Day 1 - Thursday 6th Oct - 3rd trip to Bali.. staying at Aston Kuta (Tuban) this time.. flew out from Perth on AA, the really early flight leaves at 04:50 arrives 08:30.. went over our luggage allowance of 20kg for 3 ??? only cost me $20, but still a bit suss, didn't think we had much.. shoulda weighed em at home before we left. Only other thing that sucked was the bar at airport wasn't open and the flight was dry.. easy passage thru customs etc at Bali Airport Denpasar (Nagurah Rai). Our driver Beni was waiting at the airport even though I told him we would just grab a taksi as not far to Aston, very nice of him.. When we booked in, they said 'sorry your family room isn't available' I thought here we go..' yes, so sorry we have to upgrade you to Deluxe' Hang on did I hear correct, I was still dubious, we will wait until we get in at 2pm and see what it is like.
Got a bintang at Circle K over the road at 10:10 to celebrate our arrival. Rained off and on in the morning, yesterday was the first rain they had for months!! So we ducked into Centro for a perve, then when we got hungry headed off to my little restaurant in Kuta for Rendang and cheap bintang, boo hoo new owners and restaurant, 'how long you been open?' I asked 'Just one day' he said sheepishly hahaha oh well had a look at the menu and decided to try it + plus he gave us coupons for free dessert. Had Jerjuruk.. curry served in half coconut with couple of skewers of chicken and 3 sambals. delicious..(more on this later) and black rice pudding, also very nice, Y had nasi goreng also good.. J had spag bol.. just OK.. we added some of our sauce to it and it tasted great after that.
Headed back to hotel. Still had to wait 10 mins. mutter mutter. But wow, great room.. better than we normally have with separate lounge/kitchen and bathroom/ensuite.. 2 big flat screen TV's and on the ground floor right next to the pool.. so open the sliding door and in ya go.. fanbloodytastic
Rest of the day just bummed around, tested the pool and swim up bar, first massage out front only $50k for one hour traditional, young girls to lure you in and when go inside mama pops out from behind the curtain hahaha. We decided to eat in at Aston for tea. The concierge said try the rooftop Lighthouse restaurant. Yep, no problem, as the rain had stopped. Beautiful view of the sunset from floor 7 open area restaurant. So got drinks, ordered tea and my tummy starts doing a dance, oh no, surely not on the first day here!!! To cut an ugly long story short.. went to the loo 3 times in 10 mins and all good after that.. damn good curry / sambal from lunch, better than an enema. I still managed to scoff my Kway Teow, different from aussie version, but very very nice + a couple more bintangs to finish the night off. We got free entertainment from nice young lass who had had a few already and got my boy J up for a dance..
PS. Got 'ripped off' by taksi.. 15450 one way with Bluebird.. return via magical mystery route with the light purple taksi, 34500.. only bitten once.. D&S also had same experience.. I know routes can be a bit circuitous depending which way you are going, but it shouldn't be twice or more for return. Our only other ride with same company from Galleria to Legian was fine.. <20k.. but we used mostly Bluebird, never a problem and always gave them tip, except for one guy who pulled out the violin as soon as we got in the taksi.. he would have got a bigger tip if he had kept his mouth shut, hahaha!!
Day 2 - Fri - Clothes shopping day, get some of it out of the way early.. did 'no bullsh*t' Jenny's and Dianne's, both fixed price, opposite Green Garden Hotel in Kuta. Then we headed up to Legian for Kutut, again fixed price... they give you a bottle of water, very nice people. Between the 3 stores you can mostly get what you want or otherwise try Matahari or Carrefour. Then lunch at Uncle Norm's - satay sticks, mango daiquiris hmmmmmm.. then more shopping, then hoofed it to the beach to catch up with friends D&S and meet Beerman and friends.. then we hoofed off to Un's for tea. When we arrived, we got our welcome drink, then S said umm do you mind if we eat elsewhere as not really suited to the kids. Yep, I didn't mind, as feeling very mellow at that stage, so we apologised profusely, left and went just down the road to TJ's Mexican for tea. I think it was good.. about half sloshed when I arrived.. fully sloshed when I left.. no, food was good. We also bought jugs of margaritas to share and really enjoyed it.. I had the chimmichanga which was great, then we all staggered out to taksi, home to hotel, crash and burn after a longish day.
