After 2 blissfull weeks at the Pondok Pitaya in Balian (note - when we booked the Pondok Pitaya I was unaware that only 1 of the huts had hot water - lucky for us it was ours! Of course I let some friends we made there use our showers but I would definately recommend the Joglo room for the HOT WATER hehe). Also there was free wifi here at a cost of 50,000rp for however long you stayed, at first I thought it was per day but this wasnt the case. Such a beautiful spot, very relaxing to say the least, cant even buy a sarong up there! But for all you kitesurfers, the conditions were perfect, hubby was kiting around 5 hours each day, had a ball!!
We left Balian and travelled to Tuban to join our friends at Segara Villas.....WOW it was absolutey beautiful!!! We were lucky enough to have the owners with us and have made life long friends:))) There are 4 villas together with a beautiful swimming pool. We stayed with our friends in one of the 2 bedroom villas and couldnt fault them at all. The beds were so comfy and the shower was the best!! They have just put up a new website for the villas and are renting them out as a full package...sleeps 16 in total and would be perfect for a group booking. I loved the location of them as they are not far from the beach at all and just outside the gate is a money exchanger who must be one of the most honest people in Bali, it was a pleasure to go and sit and change money with him :)
Of course we done all the usual things like shopping (yes new bag from Tommy's Leather) etc, the only dissapointment was that the Beach Cafe didnt have any lamb shanks, tried twice and still didnt get any!
We organised a big party with our balinese friends, they all live in a village off Kabu Anyar, so we bought a heap of food from Warung up the road and had a fantastic night. We have been friends with all of them for over 15 years now and to see all the kids grow up is wonderful. Im sure a lot of you will know them - Lily and Amy who have the shop on the beach side of the Dynasty Resort, also Ary who is the driver for all the pro surfers - just gorgeous people. I took the kids over their new summer clothes along with a totem tennis set, we also bought a heap of fire crackers so the night was unreal!
Hubby and I went by bike over to Sanur a few times so as he could go kitesurfing. The first time we went we were pulled over by the police for a licence check, he was an older man and he noticed my tatoo on my back, its the balinese symbol with 'family' written in traditional balinese underneath...he loved it!! Even though we had an international drivers licence he was the first cop to pick up that it isnt suitable for motor bikes, but after my tat he just laughed and let us go!! Since we always hire bikes, hubby has decided to now get his aussie bike licence for next year, Ive been at him for a while to do this and he is finally going to do it :)) Insurance always worried me so at least now we wont have to worry anymore about that, we will be covered with our travel insurance.
One night we were out for dinner up at Sari Beach Hotel in Legian, they do the best tempura prawns! Anyway we were heading home on the bike and were going up Benesari Lane, noticed a lot more 'magic mushroom' restaurants along there! It was pretty late and to be honest I was a bit scared! There seemed to be a hell of a lot of kids 'tripping out', so worrying, all I could think of was their mums and if only they knew what they were doing (then again probably best they didnt).
All in all we had another fantastic time in Paradise, so much so that we are looking into setting up a business over there, however this we know will take time and a lot of enquiries......like a lot of you we dream to live there one day so I am looking into our business opportunities now.
I suppose my only gripe is - how much Kuta is changing, the building going on is incredible and it saddens me to think of how it used to be. At least the people never change, they are still smiling and happy! I also now understand how so many of you love Sanur, its like a little paradise over there, seems so much cleaner and it was so nice to go swimming in the ocean, ok so there was a bit of seaweed floating around but so much nicer than Kuta Beach.
Now its back into work mode, with lots on my mind and lots to do....until next year Bali, thank you for a wonderful holiday yet again :)) Trace