This family holiday included me 60 year old Nan with about 16 Bali visits under my belt. My daughter who had her first Bali trip 2 years ago & her partner M & 3 kids aged 20 M-R - 17 C - 15 A years old all Bali virgins. The trip was to celebrate the kids 21st 18th & 16th birthdays all for later this year instead of spending the money on 3 big parties.
We flew on the Jet* Bris - Darwin - Dempasar cheap and cheerful flight. Having seats in rows 2 & 3 made for a quick getaway and we were through customs etc within 10 - 15 minutes. Our driver was waiting to take us to Villa Kiki Seminyak. We were met by the staff and welcomed to our beautiful home for the next 10 days. I will write a review on Villa Kiki but I would just like to say it was a great place for a family to stay and perfect location very secluded but close to everything we wanted to do.
All in all we had a great holiday although we had a few mishaps at the beginning. On the first day we had breakfast at the villa, kids blew up the 3 pool lounges I had brought from Aussie had a swim and then the 6 of us all trekked down the 2 gangs and out onto Dhyana Pura (the entrance to the gang was directly opposite the new Spa Bali). Then onto Jl.Raya Seminyak and down to the road to the BMC Money Changer on the other side of the road past Bintang Supermarket. Rates through out ranged from 8990 - 9150rp.
Then back into Bintang to get all our immediate supplies, extra adaptors, drinks and snacks. We also had 3 cheapy unlocked phones between us and bought our SIM cards for the guy outside Bintang - I have used him before and have always been happy. Then back to the villa. Kids decided to kick back around the pool for a while.
After lunch myself, daughter and M caught a taxi to Carrafour for the big stock-up including carton of Bintang and drink mixes. First hick-up of the day was M paid driver 300,000 rp for a 28,000 ride. We had a ball in Carrafour as you do and then took a taxi back to villa. On arrival M realized he had left his iPhone in the taxi. I won't say I told him so but I had said to leave it in the villa safe. Anyway the housekeeper along with one of the villa security guys (who also turned out to be a driver with a 7 seater van) contacted the taxi company but we of course never saw the iPhone again. Fortunately M had a lock on it so after the first upset of the loss he took the whole incidence in his stride and it didn't effect his holiday. Thank goodness.
Daughter and M hired a motor bike and after the first day getting totally lost started to find their way around and had a great time. As they have just moved into a new home in Bris they scouted around and found many beautiful things and ended up organizing to ship lots home. In addition I took them to my favourites Unagi Handcraft & Painting Jl. Teuku Umar Barat / Marlboro No. 383 Dempasar where they purchased more. Also to Golden Buffalo Jl. Teuku Umar Barat 9F, Dempasar where we all purchased numerous bronze and silver décor items - I love this place as its so well stocked, great prices and excellent helpful assistants. They will weight everything for you which is a great help.
Because this trip was mainly for the kids birthday's I shouted them to all their activities as their birthday presents - but I guess when the real birthday dates come around I will be up for a few more pressies. Anyway the activities included:
Waterbom which was very much enjoyed and as it wasn't very busy they managed to get onto all rides very quickly.
Bali Safari and Marine Park which was fantastic and we had an excellent day. The villa security/ driver Gade had us there before opening at 9.00am and once again it wasn't busy so we managed to do and see everything so we could leave by 3.00pm to be back for the Sate of Origin match. The kids had elephant rides and we all had photos with the baby orang tang. Grandson C had his sun glasses on and the baby took them off and put them on which made for a great photo. C also feed the Piranha Fish a chicken carcase....and boy did this disappear in a matter of seconds. We did the Leopard Pak $79US per person. Boys bought girlfriends back home cute and well priced stuffed animal toys.
Later we went to the Galaxy Bar all dressed in our maroon T-shirts for the State of Origin match ....what a great night and especially when our team the Mighty Maroons QLD won ...it was a nail-biting last few minutes but the best team won again.
Kids went White Water Rafting which they enjoyed but would have liked it to be the real wet season so the rapids were faster and wilder. They were very impressed with the guides and had loads of fun.
The kids also hired Gade to drive them up to Ubud and had a wonderful time in Monkey Forest. While I know you should be careful around the monkeys because of rabies it didn't worry them and they had monkeys all over them and lots of great photos were taken by Gade. As they are all avid animal lovers the Monkey Forest was one of the highlights of their trip. One thing in the weeks leading up to our trip both boys had started new relationships so at first we were concerned because they were missing their girlfriends but this was overcome by numerous texting, phoning (very cheap with their indo SIMS) and Face Booking.