Day 3 - Sat - Uluwatu - took Y&J as they missed it last visit. Drove to the temple, fun with cheeky monkeys and met very friendly group from Java, took pictures etc.. then to Uluwatu surf beach for explore and lunch. Managed to cut my big toe on the reef, shoulda worn old sneakers or reef shoes. Lunch at top warung not so good this time, but plenty of others to choose from and such a great spot for lunch watching surfers. Then to Pedang Pedang for look and swim. Looked like a fool walking backwards up the beach to protect the big toe.. the beach sand/rocks are hard to walk on. At least we got a better swim and a very popular spot. Skipped tea at Jimbaran, as we were early and had done it before, so decided to go to Queen's Indian for tea instead.. very impressive, great service and great food. We had tandoori chicken, mutton vindaloo, butter chicken and rogan josh + naan bread with gulab and kofti fro desert.. mmmmm
Day 4 - Sun - took our time, went via Galleria and Carrefour for a look.. Carrefour has really cheap stuff. Y was looking at baby stuff for impending grandchild as it was as cheap as chips. Really nice prams for about $60AUD.. took piccies with prices for daughter who is coming over next month for a friend's wedding. Then we headed out to Sanur for a push bike ride, lunch at Beno's and drinks and Babi Guling at Linga Longa. Shoulda ducked into bloodyron's Ducks Nutz to meet him. Never mind, it was great watching the Babi roast and meeting Kylie, her husband and friends at Linga Longa. J had a wow of a time lighting fires and playing with K's 2 young boys. Babi served at 7pm, could go back for seconds or thirds, if you wanted. Fair crowd, but still managed to satisfy everyone with one piggie.. didn't stay for the band or jam session, too late for us early birds..
Day 5 - Mon - white water rafting.. went with International.. 'we have the longest ride and shortest steps' at Telaga Waja river in Rendang.. the clean river (...) fantastic fun, 9 companies share the river. Got some really good video on Lumix.. ps. to the bloke I shouted out will send him some video of his raft and family, contact me if u read this. One stop at the waterfall, after 4kms, one bintang, and then 6kms to finish including the 'big' drop haw haw.. fantastic scenery all the way, including semi-naked ladies bathing, close your eyes J! The guide back at the warung was an interesting fellow, worked for the company for 18 years and spoke English and Japanese fluently. Used to do the river when he was younger. Lunch was great, green salad was spiiiiicy hot and the view looking out the valley was sensational. Grabbed 2 for the road and gasbagged with the driver for the 2 hour ride back.. piss stop at Sanur where we dropped off the 2 Japanese tourists, they slept all the way back! then we ran into big traffic jam heading into Kuta.. bugger, never mind.. Went for a massage.. got Koman from Singaraja this time.. younger girl but really good massage.. she said 'you like strong'.. I said.. 'ouch, ow, yes bagus!!!' Finished off at Tree House with D&S and the girls.. I ordered the Ariabata pizza, first slice got me with really hot chilli and I mean really hot!!! Eating very cautiously after that, but only the last slice had a bit more chilli. By then my tastebuds had just about recovered. Yvonne had the Tree House pizza, she said it was yum.. D & S had steaks but were disappointed, but they weren't overly expensive, I have only had one steak last visit and it was ordinary. Aston is having a Barbeque night Wed up on the roof.. judging by the food we have had there so far it should be good, hoping they have some tender beef.
