Travelled alone, 8th trip, stayed at Bumi Ayu Bungalows in Sanur.
I arrived from Adelaide about 4pm and got to the hotel at 6pm - I was quickly through the airport but a couple of newbies sharing my transfer must have been last off the plane and on a slow queue. Many touts looking for the special Voa after you pay the $25 (first time I haven't bothered getting Us dollars (forum tip)
Check in to the hotel and it's lovely to see familar faces - both guests and staff and then straight to Mona Lisa restaurant on Jalan Tamblingan - it's a family favourite and has never disappointed (except in July when they couldn't source the cream for the brulees). Enjoy seeing the staff and work my way through a mango juice, a double portion of warm prawn and avocado entree and a creme brulee. Aah, now I'm back.
Quite a lot of rain (this becomes the theme of this holiday!)
Visit one of my local friends at the beachfront cafe she works at and we get a good chat as the weather has not encouraged customers.
Off to the (3 storey supermarket/gift/clothing store for some supplies and enjoy a fish spa and a long chat with the operator whom I have got to know over a few trips.Love the fish spa!Heavy rain on leaving the store and I catch a bemo (about 50cents for a lift anywhere along Tamblingan) the bemos don't often leave the main street but he offered to drop me down the lane to my hotel which was wonderful. I had earlier got drenched under an umbrella and my watch stopped working!
Another catch up with the guys at the jewellery store I like (next to Mercy photos)
Refreshing swim about 9.30 and call it a day.
Slept ok, made a coffee in the room and noticed it was raining - actually it had rained all night. Had breaky at the hotel (I don't get it included in the tariff as I like to try a few different places. Then off to visit the family of the 16 year old girl (D) my kids and I have been helping with education costs for a few years after a chance meeting on a laneway. Take D for a walk to catch up with another local friend and book a massage - I'd been dreaming of it since July when I found a great masseuse. Stopped for a cappacino at Luhtus on the beachfront and D had nasi goreng - her choice for any time of day although she has replaced the orange juice of many trips with chocolate milkshakes.
I went back to the supermarket for a simcard and had a late lunch at Lilla Warrung (Jalan Bumi Ayu) and then to Ayu Spa on the beachfront for the massage. Aah, now I'm definately back!
While cutting through one of the hotels that span Tamblingan to the beach I had a chat with an English couple I had met at the restaurant the day before. They had had some excitement as the chap had been locked in the bathroom for an hour in the morning before staff got the lock open - as he is diabetic and hadn't eaten it was getting scarey. He said the worst thing was being surrounded by water sources - that he couldn't drink.
I visited my friend at the beach cafe and still quiet and still raining.
I ended the first 24hours with a meal at Mona Lisa's of vegetable curry and creme brulee and thinking that if the rain kept up there could be a lot of eating and massage.
Jan