This would be our 10th trip together and the 1st without our kids. Pete (Hubby) and I left Melbourne on the 4th March with Garuda. Purchased tickets direct online when they had one of their specials, which include 30kg each. Flight was great so much more leg room than Jetstar and Virgin. Loved the entertainmet system in the back of the seat, good choice of movies. My meal was crab salad, chicken curry, chocolate mousse cake, hot dinner roll and cheese/biscuits, was downed with a couple of red wines. As we were desending Pete looked across at me, with tears rolling down my cheeks he said what the hell is wrong? Nothing is wrong I'm just so happy to be back to my beautiful Bali.
Arrived on time, VOA $25 aus. Out with in 20mins of landing, greeted by our dear friend Made. The new walk way to the car park was better than I expected. To Made's car and handed a very cold Bintang, nothing like that 1st Bintang.
Our 1st 2 nights @ the Niche' hotel ( Made is the manager ) to spend the last 3 days of our wonderful friends from Sydney Mark, Sas and their kids trip. We meet back in 2001 @ the Bali Dynasty back when all our kids were little. Our friendship started with our love for Bali and now they are one of our closest friends. We have many trips to Bali together and it has been wonderful seeing the kids grow up together and seeing their love for Bali too.
We stayed in one of the Niche' new rooms, these rooms are huge and furnished lovely. The NIche' is a really nice hotel tucked away down a short gang. The staff are A1 and really make everyone feel at home.
Made and his wife Shanti had orgnised a welcome party @ thier home. What a fantastic night catching up with everyone and the food was to die for. Lots of Bintang later it was back to the hotel for some more Bintang and duty free and then it was time for some zzzz's. Lots of eating, drinking and so much laughter for the next few days and it was time to say a teary goodbye to our Sydney friends.
The next 6 nights were @ the Casa Padma in Legian. This is our 2nd stay here and we just love it. This time stayed in a ground floor Superior room. When we arrive in the room there was flowers, a welcome cake with rose petles of the bed and in the bath tub. Staff here are also great, nothing is a problem. This hotel is in a great location with lots of shopping and restaurants at your door and only a five minute walk to the beach.
Lots of new building work everywhere, I hate seeing all these modern hi-rise hotels being built. Even the banners around the airport of what the new airport is going to look like. It is not very Balinese at all. Just my opinion, others people may love it?
Pete hired a motorbike as he does every trip. He has an Australian bike licence and just got an international licence from the RACV before he left. He is doing a photography diploma and would take off on his bike camera in hand. He went to the Kuta morning markets, the beach and down back blocks of Kuta, Legain, Tuban and Seminyak. He took some really amazing photos.
Places we ate at are Legian cafe, Mini Seafood, Havana Club, Garlic Lane, Wayan and Friends, Mozzarella by the Sea, Drops, Pavone, Blue Skyz, Lemongrass, Layali, Coffee Corner, and Billy's.
The weather was mainly overcast, we had a couple of sunny days with some rain at night. Not as hot and humid as it normally is this time of year.
Most days started with a morning walk, breakfast, a bit of shopping, relaxing around the pool, lunch, more pool and a few drinks, beach catching up with local sellers we have known for years and some more drinks @ Sudra's bar, dinner and a night cap or a few Billy's or Legends listening to a band.
Had a leather coat and me a pair of boots made from French's leather, we been having stuff made here for years and again very happy with their work.
Shopped at Ketut's, Biarritz, Bagus watches, Matahari's and a few diffrent shops in Garlic Lane. We also had 50 stubby holders made for Pete's 50th at the end of the year. Worked out to a dollar each and we are very happy with them. I cannot remember the name but it is down the gang off Padma steet, next to the Legian pub.
Well that is about it. Our flight home was good, it is amazing the extra leg what a diffrence it makes, we actually were able to sleep most of the way home.
A tip I read from this forum was duty free at the airport, is so much cheaper than Australia. 1lt bottle gin $11 and I think the Jim Bean was around $ 15. I'm not sure if you can take on Virgin? but they were telling Jetstar no. So another benefit flying Garuda.
Next trip is earmarked for Mid January next year. We had promised our daughter a trip in between her end of VCE and the start of uni.
Cheers Jen