Our Bali time was 12 nights 21 Dec Ex Darwin arriving home on 2 January 2012
Sorry if I repeat some of my HNR posted a while back.
The hardest hurdle this time around was leaving for Bali knowing a cyclone was most likely to hit or effect Darwin ie Cyclone Grant. Fortunately Darwin wasn't hit however some considerable damage to roads, railway and flooding to a lot of communities inland occurred. Very sad for everyone and the wildlife effected.
Bali Airport is under a huge construction project so we seemed to walk for ages to our drivers awaiting car filled with the usual Ice Box of Water, soft drink and Bintang. Putu Sanjaya has been our trusted Buddy for some 8 years now and I know many on here have been happy with him. If you want his details just click on my name and remove the no spam in the email addy.
We stayed at Rama Garden on Jl Padma until Christmas day then moved to Kusnadi Hotel.
The Rama was under going some renovations and it seemed first in best dressed. We didn't get our allotted ground floor room. Just the dud no 208 room or go beside the reno's. 208 faces a brick wall backs openly onto Garlic Lane and the Surawathi pool. On arriving at 10pm you really don't care however the air con just blowed hot air. By 1 am I phoned for a fan. Now we live in Darwin and there isn't much difference but I was so hot in the boxed room. Im sure any other guest would have just checked out.
Next morning we got a decent ground room with a working air con. So Im happy Jan for sure.
In the next 6 months or so they are doing all the rooms that back on to Garlic lane. Stop for July / August then on again for those on the other side. The renovated rooms 'look good' if you like contemporary style. The one bonus is getting rid of the baths and making large walk in showers.
I tried to suss out some envisaged pricing but it was all secret squirrel stuff. No doubt the pricing will be much higher. It really is location location location and being a stones throw plus from the pricey Padma and Mandira I am assuming business brains will prevail and long time guests will move on.
In the area we ate at
Rama Garden ( just love their spring rolls)
Sheppy's Jl Melasti
Ours Garlic Lane
Wayan and Friends Jl Padma
Mozzarella Jl Padma ( had the surf and turf)
And all were good. Just remember don't order anything deep fried at Wayan and Friends.
More to come when I get some time.