a fuse!!!!
Our holiday in Bali was coming to a close and we said our farewells - teary daughter teary mum because daughter was teary. She didn't want to leave the friends she had made - hopefully next year we will cross paths again.