Day 6 - Tues - Waterbom - fantastic as usual.. got there early and booked a gazebo for us and D&S and the girls. J went on the Climax ride twice before D&S arrived. We had a blast, did all the rides. Tried to film smash down and race track going down with the Lumix.. didn't really come out all that well. After lunch, a cheese burger that sucked, how can they stuff a goddam cheese burger up FFS, we did the water balloon thingy. Didn't realise we had bought so many buckets between us. In the end we left the last 2 as it was getting embarrassing with other people waiting for their turn. I don't know if Waterbom have a half day rate. but if you got there after lunch and went to closing time at 6, the rides start getting quiet around 4ish as everybody heads off. or you get there at opening and rides are quiet until 11ish.. Too late for massage tonite, but we went up to the Lighthouse as free cocktails from 18:00-19:30.. had 4 including really nice spritzer with cranberry juice + they put on a free spread of fantastic finger food.. the little choc layer cakes and the strawberry jam on the same plate were heavenly and little serves of tiramisu. Then off to Garlic Lane in Legian for tea with D&S.. only had spaghetti carbonara, all I could eat + 2 more cocktails.. good spag! Dave had the meat platter for $150k. looked really nice.. mix of chicken, beef, ribs etc etc.. would need to share one with Y. D was a babi, he ate the whole lot! Must have been all the running around at Waterbom. talking about bom.. that is what we all did.. B was almost asleep at the table, so we all went home to hotels and crashed early.. zzzzzz
Day 7 - Wed - off up North.. first stop The Hopes Children's Home, near Sempidi.. got a bit choked up when they sang welcoming song, mucked up recording it.. sob.. never mind, not something I will forget.. most of the tackers were still in school, except for 4 young ones who latched onto J and myself (...) We met and talked with older orphans, so nice, so friendly and the orphanage is clean and well run.. one lady 'masterchef Indonesia' cooks for all 94 residents. They love their soccer and music. J played soccer with 4 older boys in the inside 'arena' and had a hoot.. boys were dribbling up steps and all over.. the girls were all laughing so much they just about wet themselves. The next time we visit will make sure we go when all the children are around.. left a donation.. next visited a temple, one we had been to before hahaha, Ghost palace - fantastic and Bedugal.. soo pretty, massive lake, had smorgasbord lunch, Japanese couple got married up there and were having photos taken.. then Git Git waterfalls - fantasticer, and finally somewhere else :-) largest rice fields in Bali.. then one large bintang for the 2 hour drive back to the hotel.
All you can eat barbi at Aston Lighthouse for tea. Y&J didn't go as too stuffed from all day trip up north.. I think J just wanted to order room service :-) The price for barbi was $180k IDR / person.. I had a 10% discount voucher, however when they added the taxes etc on it was $196k IDR, but for $22 AUD can't complain. They had heaps, beef and ayam (chicken) kebabs, fish, prawns, calamari, ayam breast.. plus yuuuummmy desserts for afters. feeling so fat, boot camp when I get home, ps. beef was chewy (...) rest was fantastic. Y and J's room service cost less, about $147k IDR for both, Y says club sandwich was fantastic, should have got her to take a foto.
PS. had only 3 massages this time so far. Only $50k IDR / hour out front of Aston, at 5 different parlours. I give then $70K anyway as so cheap. Girls are nice, good to chat to, their english is pretty good. Dian married and 6 month baby, Dian mans "candle" in Indonesian and Javanese, Koman from Singaraja and last night Dwi (second daughter) from Denpasar, her boyfriend is going to Uni.. Eni and Ami also, J swapped facebook with Eni and also with Aris and Tenny at the hotel.
