Finally back to Sydney rain and cold. Didn't have time to write any more HNR's whilst there.
Stayed Jimbaran Bay - at Puri Bambu which was great. Plenty of great restaurants down that way. PepnNero - Italian on Temple Hill, Cholate Bakery/Cafe near Intercontinental Hotel. Lots of great restaurants on the beach. 3 sections, most people go to section closest to airport. Costs more, the experience comes with dancers and the whole bay experience. The other 2 sections cheaper. Middle section near Keraton, doesn't look great when walking through the day time, but foor was fine.
Grand Kumala - presidential suite loads of space 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Family enjoyed, however I probably wouldn't chose it again. Breakfast was fine - enough food, just cautious on the pool towels, as there aren't many. I guess it was fine for the price.
Hotel next door to Kumala being built will be the Ananta Hotel - 200 rooms. Numerous restaurants we went to around this area, Tuban, Kuta and Seminyak. Goodys, Tekor, Zanzibar, Cafe Marzano, Swich (lunch at sandwich bar next to GK - Highly recommend), Tommys, Poppies, TJ's mexican, Biku for high tea, lunch and a dinner, Potato Head for drinks, and swim, kids loved it.
Shopping at handicraft warehouses, Biarritz was my preference. over Geneva (same owner) and Unagai.
AND THEN - Sanur!!!! Wow, in 27 years I have never stayed there, and I must say, we loved it. We spend the last 4 nights there. MUCH quieter, we stayed on the beach at Peneeda View - family room, we also had friends at the Griya, Villa Shanti and Villa Puri Ayu, so south, middle and north.
Peneeda View breakfast was great, we thought. My 14 and 16 year old both enjoyed the quieter pace. I would definetely make Sanur a must stay from now on.
Who are the lucky people that own private property and homes between Peneeda and Hyatt?? Nice places some being renovated, great gardens. I wouldn't mind living there myself....how????
Fabulous food, we tended to eat at beach cafes at lunch and street restaurants at night.
Ate at Beach Cafe, Mango Cafe (kids enjoyed playing pool there), it also has reggae band at night. Bennos large menu, no time to try Bonsai. Ate also at Komilfo just south of Hyatt and Warung next to Peneeda for drinks in the afternoon.
Night restaurants were Gardenia- was great - as was their apple pie, Coriander, BarRaccha (Italian), Ryoshi,
The only Commonwealth ATM that worked while we were staying there was the one in Circle K on road close to entrance of La Teverna Hotel.
Circle K close to Hardys had great money excahnge rate. Best rate for aussie dollar was 9250RP, best rate for whole stay.
Did take half day trip around Uluwatu and Temple, Blue Point Villas.Friends went to new waterbom park with younger children at dreamland and loved it.
Also day tripped to Ubud, and another day to Candi Dasa with snorkelling at Bloo Lagoon.
Half day to Geger Beach, very pretty, but sanur was very similar, but lots of shopping and cafes around.
Need to go back, to do things we didn't have time to do this time, though there was still plenty of time sitting around pools, early morning walks and beauty treatments, and talking to the locals. Kids came home with me today, and are already burning incense for that Bali smell.mmmm