I returned to Adelaide a 10 LONG days ago after spending 2 ½ glorious weeks in Bali and Lombok.
My holiday was a bit different this time - I usually travel with 10 or so people in a big group which is a mixture of family and friends who have all been to Bali many times. We all stay at the one hotel in Sanur and over a 2 week period alternate our time between relaxing around the pool, shopping and day trips.
This time I started my holiday with two girlfriends (A & R). We are all in our mid-late 20's and R has a 20 month old son at home so the aim was for her to see as much as possible in a short period of time whilst also finding time to relax.
R stayed for 6 nights and A stayed for a further 3 nights, I was then 'senderi' (alone) and stayed a night in Candi Dasa, two nights with my Balinese family in Sanur, two nights in Lombok and then a further 2 nights in Sanur. During my second week my Aunty was also in Bali with friends (staying in Legian) and so I caught up with them a few times.
Without discounting the other great holidays that I have had in Bali, this was by far my favourite holiday yet - 5 times and counting!!
We left Adelaide on Wednesday 31 August flying Pacific Blue. Departed on time at 12:30 and landed in Bali at 4:30 local time. There is nothing better than arriving in Bali, by this stage you couldn't have wiped the smile off of my face if you tried. Just love everything about the place.
Very smooth through the airport. Before we left I had given my 'newbie' friends the Bali run down (was also A's first time overseas) and was quite amused when I overheard R telling someone in the Visa queue that you can pay with Australian money and get the change in Rupiah, she then turned and winked at me loving that she sounded like she knew what she was doing! Off to a good start!
From memory the exchange rate for the Visa (which is clearly listed on a board) was Rp8,500 and AUD$26 = USD$25. I paid with $40 so the calculation was (AUD$40 - AUD$26) x Rp8500 = Rp119,000 change. Again, all went smoothly and then it was off to get our Passports stamped and collect our luggage.
Thanks to someone on the forum who mentioned a while ago that the luggage trolleys are in the far back corner of the luggage collection area and that you have to press down hard to release the brakes. I left the girls by the carousel and went off to get a trolley. Came back to overhear them telling the porters that they didn't need any help. (Again I was impressed that they had remembered!)
Collected our bags and then went outside to find my driver Kadek and we were all greeted with the biggest smile ever. I was only in Bali 6 months ago and so it was good to be back so soon. I introduced R & A to Kadek and off we went to Sanur.
Loved the car ride. Was really refreshing to have two newbie's with me who were taking everything in and asking lots of questions. As we turned towards Sanur at the Dewa Ruci Statue (the big white Roundabout) R asked what the statue was for. Kadek tried to palm the tour guide stuff off to me by saying that I could explain what it was for as I know more about Bali than him - which is a bit of a running joke. I knew in general what is was about but after a bit of coaxing he then took nearly 10 minutes to explain what it was all about. After he finished I just said 'yeah, what he said'.
So the girls cottoned on pretty quickly that most things in Bali have a purpose and meaning and would often ask about this and that. Now I did say "most things had meaning", at one stage R asked why people fly kites thinking there must be a reason.. Kadek's answer.. 'for fun'. Maybe you had to be there but it was pretty funny to get such a short answer compared to the long answers every other time!
We checked into the hotel without any problems - we stayed at the Inna Grand Bali Beach Sanur in the garden wing (NOT in the horrible high rise). Put our AUD and Passports in the main hotel safe, quickly unpacked, had showers and then went out to explore Sanur.
First stop was to the money changer. I always use Agung which is in the first market opposite the temple at the corner of Jl Segara and the beach. We also use him for our laundry. Have used him for years and he always insists that we double check our money. The girls really appreciated being able to use someone that I trust and that changing money was never stressful for them.
Had an early dinner at Mangos on the beach, I wanted our first dinner to be on the beach so the girls could get a feel for how relaxing Sanur is. We all had lumpia to start, I had satay ayam, R had nasi goreng and A had mie goreng. The girls both had cocktails but I made sure that my first drink in Bali was a Bintang!
After dinner we went and visited my friend / 'sister' Annie who owns the Warung (Warung Beringin Panti's - open 5pm to midnight :) ) on the corner of Jl Sindhu and Jl Danau Toba which is the Northern continuation of Jl Danau Tamblingan. We tried to call in and see Annie on the way to the hotel but they didn't open until late as they had a ceremony during the day.
Lots of hugs and kisses with Annie and her family and I introduced my friends to my Bali family. I have known Annie for many years and this time I was invited to stay with her on the nights that I was in Bali by myself. It was very special to be able to spend quality time with Annie and her family - I loved every minute of it.
We were keen to have a relaxing start to the holiday so from Annie's Warung we walked back towards the beach along Jl Sindhu and went to Carla Spa. Now Carla's isn't the fanciest spa in Bali but it does the job. The girls are friendly, its clean and most importantly its open until 11pm - really good if you are out on day trips most days, can come back relax, go to dinner and then go to the spa later in the evening. A got her legs and arms waxed (she was hanging out for cheap waxing in Bali), I had a body scrub and massage and R had a head and shoulder massage.
Got back to the hotel around 11:15 and called it a night. The plan for the next day was to spend time around Sanur, let the girls get their bearings and also get used to paying with Rupiah!
Lots and lots to come - including Africa Safari Park, Shopping, Bounty/Kuta clubs, Potato Head, Biku, Butterfly Park, Tanah Lot, Barong Dance, Waterfall, Monkey Forest, Ubud Markets, Orphanage visit, Volcano Bike tour, Nusa Lembongan, Lombok & Gili Islands - just to name a few!
I must add that I find it much easier to read other peoples JBR's - I have found writing one to be a bit depressing - it means that the holiday is well and truly over! :(
Mermaiden - I hope that you are happy now that I have finally started my JBR's! ;)