I am still not feeling 100% this morning but hubby is starving & wants the buffet breakfast and so does Miss 5. They have a mini buffet for the kids - cereal, donuts, pastries, fruit kebabs, juices etc all set up on a low table just the right height for little ones. Miss 5 eats her money's worth in the first 5 mins! I stick to the continental side of things - muesli, toast, fruit & a danish as the thought of anything fried makes me queasy!
Miss 5 asks to check out the kids club again after breakfast & when she discovers the morning activity is Balinese games, she's keen to stay. I dropped her off around 9am and then hubby & I walk to the beach. It's an easy walk, less than 10 mins stroll (there is a shuttle service from the lobby every 20 mins if you're lazy!).
I've never really been keen on the beach in Bali (coming from WA we are spoilt by some of the best beaches in the world). The Novotel's beach club kind of changes my mind. Although the beach itself is nothing special, it's nice to lie on a sunbed under an umbrella being bought cold drinks! After a quick dip, we walk from the Novotel right down to Mushroom Point, hubby checking out the surf & me checking out the other hotels. I don't see anything that makes me wish we hadn't chosen the Novotel, except for maybe the Marriott and that is on a par from what I can see of the beach facilities.
We swim again in front of the Grand Hyatt and then walk back for another swim and a cold drink. By this time it's midday so we decide to walk back so I can check on Miss 5 & give her the opportunity to leave the kids club if she's had enough. Miracle of miracles, she's happy to stay there & have lunch. Woo hoo, more alone time for Mum & Dad!!
I wanted to check out Tanjung Benoa for future reference so we order a taxi in the lobby but when it arrives the driver tells us the traffic out to TB is very bad. Everybody is heading out there for water sports apparently and there is a big traffic jam. Instead he drops us at Bali Collection and we have lunch at the Open Bar, a tapas place down towards Lobby C.
We both had a small Bintang, hubby a Mie Goreng and me a ciabatta sandwich. Hubby's Mie Goreng was delicious (came with marinated grilled chicken skewers) and my sandwich was OK. Total bill RP 220,000. I am finding it is a lot more expensive to eat out in Nusa Dua - most of the restaurant prices are similar to the hotel's!
We do a quick shop in SOGO (hubby buys some Quiksilver gear at 40% off) and then walk back to the hotel. Miss 5 is ready to leave the kids club by this time so we go upstairs so she can have a rest & for me to wait for Lia to arrive with my finished clothes. All is good with the finished items, except for a jersey dress which is still too big & needs taking in.
We spent the next couple of hours down by the pool, me reading & having the occasional dip and Miss 5 playing with more newfound friends. I wasn't sure if I'd like staying in a big resort (we've always stayed in smaller hotels) but one advantage is the number of other families around. There is always someone for Miss 5 to hang out with. She swims, plays & wears herself out while I relax & read - what's not to like? LOL
We are all pretty tired & can't be bothered going out so decide to order room service. I figure it will be cheaper to do this than go out anyway, we can drink our own drinks in the apartment. The alcohol portion of the bill usually makes up at least a third of our bill & that is only with a couple of drinks! I am now down to my last 2 "Wolf Packs" with 10 days still to go and the Vodka is nearly finished as well. Will have to stop off at Hardy's on the way out of Nusa Dua so I can stock up.
The meals we ordered last night were the best I've eaten in Nusa Dua. We shared spring rolls, hubby had grilled Baby Snapper "Jimbaran Style" and I had Ayam Betutu (roasted young chicken) with yellow rice. Everything was delicious - especially the accompaniments which were a pickled cabbage salad & a chilli lemongrass sauce. I could've eaten the salad & sauce just with the rice (the chicken was a nice bonus though LOL).
I am at a bit of a loss as to what to do for NYE dinner. The hotel's dinner costs USD 145 per person! The meal itself doesn't start until 9pm (not long before I'm usually in bed LOL) and although the kids club is open until midnight, I know Miss 5 won't last beyond 8 or 9 at the latest. I don't fancy heading back to Bali Collection and I imagine all of the resorts are holding compulsory dinners anyway so it's likely to be deserted over there! Might head over to Tanjung Benoa & hope for the best!