About time to recall our trip in June (better late then never)
We took off from Adelaide on June 3rd, this time with Mara & Rob, Lia's sister and brother in law for their first trip to Bali.
After a longish time through customs, it was straight to Poppies for 3 days. Our rooms weren't quite ready, so it was straight over the lane to TJ's and Margaritas, a good start.
After settling in , we headed to the tailors ,stopping at the memorial on the way. M &R were quite moved by it.
After our tailoring was sorted out, it was , once again, over the lane, this time to Kori's for Bintangs and Bali peanuts.
We had a refreshing swim , and decided to eat at Poppies, as we had an early start for our cooking school tomorrow.
We were picked up next morning at 7 am by Sri from Hotel Tugu and went to the Denpasar market to buy supplies to cook with. A very busy market, really interesting to go there with Sri, as she showed us around, and knew everyone it seemed.
Then off to Tugu, an interesting place with antiques etc everywhere, where the cooking school was held in a 'warung' in the grounds.
We made Banana stem soup, shredded chicken salad, grilled spiced chicken, tuna lilit, beef in banana leaf etc, then ate it all on a beautiful table overlooking the sea. What a feast, and amazing flavours. Sri and Iboe taught us well and gave us aprons etc to take home. I can recommend this place (not cheap though)
Back in Kuta we picked up our bikes, Lia & Mara were in hysterics about their helmets, and ate at Un's, good as usual.
Next day the girls went shopping (really!), so Rob and I took off on the bikes to Centro to buy golf balls for later in the trip, meeting back at Posers for lunch, Margaritas and half yards of Bintang, oh yes, and some food.
All was going well, until Rob decided to get some money, one small problem, no credit card !!
We retraced our footsteps, but to no avail, won't bore you with the next bit, but, needless to say,
A bit of a hassle, cancelling cards etc.
We met Heather & Mike, my sister & brother in law, who were staying at the Sofitel, at Ketupat and a great meal (as usual)
Next morning Putu dropped off our Suzuki APV, and it was off to Permuteran via Bali Bakery for lunch supplies. The trip was easy going, and the road through Pupuan was very scenic, and we arrived at Taman Sari and a friendly welcome.
A cocktail in the pool got us into 'Permuteran mode', followed by 2 great days of relaxing, snorkelling, walks, sunsets, happy hours,Bebak Betutu, massages, impromptu cooking class, did I say relaxing?
The morning we left was Lia's birthday, and the staff had a table on the beach set up for us with 'Happy Birthday' arranged on the table made up of Marigold & Bouganvillea flowers - brilliant.
The staff here are so friendly , even by Bali standards. It was sad to leave this beautiful place, but we will be back.
Off to Lovina for a few days staying at Adirama. We dropped in next door for a beer with David, who showed us around the newly finished Apartments, which are most impressive.
Next day we 'headed for the hills' finding endless tiny, potholed roads that wound their way past plantations of cloves, coffee, hydrangeas etc, and eventually took us to Munduk, then off to Candi Kuning markets, the Ghost Palace which amazed M & R and Pacung Indah for lunch, with that great view.
Back to Lovina, very buzzy in the streets, as the world cup was on and a huge screen (sheet) was in the main road attracting big crowds.
We lazed around next day, except for a short trip to GitGit, which we hadn't seen for years, still good, especially when the hoardes of schoolkids disappeared. One minute it was like being in Legian road, the next, only Lia & me.
We started our next leg to Ubud ia the Singaraja road and a tea at Kintamani then down to Indus for lunch.
As we arrived we heard 'hi Rodger, hi Lia' , it was Ross & Iris and their 'gang of 8 ' who were staying in a villa in Seminyak & were in Ubud for the day, what a coincidence.
The next 6 nights were in Tjampuhan, which was supposed to be relaxing,but, as usual we crammed a fair bit in.
Some of our highlights were, Cycling, Ssang Spa, Jazz Cafe (we met some Iowans who were great dancers), Blanco Museum, Teggalalang, Ridge walk, Nuris, Mozaic etc.
I bought a great knife and cleaver from a lady outside Ibu Oka, I hope it gets through customs.
Rob wanted to go rafting, but time ran out and it was goobye to Eustace and off to Saba for 3 nights.
It was all very quiet there, in fact, no one in sight. Eventually a bloke who spoke no English arrived, and after a few phone calls, the manager arrived with the news that they had no booking for us.
Luckily they were free, and the staff arrived looking a little perplexed, and got the villas ready for us. Apparently Peter the owner had forgotten to book us in.
The villas are very good, with amazing ceilings and artworks. A hasty lunch, and we settled in around the pool, for a couple of days before getting back in the buzz of Kuta.
We did head to Klungkung markets, buying some Baba Guling from a roadside shop, really good. On the way back we headed down a road with a sign sayin 'Maaf jalan putus'
Couldn't be a problem! Well we found out what that meant, and after a u turn it was back to find another way home. Just as we were about to admit we were lost, out of nowhere came Wayan, our girl from the villas, on her bike, who escorted us back.
Peter arrived that night looking very sheepish and very apologetic. He offered us a free meal anywhere for the inconvenience. We eventually decided on pizzas from his friend Massimo in Sanur, and a traditional dance performed by Wayan and Dayu. They spent all afternoon getting dressed and made up for the performance, which was fantastic, a great experience. The pizzas weren't half bad either.
Peter is an interesting bloke, claiming to be a Swiss sprint champion, formula 1 driver with Lotus, artist, art teacher to the disabled, conservtionalist and master distiller. We visited his house which was full of his artworks, and tasted some of his 'moonshine' which was good. He had none as he was in training for the Masters games, trying to break the 100 metres record for over 65s.
On our last morning, I went for a 6 am walk, with clear skies, and Agung in full view, an awesome sight.
The trip back was fun, with the 'freeway' bumper to bumper due to bridgeworks, at least we got to see the countryside and were eventually back to Sari Bunga Wangi where Made was waiting and escorted us around the corner to Vill Naga Maya our last stop for the trip. The villas are nice, and Moi and the staff are friendly. (not so the owner)
There are 2 villas housing 4 in each villa, not really private, as the big doors in each villa face each other, so if you want total privacy, look elsewhere.
The others staying there however were very nice, farmers from Gippsland and we got on well with them. It is in a good location close to the shops, beach etc.
The girls spent the next day shopping, lunching, drinking etc while Rob and I headed to golf at Nirwana. What an amazing golf course, the best we have played on. Superb scenery, none more than hole 7, 185 metre par 3 over the sea, overlooking Tanah Lot. The course was brilliant , my golf not so, but certainly worth it for the views alone.( I did, however 'nail' the 7th)
We paired up on the last nine with Kevin an ex Footscray player, who stays at the course for 3 days with his wife every year, he golfs, while she has massages, then, they stroll down the 6th fairway to Tanah Lot for sunset drinks, must do that one year !
Our highlights this year were:
Eating - Ketupat, Taman Sari, Damai Lovina,Jasmine Kitchen Lovina, Indus, Mozaic, Nuris, Cafe des Artistes, Warung Enak, Un's.
Activities:
Bike rides from Kintamani to Ubud, snorkelling at Menjangan, hill drive through Munduk, Golf, morning walks in Permuteran, Blanco Museum.
I've put some pics on http://travel.web shotsdotcom/album/579251813PSKVPb
It was soon enough time to go, another great trip to Paradise, next year is planned and booked already.......can't wait
Cheers Rodger, Lia, Mara & Rob