Arrived back home last night :( Only stayed a week this trip but better than nothing...
Flew GA again - great service, good price ($385 return ex Perth). Got the usual going-over at the airports. Got swabbed for explosive residue this time... lol. (You would "lol" too if you could see me.) Also they made me throw out my good hand lotion - ok, the tube was 110ml but the thing was clearly half empty. C'mon guys!! What was I going to do with it?? Threaten to over-moisturise the pilot???
We stayed at Bali Segara (Tuban)again - I love that place, but I would mostly recommend it for single travellers or couples who want some peace and quiet. It's very clean and I like my room to be "Bali style" - if that's your thing, I am sure you would love this place too. Really good value for money (best if you book direct). The only downside is the restaurant - some of the dishes are pretty ordinary (avoid the club sandwich!).
Actually, this trip, I had a quite a few disappointments food-wise. But I really would recommend Cafe Seafood Muslim (Jl Kediri). It's the sort of place you might pass on the road and not take much notice, but it is good food and good value. Had a few meals there and we tried quite a few things on the menu and everything was very nice. The seafood is fresh and yum and would also recommend the Sop Buntut there. And as an example of the value - on one occasion, we had Cah Kangkung Seafood(x2)and Nasi Putih, one serve of tofu and tempeh, one serve of Cumi-Cumi Goreng, two juices and two coffees and the total bill was 79,000 IRD ! (At another restaurant, it was 60,000 for the cumi-cumi alone and it was not fresh and overcooked.) Also, the owner there is great with magic tricks if he's in the mood ... so dinner plus entertainment!
Those of you who have read my previous postings may also know my partner works at Kuta Lagoon some nights, but my plug for them is not because of this. Honestly,I would have to say one of the nicest meals I had this trip was at the Kuta Lagoon cafe - Comfit (sic) of Chicken Breast ... mmmmmmm... it was garlic lover's heaven!
Didn't do much shopping - but if anyone is looking for bigger sizes in men's shorts, I found the Kuta Lines shorts from the RipCurl outlets were nice and go up to a size 40 and Matahari (Denpasar) also had some nice shorts in a 40 waist - d'Britano is the brand.
And, ladies, I had the most fantastic haircut/creme bath - two hours I was in there! Shampoo, haircut, then creme bath/scalp massage, followed by neck, back, shoulders, arms and hand massage, followed by exfoliating scrub of back, shoulders, arms and decolletage,then hair tonic and blow dry and a cup of coffee... the price was 100,000. I was embarrassed when told the price - this woman worked so hard! I gave her a very generous tip, I can tell you! She is a lovely lady who, ironically and unfortunately for a hairdresser, has alopecia but she is fully trained. If you are looking for the upmarket salon experience, this isn't for you! The massage is therapeutic, i.e. STRONG deep tissue stuff, and she works in a little place in Denpasar that has seen better days. Unfortunately, as I was taken there by my loved one on his recommendation, I don't know the name of the road or the business (!!) but if anyone is interested, let me know and I can certainly find out. Just had to mention it, as it was a highlight for me.
My only "grrrrr" ... why is it I can buy my hand lotion, shampoo, etc at Carrefour, I take them through the checkout, but - when buying mascara - I had to get a ticket written, pay at the checkout, then collect the mascara from the Informasi desk?? Please explain?!
That's all - hope not too boring!