2 families travelling together (4 adults, 4 children, Mr 16, Little Miss 14, Mr 14 and Little Miss 12). Our first trip to Bali, our friends 2nd trip (7 years ago)
April 16th - Flew Garuda at 11.50am from Sydney. Got VOA (Visa on Arrival) in Sydney which was quick and easy. Great flight, 6 hours. Individual TV screens with about 30 movies to keep the Mr's and Little Miss's happy, enough leg room to keep the men happy :)Men had their first Bintang. Food was good, especially the Weis bar we got just before landing. We would definitely fly Garuda again. Landed at 4.10pm (Bali time), was in car and heading to Villa Raull within half an hour. I was surprised that it wasn't as hot as i thought it would be.
Our driver (Nyoman) was waiting for us and drove us to our 'home away from home' for the next 10 days. Villa Raull is a 4 bedroom, 4 bathroom Villa on the outshirts of Seminyak. It is situated in the rice paddys at the end of Umalas 1, Seminyak. It is a very well equipped Villa and the staff are very friendly, helpful and happy to help with anything and everything from reservations at restaurants to birthday parties and everything in between.
We were met by all the staff when we arrived and given a long cold drink. Changed into swimmers and took a dip in our private pool while we discussed dinner plans.
Mr 16 and Mr 14 have decided to move here (and we've only been here a few hours). That decision did not change the whole holiday even when Mr 14 came down with Bali Belly (but thats another story)
Nyoman took us to a Warung close by (I can't remember name offhand but can find out if anybody wants it). The dinner was good (lots of duck dishes if thats what you like) but a bit spicy for my liking. The best part was the man who entertained us all night with his guitar and played songs with our kids. He loved that Little Miss 12 and 14 both play the guitar. Great start to our holiday but by the end of the meal at 10pm (midnight at home) everyone was exhausted and ready for bed.
April 17th - I was so excited that i couldn't sleep, i just wanted to get out to start our adventure. I woke at 4am but nobody else was stirring. Mr 14 and Little Miss 14 woke at 6am so we went for a swim. Vasi (our cook) came at 7am to cook us breakfast. We had to drag Mr 16 out of bed almost every day (typical teenager). Everyone is up for breakfast at 8am and at 9am when Nyoman arrives we decide to explore Kuta. Nyoman is a great English speaking driver (we have been lucky to have him as our driver for 8 hours each day - included in the Villa price. Nyoman is happy to stay longer than the 8 hours for a bit more $5 - $10 depending on how long). A driver is included in the price because the Villa is situated a short drive out of town (approx 5 - 10 minutes depending on traffic)
Nyoman takes us to Kuta and drop us at the beach. Within seconds we are swarmed by locals with all their goodies. We somehow get away and head towards Discovery mall. The 5 minute walk ended up taking us 2 hours as we stopped to get Little Miss 12 and 14's hair braided from the ladies outside the Bali Garden Resort ($20 each). I also got a massage ($5) bought too many bracelets and my daughter got a beautiful henna gecko on her wrist. Discovery mall is a large 3 floor shopping complex. It has some shops that will bargain (not heavy bargaining) but most are fixed price. Our favourite shop was Breadtalk (yummy). The smell is divine and the food is just as good and very cheap. Mr 16 would have eaten here every day if he could have. My hubby was sick of shopping so he found a chair and sat down in the airconditioning. I came back to find him being pampered by the reflexology man (Yes! thats the chair he found). We left Discovery and walked along the street towards Kuta. Mr 14 and myself had heard about the Dr Fish and really wanted to have that done, it didn't take us long to find somewhere to get it done as they are everywhere. What a funny experience, we couldn't stop giggling, the fish loved my feet, i must have had lots of dead skin cells to keep them happy lol. Our feet came out so beautifully soft. Walked through Kuta markets but didn't buy anything. Back to Villa Raull for a swim and drinks before dinner.
Dinner at a restaurant i got from the Bali forum called Nirvana. This place is fantastic. Cold cloths, small frozen shot and small spring roll when you arrive was complimentary and a huge bonus but thats not why i would return. The food was amazing (this was one of our favourite restaurants) and the price was cheap (about $40 for 3 adults, 1 child with 4 cocktails 2 for 1 and drinks for kids). The fire show was great and everyone was encouraged to join in for a few giggles. The atmosphere is electric. This place is very busy so best to book but they will do their best to fit you in if you don't (we waited half an hour for our table but plenty of shops to look at if you have to wait). Mr 16 feels like he is in Heaven with all the DVD stores he has found, some of them will know him by name by the end of this holiday :)
April 18 - We headed to Waterbom. This is a large, very well maintained water park. We all had a great day out. If you like a thrill, don't miss the Climax, I screamed the whole way but well worth it. Have to be 40kgs to ride it and they even have scales there to check the kids. Large shade areas which was nice and heaps of pool chairs. Food was good, average price. Photo package of 4 large photos for $30.
