Just returned from my first ever four day holiday without my children with my husband. After several panic attacks and trouble breathing leading up to trip I actually got up the courage to go. Not that my kids are little; they're 10 and 12. I'm just a woos. My mum was staying at our house and the children were sleeping. I finally got to sleep on couch at 2.20am and my alarm went off at 2.30am. Bugger. After a few deep breaths I tip toed out of house, got in car, drove to Perth airport on deserted roads and parked car in long term parking. Bus picked me up and took me to terminal. Very easy and convenient and long term parking costs less than a taxi to our house. A really peaceful flight and watched the sun rise out my window to a new day. Arrived in Denpasar to a deserted airport and empty counters! Damn, Bali must be shut! Husband met me on bike. He decided to get licence in Bali as he got done by road block in Sanur for not having licence (50,000rp). Goes to Denpasar and forks out 500,000rp for licence only to be picked up on way home and charged 250,000 for travelling through orange light surrounded by Balinese motor cyclists (they gave him special tourist price and showed him payment schedule that said 500,000 if there on business!) Next day another 200,000 for his dodgy clasp on helmet coming undone!
Stayed at the new Amadea Resort on Jl Laksmana in Seminyak for one night. Long skinny property where they take you up the back on new electric golf buggies. Very modern and clean with beautiful rooms and bathrooms and at $108 per night through bookings.com, probably the cheapest room in Seminyak. Included great buffet breakfast with absolutely everything. That night we had one drink at Potato Head to check out the magnitude of the coliseum like shutter structure which was simply amazing and headed to Chandi for dinner. We had the appertiser tasting plate for two which was so good it really was an emotional experience. Each dish got better and better. It was with intrepidation that I tried the chilled watermelon soup (with cucumber, red wine vinegar, paprika chilli and tomato), but it turned out to be the most delightful thing we had ever tasted. Stopped at Mykonos on way back to hotel for an arak attack (suprisingly hard to find in Bali!). Decided it was time for supper so ordered a plate of greek yogurt with mashed fetta, garlic and chopped tomato that you mop up with some bread fresh from oven. Yee hah! My husband thought I was an absolute gannet, but I knew my trip was short so I would savour as much as a I could...
Next day went to stay at our usual haunt in Sanur, the Sunhouse. It's a little, inexpensive guesthouse in the southern end that is simply delightful. Husband kiteboarded during day and I picked up my bike. Had so much fun riding round Sanur. One night, (after 16 too many bintangs) I awoke at 2am to the most almighty racket from street and I was completely disorientated. Husband wasn't next to me so I ran out to our high balcony over looking Jl Mertasari completely starkers to find husband had fallen asleep in chair (also 16 too many) and 200 locals and a marching Balinese band walking past on way home from Kite ceremony at temple. Hope they didn't look up! Ate at Lumut (poorest tasting rendang ever, even though recommended on Trip Advisor). Breakfast at Glass house which was nice but took 45 minutes even though there only 5 people in cafe. Breakfast at Gardenia was, as usual, the best and the yummiest, with the smoothest coffee with cinnamon stick to stir. Mutton curry at 4x4 (opposite Kayu Manis) was yum as usual. Lilla Warung on Jl Bumi Ayu had lovely baked whole fish with chilli but very average Nasi Campur which unfortunately we just couldn't eat. On our last night we had dinner at Gateway of India. This place is always sooo good. We had the butter chicken and dhaba mutton and both were amazing. My husband describes the place as the 'McDonalds' of restaurants, meaning they are always so consistent. It has literally tasted the same every year for the five years we have been going.
Found two new places this trip that we loved. The first is a little place on corner of Jl Danau Poso and Bypass called Warung Bunana. All they do is Roti's and Indian Matarbak. We had the Sardine Roti and Matarbak and they were simply unbelievable and were served with a little bowl of curry sauce. After spooning a bit of sauce over it, we ended up upending entire bowl as it was so good. They cost 8,000 rp each!
Other little find was way, way down southern end of Sanur. When you get to end of beach bike path you just keep on going til you get to a place called Warung Tanjung in the middle of no where facing the mangroves. It has a Greek look. It was our last night and I was craving REAL lumpia, the ones made from homemade bubbly pastry and not filo. And we got them. As well as homemade samosas with a banana? dipping sauce. Yum. They have a large pool for public use. Can't wait to go back, 6 weeks and 6 days and counting. Next trip is with the kids and over to Lombok, Gili Air, Lembongan and Sanur.