Just went for a week this time as I took my Mum who's never been, and it was a Mother's Day prezzie for her. Wasn't sure if she would like it and if you don't a week can feel like a long time. But she absolutely loved it and wants to go back so we are planning a longer return visit for her.
Straight through arrivals with no problems....paid Aus $50 for two visa's. Arrived on the early flight landing at 9.30am and went on to our hotel, Bali Garden Hotel. Very lucky they let us straight into our room. Not a bogan in sight!! By the way for those interested, All the deluxe rooms have been renovated and they are just finishing off the Superior ones now.
The hotel was pretty quiet. Actually the whole place was. Loads of road works down the road towards the airport end.
Saturday was spent just chilling out and exploring Tuban area. Sunday we awoke to thunder and pouring rain. The road outside the hotel (near Waterbom and Bubba Gumps) were like a river! We waded across because we were off to the Safari Park and needed a few things from Circle K. Safari Park sent us a driver and we set off for an overnight stay. Absolutey loved this place. Had dinner and breakfast in the Lion restaurant. A bit pricey but really worth it, just to see the lions right outside the window. Sitting on your balcony and looking out at the elephant riders and other animals was great too.
Had already organised a driver to pick us up and take us into Ubud for the rest of the day. Really missed out on eating anything here cause we were still too full from breakfast. Our driver was an absolute gem. His name was Kadek and we had been corresponding by both email and mobile before our trip. His mobile number is 081936327697 if calling him from Bali or +6281936327697 if calling him from Oz. We wanted silver so he took us to this little place (sorry can't rememmber the name!) where we bought lovely earings.
Tuesday was another "local day". Shopping at Matahari's and Discovery which was my favourite. I really can't be bothered with the haggling anymore. Dianes down the road was good. She was really helpful in getting shoes that I couldn't find. There is another good guy from the markets just up from the Art Market, before you get o Matahari's. His stall is the very first one on the right as you are looking towards the beach. Everything is fixed price at 50,0000. He was a bit more expensive that Dianes but a really nice guy.
Wednesday disaster struck! We got picked up from the hotel at 7am to do the Bali Baik tour. There were only 7 of us on the tour. I made friends with a really lovely couple from Barcelona and they are now my facebook friends. We stopped at the Cat pooh coffee plantation and tried the famous cup. I enjoyed it but can't imagine paying $50 for a cup of it, which is what you pay in Melbourne! Our taste cost us 30,000rp. We bought some teas and chocolate and also some oil burning scents. Off to the volcano for breakfast which was lovely. Then it was off to the starting point of our bike ride. This is where things went wrong! My poor mum (who is nearly 70) was too short for the height of these bikes even with the seat down as low as it could go. She stumbled a bit, nearly fell off but bravely soldiered on. Then after only going about 20 metres she rode over a pot hole, crashed to the ground, grazed her shoulder and gave up and sat in the bus for the next 2 and a half hours! Bless her for trying. I myself gave up with only 25 minutes left! Those few "gentle hills" were a killer! The guides on this tour were great. Really good fun, informative and at the end of the ride were had a delicious lunch at the owners family compound. This was a good value day, only costing 400,000rp for everthing, pickup, tour of plantation, breakfast, ride and lunch then drop off back at hotel. If you haven't aready done this tour, then do it.
Thursday was a lazy day. We had prebooked massages (thinking we would be as sore as s*#t after the bike ride! (both of us were!) We had these at the hotel. I think they cost about 300,000rp but we were there for about 4 hours. Total bliss.
Friday we checked out at 10am and a couple of hours later headed to the airport as our flight home left at 3.50pm. We flew Air Asia return and for the cost of our cheap flights ($250 return each) you cannot complain.
Most of the time we ate at the hotel. I wish we had a starbucks, I fell in love with their frapachino's!
Oh and by the way some of you may remember I was after a tailor to have some cargo pants made? Well I got directed to Alus Tailor (near Supernover supermarket) after waiting over an hour to see her, she had a look at the pants I had and quoted $50 to make one pair! Royally ripped off here but by then I really couldn't be bothered searching for someone else. Actually she did a fantastic job and I am very happy with them. My mum said she would recommend her back home and she said "not if you want them made again. My goodness, they are all double stitching and it took my boy all day to make them!"
Thanks to everyone who helped with my questions before I left.
Safe travelling
Tanya