April 3 - 13th. Myself and 19 year old exchange student from Brazil. First 4 days hubby and his niece were with us as they arrived 2 days before us. They left after 4 days and we had another 6 days by ourselves. Another wonderful holiday in Bali!
I had bad news on our first night when I rang home to my daughters who were staying with my healthy 85 year old mother. She had had a fall from a chair (don't ask) and she had broken her leg and arm. My daughter had called an ambulance and was very teary when I rang. I was beside myself and was then calling my brother and my daughter's dad. I very nearly came home the next day but they all assured me mum was ok. I had our exchange student who was having the holiday of a lifetime so I stayed for her benefit but didn't always have my heart in this holiday and was glad to get home to see my mum.
We spent our first two nights at Tanis Villas on Nusa Lembongang Island. 30 minutes by fast boat from Sanur and we arrived. The boat ride was fine, I was a bit worried but for nothing. The staff from Tanis Villas met the boat and carried our luggage to the hotel. What a lovely little hotel it was too. We had a one bedroom villa that was really quite cute although we only had a hot shower on the first day and after that cold but as we were only staying two nights didn't even bother to say anything. Our niece and the exchange student had a garden view room which they moved from after first night as the toilet had a problem and they moved to the ocean view room and were happy.
We all loved Nusa Lembongan, we hired bikes for 80,000 rupiah (more than we pay in Bali but couldn't get any cheaper). There are no cars just a few small trucks so it was easy riding. We went snorkelling from Mades Warung which is the last warung on the long road down by the beach for only 50,000 for one hour including hire of flippers, snorkel and mask. Excellent value and it was beautiful down there. We only went to one spot for that price but that was enough. The girls went two days in a row. There are some lovely little warungs to hang out at on the beach and we had a great time there.
Must dos: visit Dream beach Café and Bali Beach Café - both have infinity pools overlooking the cliffs and beach. Bali Beach Café had free pick up and drop off which we used was great. Dream Beach Café was very trendy reminded me of Ku De Ta and loved it!!
We also rode over the suspension bridge to Cenginga (?) island and that was lots of fun. The bridge was a little scary as I cant ride in a straight line and tend to go wonky especially with a passenger on the back!! We had a great day!! To see all the seaweed farmers out on their boats was amazing!!
We headed back to Seminyak after 2 nights and stayed at Harmony Hotel in Jalan Drupadi. Lovely little hotel although we had a problem with our toilet getting blocked. I quickly found a cleaner to fix it and tipped him well as I was so embarrassed as it had completely overflowed!! The staff there were different to say the least. When we first arrived and I was checking in they said 'oh we have only one room booked for you' I said no I have booked two rooms. They said 'no only one' I said I will get the paper work then the girl laughed and said 'just joking, don't be so serious' I was like what??
Another time I came home early from dinner by myself and asked if my husband had left the key at reception and the girl (different one) said 'no' I said really and she said 'just joking'......strange.....
Also my favourite pair of thongs were taken from outside my room one night. I was in an upstairs room second last room so no idea who walked past and decided to have my thongs. I did tell them next morning at reception but they were all like blank looking at me. Had to go off to Havianas and invest in a new pair. Enjoyed staying in Seminyak as I always do, love riding around the gangs and streets and finding new restaurants and shops.
Went to Tanah Lot on motorbike - loved the ride. Geneva Handicrafts always a great place to visit and buy cheap stuff. Discovered Sea Circus Restaurant on Petitenget - great spot for breakfast, and the menu for lunch and dinner and cocktails looked good too. Potato Head for dinner was delicious, and Ku De Ta for breakfast - love their ricotta and blueberry hotcakes!!
Next we went to Ubud for 4 nights - hubby and niece gone home by now. We stayed at Ubud Bungalows in Monkey Forest Road. I have stayed here twice before and love it...For the first time though I have a fan only room to myself. It was cool enough though and I didn't need an aircon though at other times of the year I would definitely need one even in Ubud. The room was large and behind the bed was a window with only flyscreen no glass so it was kind of noisy in the mornings but I wear ear plugs so it didn't bother me. I really liked the room surprisingly. I had a big bed to myself and loved it..We used the hotel to take us to the airport when we left and Wayan was great. They were all booked though so we could not have late check out but left our bags at reception and still used the pool but we did book into a homestay up the road for 150,000 rupiah for about 8 hours so we could shower and have a rest. It was worth it even though we weren't there for much time.
I hired a bike there from my daughters friend and it was brand new!! He bought in in March and it was the best bike I have ever ridden in Bali!!!!! He calls my daughter his daughter and she calls him papa haha.....She has been quite a few times with me and with her dad and stays in Ubud and just before I went she went on her own for a week in Ubud....she is planning how to go to University there now and hoping to stay a few months at the end of the year.
I love Ubud so much and always enjoy staying there so much that my goal now is to stay there for a month at Christmas time and then one day spend at least 3 months there. I know it wont be like a holiday but I will find some volunteer work and maybe do yoga and language classes. The four nights went too fast.
We rode to Tagallalang rice terraces which are beautiful and stopped for a drink then rode on to Kintamani for lunch. A guy on a bike tried to take us to his restaurant but we declined. He followed next to us for quite a while and I even turned around and so did he but we stopped at a small restaurant and he said thats not my restaurant he wasn't very happy.
Restaurants we went too were : - Café Wayan (one of my favourites,) Cinta Bar (great mojitos and food) Three Monkeys - I had the most delicious black pudding with coconut cream and bananas for breakfast and the best coffee, Ijolimut warung - so cheap but nice, Fly Café Warung - only $1.80 for a great vegetarian rice dish - very spicy. A small French warung in Gootama - so cheap $14.00 for 3 of us! Tutmak for breakfast, Pissang Café - Monkey Forest Road - cheap and great cocktails too.
Ubud markets were not crowded so enjoyed that, also Monkey Forest actually walked around the whole place and wasn't scared like I usually am. Loved it! I didn't buy bananas though and found the monkeys stayed away from us.
One day we had a driver and went to Bedugal and that was lovely. Beautiful rice terraces on the way and stopped at two magnificent temples. Lake Bratan temple was awesome! Got some brilliant photos.
I will be back for sure to Ubud as I still love it......My exchange student loved it too!!!
I am now taking 2 or 3 weeks off work to stay with my mum and help her when she gets out of hospital.