PS.PS. Beni our driver, his wife's names is Dwi also and he has 3 kids, 1 girl, 2 boys.. Krista, Fernando and JoJo
Day 8 - Thurs - rest day, sort of.. swim, late brekky, dropped J off for a pedicure with the girls, then went for a quick shop.. just before 11 as were heading back to pick J up, the earth started to move for me.. haha Y had gone on ahead.. I had ducked in Circle K for a bintang.. hot work all this shopping.. anyhow busy putting my wallet away, hands full, when it felt like a big truck going by. I looked out the window, then saw all the staff exiting rapidly, so skedaddled outside myself.. still rocking and rolling a bit. The earthquake probably only lasted about a minute if that.. sh*t.. looking down the road for Y, she is Ok, hope J is OK.. so we hightail it back to the massage parlour and there he is, all OK, but looking a bit scared , first one for him. Girls were really good, dragged him out to the middle of the street when it happened. We couldn't get back into Aston straight away, when we did, cracks in walls, our room alone had 3 good sized cracks + bits of plaster all over. Some tiles had dislodged from upper floor and fallen onto a grass area next to some of the rooms, one tile was embedded upright in the grass area.. oh well, grabbed our towels and off to meet D&S&girls for surf lessons. When we arrive, had to have a couple more bintangs while we waited for better waves, that was my excuse anyway. kids had a ball. J and the girls managed to catch a number of waves. I tried body surfing, nup, just kept stalling on the waves, so then grabbed the boogie board of D, same, spewing did not get one ride.. waves at Kuta are weird, in Perth wouldn't had a problem getting a few rides. Lumix got a hammering in the surf,started playing up later, still taking piccies, but playback is doing weird sh*t, hope I haven't damaged it. So after all the fun and excitement back to the shade and more refreshments.. met D&S's driver Spider.. nice young man and his cousin from Singaraja, who speak no English. I can't remember her exact name, but it sounded a bit like Eski, so that is what we called her. Very shy, we tried to bring her out of her shell, eski eski.. hahahaha. Eski ordered a nice looking soup dish that had ayam and hardboiled egg with coating.. looked so good I ordered one as well. While I am waiting for that, the locals descended. I ended up getting head massage, ear hairs plucked, and foot massage and scrub and toenails painted.. they all worked on me for about 30 minutes... paid em way too much, Y not happy, S thought I was a dag, but hey, I was feeling very magnanimous by the stage. Also bought 2 nice pairs of polarised sunnies, for probably too much, but still cheaper than I can get them at home. It was a great afternoon. Chatted to the surfie dudes, all great fellas.. can't remember all their names.. Beerman kept us supplied and one was named Joseph. Saw Joseph talking to cougar a bit later. I am sure he has many many hook-ups, if u know what I mean. So after D and me consumed heaps of bintang, they had to shoot off and we popped over the road to Flapjacks, I demolished a ham and cheese pancake + banana sundae and 2 coffees as they were so nice. When we left, some kids trying to sell me more braided wrist bands, ok so I bought some more. in the process one of my new sunnies fell off my head.. didn't realise til had gone 50 metres. Too late, they were gone, sob. Just as well I bought 2 pairs.. Back to hotel for swim, then massage, then bed. Didn't need tea as we didn't eat at Flapjacks til after 4pm.PS. Already bought boot camp for return via Goupons..$19 for 20 sessions. sweet..
Day 9 - Frid - Lumix is still playing up this morning. Back to the shop when we get home unless it recovers. Maybe it is hungover. So today we went Bali Bike International, then to Nirvana's in Seminyak for tea and show. Bali Bike Baik was great, only complaint from me was too much time in the van..Drove up to Kintamani via Sanur and Ubud for pickups. Couple of Dutch fellows, one 78.. couple from Denmark and rest Aussies from Perth - Clarkson and Golden Bay. 2 older boys were hungover from night before, bad move before bike ride! First stop the coffee plantation, for Kopi Luwak, bluurkk, they need better coffee filters, bottom of the cup was sludge, ando chocolate, ginger tea and ginseng. We also tried the snakeskin fruit, like apple/pineapple flavour with apple texture and tamarind... had tamarinds before I think. Then to Kintimani for breakfast overlooking the valley and lake.. yummy, they had tamarind jam that was sooooo good + a really good spread. Then more driving to starting point. Finally on our bikes and off we go, who needs pedals. You are more in danger of crashing from too much downhill speed than anything else. It was great fun. Unfortunately elderly Dutchman came a cropper and went head first into a ditch, cut his nose and scratches and bruises, but he seemed OK, still smiling.. whew. Lots to see on the ride, rice fields, villages, offerings carried by villagers etc etc.. last bit of the ride was a little hard for non bikers and also very hot, but we all made it. Then back to compound for traditional lunch.. rice, ayam satay sticks, another ayam dish, duck, salads, chilli, bintangs.. yum.. guide Nyoman was very good, both during the ride and at the compound explaining Balinese life and cultures .. highly recommended to do..