Another day the kids and I had Gade drive us up to Bali Treetop Adventure Park at Bedugul which was a 2 hour drive from Seminyak but worth every minute - $26US. Yucky loo's which cost 1,000rp...M-R, C & A were amazed that it cost to have a p.. Like I told them this is where the phrase 'spending a penny' comes from. They did the Adrenaline Black Circuit the most difficult and just as well it was cool up there because they were covered in sweat at the end. They talked me into a purchase from a road side vendor that was sure to make a big impact back at the villa. They bought a baby bunny in a cage for 50,000rp. Yes they did realize they couldn't bring it back home but that didn't stop them.
Over the next few days they had a ball with baby bunny and then it was arranged that Gade the driver's son 6 year old Krishna would get himself a new pet. So on the last day Gade took us to the animal market in Dempasar to buy the Taj Mahal of bunny hatches which cost 315,000rp along with a large supply of bunny pellet food etc. The bunny hatch was very large and had wheels to easily move it around. Krishna was a very excited boy and before we left bunny was installed in her hutch with cosy towel to cuddle up too. I was amazed what animals you could buy at the market (including monkeys) but I was equally amazed at the stalls selling pet care accessories are these for the expats or are the Balinese really starting to get interested in pets. Hope so.
One night we had the villa staff cater a dinner for 8 which included friends from Brisbane. This was in way of a birthday celebration for the kids and the food was excellent in fact the chicken curry was the best I have ever tasted. Full marks to the staff ...we gave them 400,000rp to get the food which ended up coming to about 300,000 so we let them keep the change. The only disappointment was we had hoped to have Jimmy the Magician come to entertain but his wife was sick so he couldn't come. Hope she's ok.
Dined at many lovely cafes & restaurants too many to name but my favourite was Me'nu on Dhyana Pura owners Paula & Frank are very good operators and delightful people. They make you very welcome and have trained their staff very well. We went several times and to give you an idea of price it cost approx $70 AU for 6 people meals plus a couple of drinks each. The food was great every time.
Daughter and M went to La Sal just down our gang and on Jl. Drupadi and they had an excellent meal.
Had several breakfasts at one of my favourites Café Moka...great coffee and the veg omelette is to die for. We also bought an incredibly yummy Tiramisu for the birthday celebrations.
Great sunset meal at Zanzibar at the end of Jl. Double Six turn left and it's about 150 meters. Got great photos of the sun setting down into the sea. Food good and reasonably priced.
Kids loved the pizza from Cosa Nostra on Dhyana Pura which was the opposite end of the gang from La Sal. Pizza ranged from about 35,000 - 70,000rp. All delish. They also liked Bush Telegraph.
Also had good meals at JP's; Santa Fe; Seminyak Café (next to Bintang Supermart).
And on suggestion of forum we went to Bestest Café on Dhyana Pura and the meal started out very good with an excellent Bruschetta but trouble struck when M was almost finished his Lamb Curry. He bit down hard on a large 2 cms piece of jagged glass. Fortunately he didn't suffer any damage but as he'd had a few happy hour Bintang at The Haven beforehand he handled the situation very well. A quick sorry was offered by the waitress and his meal not charged for but as you can imagine we don't have fond memories of Bestest Café.
Also went to the Bali Shack for the Drag Show. Food wasn't too bad, cocktails ok and show was excellent at least all the females in our group thought so. Miss Monique was beautiful... girly/boys sure have great legs.
Shopping - lots done by all with several visits to Ketut's - Jl. Saha Dewa Gg. Sorga No 2 (Garlic Lane) fixed price shop where we bought dresses; board shorts; long pants and Bali bags 4 & 7 for extra luggage.
Boys both bought girl friends silver necklaces can't remember the name of the shop but its on Melasti up towards Jl.Legian. They also bought lots of T-shirts but not at any of the markets except for one with a crude saying. Others were bought at boutiques on Jl.Raye Seminyak and also at the Rusty Store on the corner of Rum Jungle - these T's ranged from 95,000 - 200,000rps but all very good quality. The boys also bought sunnies ranging from 25-50,000rp.
Granddaughter bought several dresses from markets the ones that are short in the front and longer at the back - 70,000rp. She also bought loads of cheap fashion jewellery from street shops. Between all the kids I think they must have bought 600 DVD's and I also bough my usually 100 or so.
Bagus Watches at Kuta Square was hit in a big way for better quality sunnies; watches and jewellery...great value as always.
Daughter also bought loads of casual dresses at stores along Jl.Raya Seminyak and at the markets. She also visited a boutique called Dress Code that an Aussie based Indonesian friend had recommended and bought a dress and top, good quality and beautiful design. Also M and Aussie mate were often asked if they wanted Viagra...seems that any male over 40 is a target. Both guys were very confident they didn't need this type of help.
I will leave my Spa Report for another posting. We had the dreaded Jet* flight home through Darwin. Easy and quick through customs but hate the 4 hour wait during the night till you catch the flight home to Bris but you can't complain when you get such cheap flights. Arrived back in Bris at 10.15am all safe and well. Great time had by all.