Dinner at Sammys which was nice. 2 for 1 cocktails grabbed our attention after a hot day. My husband loved his crab dish and my nasi goreng was yummy. Magic show at our table was a huge hit and kept the kids amused while my hubby devoured his crab. Approx $45 for family of 4 with cocktails and drinks.
April 19th - White Water Rafting with Lapana Rafting. This was on the Telega Waja River, a much narrower rockier river but better for rafting especially if you have been before (my opinion). This took 2 hours from Seminyak with 1 stop to pick up 2 other people. Old transport, hot in van and very little padding on seats, i couldn't wait to get out. Rafting was great fun, Mr 16 and Little Miss 14 loved it as they hadn't been rafting before. My husband and i loved the day but the rafting is a bit tame compared to others. The scenery is fantastic and drinks (you pay for your drinks so take a little bit of cash, I think $1 for soft drink, $2 for beer) at the large waterfall was great. We organised the DVD for the 2 rafts (4 extra people to each raft) which we were VERY pleasantly surprised turned out fantastic. We paid $40 for the DVD, usually $50 for DVD and 3 photos but their camera wasn't working. We could hear Little Miss 12 (in other raft thankfully lol) squealing the whole way. The definite highlight was when we rafted down the 4m (approx) dam wall. Scary but so much fun. A few minutes from the end there is an opportunity to jump from a platform into the river but the hard bit is getting up there. The kids got up with help from locals but they loved it. Unfortunately this is when Mr 14 took in some river water and we think this is where some of the fun for Mr 14 ended :( Lunch at Lapana Restaurant was great. A 2 minute walk from the river (all uphill stairs, about 100) but the view of the rice paddys at the top is wonderful. Showers and towels provided. Take money for a drink, lunch included in price.
Dinner at Rumours. Nyoman recommended this restaurant. Food was great and average priced for Bali (Our family of 4 for about $50 with cocktails). The biggest downfall was how hot it was inside the restaurant, at the end of the meal i couldn't wait to escape outside which is a shame. Free pool table if you are early enough to get it. Mr 14 started to feel unwell so we caught a taksi back to the villa(approx $3.50 with tip from Seminyak).
April 20th - Quad bikes for the men and Mr 14 and 16 and Ubud markets for the ladies and Little Miss 12 and 14. Mr 14 isn't well but thinks he'll feel better soon so we start off on our day. Not a great idea as we needed to stop a few times for him :( He won't let us turn around to go home so we continue on. I can't stress enough how wonderful the Balinese are with children. Nyoman has said that if Mr 14 isn't feeling better that he will take him to his village (which is right near the Quad bikes) and he can stay with his son who is also unwell. Very long trip to Ubud (2 hours) as we stop for Mr 14 and the traffic is VERY heavy. Nyoman drops the girls at Ubud (this is the first place we pay to go to the toilet but they are clean, happy i took my own tissues too). Ubud markets are much better than Kuta and Legian with all the art and craft goodies you could want. We easily spent 2 hours wandering around until Little Miss 12 and 14 got hungry and thirsty and were over shopping in the heat. We walk down the hill stopping in at little stores along the way until we reach the monkey forest. Nyoman and the boys aren't back yet so we decide to wait to do the monkey forest together. We buy some chips and sit in the shade to wait. My friend went to check out the markets close by while i stay with our bags. A man approaches me and says to watch out for monkeys as they might come down to get our food. Thanks for the warning i say but i am disappointed that i can't see any monkey. My friend and Little Miss 12 come back with cold drinks (very welcomed as its such a hot day). Little Miss 12 sits down and just as she opens the can she has a monkey on top of her trying to grab the can. I tell her to stay calm and security shews it away. I couldn't believe how many monkeys came running at the sound of a can of coke. OMG! they were everywhere. One of the monkeys ran for Little Miss 14 and scared her and she dropped the bags that she grabbed when Little Miss 12 had the monkey on her, she drops the bags and one of the terrors tears the bag open and grabs the closest things which is a pair of beautiful beaded thongs my friend bought for herself. Security come running again with little sling shots but the monkey is gone with the thongs lol. Well i thought it was funny but my friend did not lol. The little terror sat above us and picked the beads from the thong and let them fall on top of us. Little Miss 14 was still complaining as one for the monkeys was still taunting her from the tree with her almost empty packet of chips. The boys turned up and we had a quick look through the monkey forest. Mr 14 is still unwell so he stayed in the car. Nyoman thought it was funny too when we were retelling the story on our way home. Quicker to drive home as the traffic isn't as horrendous and Nyoman takes us on the back road to escape the heavy traffic. Home in just over an hour from Ubud as Nyoman takes us on the back roads to escape the heavy traffic.
Dinner at Villa tonight as Mr 14 and his Dad aren't feeling well. Home delivered dinner was great and hot. Pasta dishes all round were very cheap ($30 to feed 6 of us including tip). Was really nice to relax and have a few drinks and swim.
This is only half of our holiday but i will write it in 2 JBR's as they will be too long.
We officially LOVE Bali and completely understand why people keep returning. This has been our favourite holiday and i am looking forwared to returning next year to do the things i missed. So much to do, so little time to do it in.