Stuck in traffic in Legian / Kuta on way back for drop-offs.. at one point they said to one family, can we drop you off as only 5mins walk instead of 30 minutes car ride, but first timers unfamiliar and first day, so around the block we go again. Had enough of being stuck in traffic with no bintang, so we hopped of at Matahari's when passing, walked for a bit and grabbed a cab back to Aston.
Tea at Nirvana's, I had booked this one just in case. got there a bit late. just missed happy hours bintang and frozen margartias, but all good as we got front row seat for the show. Fire dancer was hot hot hot (...) Food was great. Tender fillet, J's penne was great, Y had Beef Strog.. + desserts + bintang/mocktails/cocktails $717k - $80 AUD. Wasn't going to tip as services and charges, but had such a great time left $750 woah big spender hahaha.. no toblerones, was going to have one back at the hotel roof bar, but polished off the Baileys instead as leaving soon.. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Day 10 - Sat - our last day, boo hoo, headed back to Galleria so J could do Timezone and we could shop some more.. J got enough coupons for a nice cuddly turtle for peanut, my daughter's nickname for her impending baby. Then asked taksi to take us to Carrefour.. Can't it is closed, huh... yes earthquake damage.. Blast... ok off to the Piano Bar in legian for lunch.. Saw Carrefour building on the way.. Yep it had some BIG cracks.. Wonder when they will fix that? Or can it be fixed.. tidak bagus.
Got to street where Piano bar is supposed to be.. Couldn't find it, asked, nope, oh well saw steaks for < $100k at Yutz's so ducked in there.. yummy.. fillet (local beef) with black pepper sauce, lashings of it in a separate bowl for me and J, with vege or chips. Y only had potato soup as feeling a bit ordinary. The fillet was tender just like Nirvana, but there is something different about their meat, just a texture thing I think, as they still taste delicious. PS. Champs replaced the old Flying Piano bar, RIP
Then back for swim and last massage for both of us.. J had hair wash and head massage. Left the girls an extra tip as they had been so good. Sad goodbyes
Quickly ducked out for Bebuk crispy skin duck for tea. There is one in Kuta, just opposite Waterbom that is an outlet for Batan Waru, Ubud, but we tried Bebek Goreng on Beni's recommendation.. wow different, didn't expect the so much duck. Just as Y didn't want one, although it didn't stop her helping herself, but 2 serves were still too much for 3 of us, could have shared one among 3 at $75k + 2 rice and 3 x free fiery hot sambal. Sweating like a babi after the meal.
Then we rushed back to hotel, finished packing and booked out. Y said, 'what are all the extra charges'.. 'oops didn't I tell you I booked pool bar expenses up to room' LOL.. couple of buckets of bintangs, many cocktails, not a lot really when enjoying it so much.. Called Beni, he said Dwi wasn't feeling well, would come see us in an hour.. aaaww, have to prop up the bar, what a shame.. got to talk to Aris and Tenny for another hour. Beni showed up with his 3 kids.. little JoJo was a livewire, middle son Fernando also jumping around, his oldest Krista, very pretty and polite and quieter.. gave them a bag of goodies to share and hid a tip in the bag for Beni.. hope it didn't get lost.. J said Aris very friendly bartender. Met him at the swim up bar on the 3rd or 4th day and caught up with him tonight. Was giving J lots of food like cherries, strawberries and other assorted fruits. Very amused. Think J formed a bond with him.
Airport - flight home is a horror at 00:30, so tired but hard to sleep and no booze on AA. Y is deteriorating.. bummer, last day and crook. Not a good flight for her. She hit the toilet and hurled when we were landing.. tidak bagus.. Saw our local golf club pro and his family on the way thru customs. I didn't even know they were on the same flight. His wife was also sick on her last day in Bali.
OK last bit.. declared our wood, vanilla beans, etc etc.. they inspected it and I had bloody Kopi Luwak.. huh?? I knew it wasn't allowed after checking the ICON site for what is and isn't allowed before we left. Must have been mix up when buying as I was sure I asked for traditional Bali coffee only.. kiss that goodbye, no coffee for me.