Hello again,
We decided to do something a little different this time. We haven't stayed at Ubud or in a villa so we thought we would do both.
We stayed at a privately owned villa called Capung Mas. It was surrounded by rice paddies and palm trees. The views were amazing. We could sit and watch the balinese plant their rice paddies. It was very peaceful.
It had 4 bedrooms, 2 upstairs that were large with their own ensuites and 2 downstairs with a shared bathroom. The living areas were downstairs and they were open living areas that had stairs that stepped down to a swimming pool.
We shared the villa with friends of ours. It seems quite ridiculous when I think about as we have a 3 year old and they have 3 kids, 5, 2 and 17 months. All boys I might add!!! There were danger zones everywhere...the pool had no barrier...there were ponds that dropped off edges...and the stairs only had a barrier on 1 side!!! But, miraculously, all survived and we all had a good time.
We were not in a real tourist area so the good news was that the road was quieter, but the down side was that you couldn't just walk out the front and get a taxi or car. But the villa has a driver that you can call anytime and if he can't make it then they will arrange someone else to pick you up. It was about 10 minutes (max) from Monkey Forest Road.
A lovely lady came and cooked breaky every day and she also cooked a few dinners for us too!! Yummy Balinese food. They have night time security too and he turns on and off all the night lights.
The pool was nice but on really sunny days it got warm which is expected I suppose but a little disappointing. The kids didn't care so much though which is good.
Our friends left after day 4 so we had 3 nights alone. It was nice to have some peace. (4 boys 5 and under can get on ones nerves!) But...I really think this is a great place for lots of people. Lots of friends or a few families to make it have that lively, fun feel.
I also will add that the 2 people who swam the most and put their heads under the water, got ear infections. But that happens everywhere so no big deal.
I would definately stay here again. The owner and all the staff were fantastic and will help you out in anyway possible.
HIGHLIGHTS
Every time I go to Bali I have to get a day spa treatments in Ubud! Well lucky for me being so close, I can have a few!
The very first treatment hubby and I ever had was at Verona in Monkey Forest Road so it's a sentimental favourite for us.
My daughters C16 and M12 and I went for a girls day out there. They had a double room and I went next door. They were extra lucky as they got to share their treatment room with a little rice paddy snake. He wiggled his way in from the rice paddy next door and got stuck in the bottom of a water pond that had no water in it. They were fine with him being there. ( I am glad he wasn't in my room though)
I must say that it was the BEST balinese massage I have ever had!!! It was bliss. I was just lying there thinking...Yes, This is Bali! Seriously, it is the thing I miss most...All the wonderful pampering treatments!!!
It was absolute bliss (did I already mention that? Oops, sorry, moving on now..) right until I was soaking in the flower bath...then
there were noisy, giggly, girly sounds that interrupted my peace...When I finally snap out of my *blissful state* I realised my darling daughters were having a flower fight next door!!(I think they were combing petals out of their hair for days. Serves them right!) I tell them that they are ruining my state of *blissdom* and if they continue to do so they may regret it...(Nicely of course!!) I decide then and there that girls days out now means 'Mum Only'!!
BINTANG BIKE RIDE
This wasn't as exciting as I thought. I think maybe it was because we were surrounded by rice paddies at our villa (we were spoilt really), so all the rice paddies on the ride didn't impress up too much. We did the afternoon one that meant we walked in a rice paddy too. Which was nice....until.. they say we have to go down to the river and cross it. Well ..the path going down was quite steep and they had a bamboo railing barrier that wouldn't have stopped anyone if they were to fall off the edge. It was a little scary I must say!
But the ride was easy and interesting, the scenery nice and the dinner good. So all in all, a nice way to spend a few hours!!
FOOD
The nicest meal I had was from Cafe Wayan and Bakery. (It was the snapper fillets) This is my favourite restaurant in Bali. I loved the way the tables have their own little areas in amongst the gardens. For those who haven't been there, I recommend it. Our friends (the ones with the oodles of kids under 6) loved it too. Luckily we had the very end table so they didn't disturb too many people.
We also ordered pizza and pasta from a place in Jl Hanoman, Pizza Bagus I think. They were all very good and quite cheap.
But the lady (Kadek) who cooked our meal at the villa made the best Mie Goreng we had the whole trip. YUM
SPARKLES
This is a little cafe on Monkey Forest Road. As you some out of the monkey forest, if you go right and head towards Jl Hanoman, it is a little purple shop on the L.H.S of the road.
It had great iced coffee, aircon and jewellery. What more could a girl ask for??
SHOPPING-VANILLA
I bought vanilla pods in the Ubud markets. I got 2 packs and some cinnamon for 100,000Rp. I got the smaller packs as they had the fresher looking pods in them whereas the huge packs had dried up stuff in them. I still got over 50 pods though. I am not sure if that is a great price or not. I know about 2 years ago I got a huge pack for 50,000Rp but prices have gone up and these pods look better. So I am happy. They make great gifts for those who cook too!!
Well that is all for now. I will post number 3 later.
Thank you all for reading.
:)