Hope this will be short.
Left Perth 15th of November, two couples in the seniors age group.
We were 15 minutes late leaving with AA. Arrived late and copped several other planes landing at the same time. Everything went smoothe until the transport window. A qeue of about 60. Half an hour to the front. Arrived at Dewi Sri 2am excellent rooms.
Next morning out to Carrefour for the essentials. Scaffold still out the front but removed by the time we left bali. Still a small amount of scaffold down the side. Still the usual stock, nothing different.
During our 10 days our driver took us out ment times. In Denpasar where I looked to buy Australian oblong flags. Every lead off the forum came to a dead end. They don't appear to have a method to print through to both sides of the flag. (commonly called bleed through) Shoot bali told me by email before I left they could do but it was a point blank NO when I visited.
Done the Tegallalong strip. Most a lot cheaper then Kuta Area. Watchout for borers in the wood. A recommended visit.
Factory outlets. Krishna on Sunset road was very busy and cheap. The women loved it. Then down to Biarritz about a kilometre down the road and spent another hour there. Nice and clean and cheap. Ramayama in Denpasar was another compulsory visit whilst the ment went to Remo Mall to check the prices on Computer parts. Women also went to Toko Central and bought their crotcheting needs and other knick nacks.
Vistited the new shopping centre and the bech end of poppies 1. Huge DVD shop with a large range and well set out. has the biggest range of Pc Software that I seen in Bali. With several other shopping centres under construction there will be too much in the top end range. Also visited Dianne's and Ketut's for essential fixed price clothing.
Phone sims. I had a XL sim for the wife and a Sampatti (temkosel)for myself and I ended up getting a Sampatti and paid 50,000 for 2 weeks internet connection. My HTC phone was able to connect to the net from anywhere to check emails and read the forum. Some places it was slow but if used in the open was quite fast. $6 for 2 weeks was money well spent. The bloke in a little stall outside the DVD shop in discovery mall set it up for me. The XL sim is up for grabs if anyone wants it. Still has credit.
Eating We are not fancy eaters but had meals at Uns near bemo corner, Ours in Garlic Lane, Jeggeg Bulan in Poppies 2, Mamma's on Legian Street, Stadium cafe at Ramayama, Restaurant at Ubud (overlooking the river) Bagus pub in Poppies 2, restaurant up at Garuda Wisnt Statue (watching the sunset and planes land) Beach restaurant at Sanur, Also a couple of others in the legian area which I can remember the names. WE make a rule that if no one is eating in a restaurant we don't go in. Never had a bad tasting meal the best was Jegeg, Four of us had different meals and was the best for price and quality. on this trip Two of us got bali Belly. We put it down to the first mentioned restaurant, The two of us had Mei Goring. It was the only time we ate the same thing and both sufferinging the following morning. Suffered for a couple of days.
Work in progress. Have been going since 1993 and expect to see a lot of work but the mess in Legian Street is the worst so far. It will be good when finished with wider footpaths and they are laying approx 50 metres of paving each night.
Lots of schoolies in Bali and on average they were well behaved. There is always a few idiots and those that go anywhere near motorbikes are asking for trouble. Take away these and there would be less problems and injurries. It was easy to see those with bandages on and wounds weeping. Infections will be the problem but you can't tell them.
Thats about all. Remember go to Bali to enjoy ones self. When in rome do what the romans do.