I took a quick trip over by myself. Only booked it a couple of weeks before and managed to get a cheap flight.
Left on the Friday 4.50am flight with AA. As I only had hand luggage and I travel thru Perth International Apt quite frequently I know how long it takes to get thru (even if there's a bit of a line at immigration). My boarding pass said desk closes at 4:05am and I got there at a couple of mins to 4 (I'd already checked in on-line - all they had to do was verify my documentation). Did she give me some lip! I told her they shouldn't put that on the form then. Went straight thru immigration, looked at the coffee stand but thought better not!. There was a lineup at immigration as you're starting to get all the other flights going thru as well. Got thru, quick trip to loo and then 5min wait at gate before boarding. To me this was perfect timing with no waiting. I wouldn't cut it this fine when travelling with the kids but worked out great for me.
Good flight which arrived a bit early as usual. Paid VOA in AUD for the first time in many years. $27 (only take notes) - quick and no issues. No luggage so straight out the door by 8.30am. My driver was waiting outside - Made from Aussie Bemo. I'd emailed the day before about driving me up to Amlapura so he also picked me up at the airport. 50k to Legian.
Stayed at Kusnadi for the first time which is on Rum Jungle Rd just up from Tommy's. 390K p/n for a superior room - #101. Very pleasantly surprised by this hotel. Small hotel but with everything I needed for a pleasant stay. Nice room with a/c, satelite TV. Bathroom big - one of those with a big open area, no shower curtain so the water just kind of flows around everywhere but that was ok. Only thing missing from room was a kettle (I usually like to sit in bed having a couple of coffees before I get up but no biggie). No phone in room either. I did go to the wartel to make a call home - 120K - which I thought was quite expensive, didn't make another one - hubby and kids will survive without me ringing! (I thought the calls from the wartel used to be quite a bit cheaper but it's been a few years since I've done it).
My room was next to the pool which looked very nice. B/F was pretty basic but ok. All the Staff there are very pleasant. I arrived at 9am and was immeditately shown to my room.
Did quite a bit of reading whilst there. Kept thinking I really should get up and do something but couldn't be bothered! I did get up every now and then to eat!
Delicious Onion - love the pork special and brownies here
Jadi Cafe - after reading lots of positive reviews on here I thought I'd make sure I tried it this trip. Unfortunately no good for me. Tried the famous Borneo Fish. Yuk - it was embarrassing how much I had to leave on the plate. It had a really odd, yuk taste. I was trying to be polite and eat it but just couldn't. She also talked me into the fish soup (I'd been going to order the Tom yun gong - ?sp). Whilst the taste was nice it had all these weird small bits of fish with all the bones attached which made it very hard to eat. Don't know if it was co-incidence but an hour or so later I was fairly violently ill for a few hours and running for the toilet!
Yutz - always a great meal here - went for a late lunch
Pearl - wasn't sure if it was open because I'd read it was closed for a month in Feb. Went in taxi on the off chance it was open.
Chef has returned from holiday with a revamped menu. I had the starter tasting plate and the dessert tasting plate. The food is so nice here. I also tried a glass of the hattens for the first time and found it quite pleasant to drink.
Mozarella - has been a favourite of ours for a while. Unfortunately didn't have a great experience this night. When I arrived it was packed. They seated me at a table at the front. I already feel a little bit self consious eating by myself. People seem to stare a bit - I guess it's not that common. I'd been there about 15 - 20mins, had my drink & ordered my meal. I'd watched them move a group off the next table to me for someone else which I thought was a bit rude but they'd just sat down. Then they came and said to me about 5mins later you have to move. Apparently people had booked this table and now arrived. Now I thought this was pretty odd as I'd been there for quite a while now. I actually wouldn't have minded except the only other seat they had available was right in front of the rather loud band and their blaring speaker. Why should I sit there in pain when I wouldn't have chosen to eat there if they'd shown me that seat in the first place. He tried to convince me to sit there but I said I was going to leave it. It was disappointing as this is my current favourite but in future I wouldn't eat somewhere so busy (we usually eat alot earlier with the kids so not so crowded).
Drops - I then went across the road to Drops. Only a handful of people here. Had a beautiful meal of tomato soup and brushetta.
The main purpose of my weekend away was to visit the orphanage at Amlapura. I'd felt very bad that we hadn't been back up there in the last few trips but it was quite difficult with the kids. I'd asked the lady at reception to ring the lady there, Kadek, on Friday and arrange for me to go up there on Sunday. I had Made pick me up at 7.30am. Last time we went with another couple from BTF and went up thru Ubud and it was such a long trip. This time we went directly there up the coastline. It took 2hrs and there is only one quick mountain range to get over - I get car sick so dread all the windy driving but this time it was great. Lots of interesting things to see. As it was a few days before Nypei there was lots of the ogah-ogah's being made in the village or being carried up the road.
We arrived at 9.30am to meet with Kadek and the kids. Luckily my driver remembered where it was because I didn't have a clue. Kadek was happy to see me and remembered me and asked where hubby and kids were. Last time we shopped on the way up and took heaps of donations. This time (after speaking with Barry that it would be ok) I had arranged to p/up Kadek and let her do the shopping. That way she could choose everything she wanted herself. Off we went with a couple of the children with us. Boy did we shop. We had about 10 trolleys in the end. She would bag up the fruit and I would run and get it weighed and come back for more! It was good fun. She got all sorts of different stuff and had the staff running around to get about 35 of different items! Took us about 2hrs. She then asked if she could possibly get a pair of shoes, of course! So around the other side we went and another 45mins or so looking thru all the shoes and asking my opinion - I'm useless at that sort of thing - I drive a truck!! She finally got a pair and asked if the girls could pick a pair. The older girl (I wish I knew her name) whispered to Kadek and what she really wanted was a new school bag - I'd seen her looking at them. So she and I went off to look at them and again I had to help decide which one. Whilst we were waiting for Kadek she was telling me that she would love to go to senior school but didn't have the money to do so - very sad. I would love to donate the money for her school fees but don't know if this would work as there are so many kids there. I will have to ask Barry. Kadek had been telling me how good she was at school and always helping Kadek at the orphanage.
Finally we were done and back we went to unload everything. I hadn't spent much time talking to the kids before we went because I thought they'd be there when we got back but they were down at the front having lessons. There was some people from Denpasar there showing them a demonstration on hand washing. It was quite funny to watch, they were all doing the motions. You forget that all that stuff that seems obvious needs to be taught as they are not in a normal home environment.
Made and I said our goodbyes and headed back to Legian. It was a lovely day and we will make sure we go in September with the kids as it is not such a bad trip when you go direct up the coast.
The next morning I had a 9am flight back to Perth. Made picked me up at 6.30am. Everything went well until the AA check-in went down. Then chaos ensued! Lines were back to the door - so glad I was towards the front! They were still checking in people towards 9am I think. Eventually the system came back on but what a mess. Sooooo glad I didn't have the kids with me. Plane left about 20mins late, due to that I imagine. Good flight, quick check at Perth airport - I had nothing, and out. Back home in time to get the kids off the school bus and settle into reality. (It was my son's 5th birthday tomorrow otherwise I would have taken a few extra days in Bali). Massive short storm surge in our little town just after I got home which took out alot of the town's trees and some roof's and lost power for 2 days - made getting ready for my son's party the next day very interesting!! Welcome home : )