Left Perth 12noon on 7th august on Jet* delayed 2 hours, flight uneventful arrived Bali 3.30, through immigration in 15 min( went through Indonesian lane as son in law is Balinese so went with him no queues) Our driver ketut Sudriana a friend and driver for over 10 years, was waiting and off to Hardys Sanur for supplies, then off to Warung Babi Guling Jl Pypass, Sanur opposite Arena Sports Bar, for a hit of what I think is the best Babi in Bali.
Then it was off to Lovina North Bali, to our home for the next 10 days, Lovina Beach Houses with a stop on the way to see the Inlaws in the Village of Panji, in the hills just out of lovina, arriving at the villas about 9pm. These Villas are amazing 2 X 2bedroom 2 Bathroom and one 1 bedroom each with their own pool, right on the beach and only 5 min walk to the heart of lovina. Staff are excellent and go that extra mile to make sure your holiday is perfect, a Big thank you to Eddy,Katut,Lovi,Kadek and Adel.
First day was spent settling in, organise scooters( Have full bike licence in Aus, International permit , brought our own helmets from Perth and have been riding in bali for many years. Would not recommend the riding of scooters in Bali unless you are very experienced and have all the proper licences, and are fully covered by travel insurance).
Went to Warung Lena for lunch, Chinese/Balinese food right next door to the Lovina markets, beautiful food not to spicy approx $3 per head including drinks more of a local Warung than tourist restaurant. Back to the villa for a siesta and swim via Ansoka Supermarket to order a case of bintang to be delivered. Had dinner at one of the fish warungs on the beach just west of Lovina where you choose your fish in this case Mahi Mahi and they cook it for you with rice and Balinese greens. Approx $4 per head including drinks.
Next morning went for a ride into the hills behind lovina. Great views of ocean,rice fields and you can just see Java on horizon. Lunch at Bacelona restaurant on Jl Rambutan, this is only small but IMO the best restaurant in Lovina. Had 3 meals here including Bebek Betutu(roast Duck) for 6 people ordered the day before. Another good little rest/warung is Apple a little bit further towards the beach. Again this only has 4 tables but food is always good. Afternoon was spent at Banjar Hot Springs , very busy with a good mix of Locals and tourists mainly Europeans. Love the high drop spouts really good for a back, shoulder & head massage .
Main purpose of trip was for my 60th, which we held at the villas 16 family members came for Aus, and approx 18 balinese family and expat friends attended. Had organised a band headed by Komang,who plays at a few of the Bars/Nightcluds in town, 49kg Pig nand 5kg rice from the local Babi Warung, 3 mahi mahi fish which we brought for the fish market and BBQ'd at the villas, the staff made all the sambals and vegetables, the Boys on the beach had just made a bamboo & thatch stall to display their wares and loaned it to us for the Bar(they called it Gilligan's Bar). Of couse it would not be a party without a few pyrotechnics, so Eddy went into Singaraja and purchased 10 x 5 shot Roman Candles, being bali he managed to buy 10 get 5 free so we had at least a 15 min skyshow. Wife had purchased pkts of glow stick bangles and sparklers so all the kids on the beach had a good time also. Next morning some of the children still had their bangles on going to school.
Kids had brought lots of children's and baby clothes they had collected for workmates plus some cash to deliver to some of the orphanages in the area but on reflection decided with help from son in-law Gede, we bought 290kg of rice and 5 boxes of noodles, hired a car and proceeded up into the hills and distributed it to many of the poorer family's in the area. Just the looks on their faces made us feel very humble.
This is getting to be an epic so will stop now any queries please ask. Next Ubud and Royal Cremation.