Well as sad as it is I am writing a JBR, which means my trip is over and I am back in cold NSW.
Warning it's long, but I love to write it all down as it makes a great memory for me, so read what you want and leave the rest...
This trip was a work trip for me and 2 girlfriends joined me. GF1 is bubbly and outgoing and has travelled the world on her own and been to Bali before. GF2 has never travelled, has OCD hygiene, is gluten and lactose intolerant...I know, I know you are thinking what was I thinking, but I love her to bits, she is the kindest person, and though a holiday with the girls would be wonderful for her.
We flew Jetstar from Sydney on 16th May 5pm head off. Got to airport and checked in ok. Met up with a friend and her family who were on some flight and had a champers at the bar. Flight left on time, good service no issues. Flight landed on time, grabbed my VOA, and had the $25usd cash off to line up pass port stamped, grabbed bags, declared our food, which they did not want to see. We were out to meet our trusty driver Made within 30 minutes (10.30pm). We are driving through some dodgy streets and GF2's jaw was hitting the floor. I say to Made where the hell are we, he said we go back streets less traffic...ok but it was funny seeing GF2 face, looked like she wanted to go back to the airport....
First night at Kumala Pantai, I had booked here as I was originally travelling on my own so good budget if paying for room by myself. As I had paid a night deposit we stayed here one night and then moved to Padma. Now I will probably get slammed for this as lots of people like the Kumala Pantai and while I thought it was good value for money I was frustrated that they could easily fix a few things and make it great. Rooms was nice and simple, sheets had a few stain, clump of hair in bathroom corner, some mould in shower but most off putting thing for me was the huge blood stain on my towel. I quickly hid that so GF2 did not freak out. Lovely big veranda overlooking pool. We were in s block on first floor. My friend travelling with their family were below us right near the pool bar and had 2 bedrooms with lounge room in middle. Her room was massive, only down side for me was lounge looked a little grotty. I just really think it needs a good clean but otherwise great.
Next morning I got up early left GF1 and GF2 snoring away and walked down beach path to Mozzarella and booked a table for 7 pax for dinner that night. I had heard it was goo so wanted to check it out. Breaky at KP was ok but man so many bees hanging around, I was a little nervous as I do tend to swell from bee stings....Had eggs and bacon and all the normal goodies....
After breaky we packed up and moved to Padma hotel. OMG this place is good but you pay for it too so while I would love to stay there again it would depend on my budget. Our room wasn't ready so we decided to do a little shopping and show GF2 the ropes on money and how to haggle...Did I mention she is a shopper holic...Grabbed some money from atm at minimart in Padma street and then off to Jimmy dvd, GF1 and I grabbed some Dvd's GF2 says I will just grab a few for the kids I don't really need any 29 dvd's later she had cottoned on at just over $1 each they are a bargain.... We wonder through a few shops and I head to Komang tailor to drop off some shorts that fit me and some fabric so they can make me ¾ pants 150,000 each ready in 3 days....Komang says she is very busy, even though everyone is saying Bali is quiet and the streets are not overly busy. She does a good job so I am happy to go there.
We check out garlic lane, GF2 sees something's she likes and we have a haggle and get a few items, she is so confused with the money but we are checking for her until she gets the hang of it. We pop into Ketut's 600,00 later and I have some goodies for the kids, great Roxy shorts in denim for my daughter and a great Roxy hoody, lots of other shorts, t-shirts caps and dresses, I don't like to buy everything in one shop as I like to share the love but Ketut's is so easy. I must say this trip I did get frustrating with the starting price of some shops....Maybe I look like I have never been to Bali before but seriously 400,000 for a fake watch or 600,000 for a Ducati shirt. Some of them are over the top. I ended up just walking away if starting price was so ridiculous. I know we need to haggle but at least start in the ball park not 8 times what I am happy to pay. I just needed to teach GF2 not to look so keen, she would say but I love it I have to have it...mmmm not at that price we don't keep walking you will see the same thing 20 times today.... I tried to explain to a few nice shop keepers that lots of Australian are going to fixed price shops because it is quicker and easier, on a bright note many shops started at reasonable prices which resulted in a quick haggle an agreed price for a quick sale, that is the way a I like it......... I ordered 2 long pillow covers for my bench seat back home 2 colours 200,000 each, outdoor fabric, ready in 2 days.
GF 1 and 2 still shopping. I was getting hot and thinking I have been in Bali for 16 hours and have yet to have a bintang. I am not a big beer drinker but in Bali when so hot it is perfect. I spot Ours bar across the road and I am there. One cold bintang coming up...hot chips as I had missed lunch and all is good, so good in fact I have another. Girls join me and we watch the world go buy for a whole 30 minutes...nice......did I mention GF2 loves shopping. She spots the shirts the waiters are wearing with vest and bow tie printed on, she goes and asked do you sell them, no but we can make them for you. An order placed over drinks T-shirts will be ready in 2 days...Back to the Padma to check in, Our room is great spotlessly clean, huge bath, lovely porch opening into grass and gardens. We have a premier twin room with rollaway.... Ground floor. In block near lagoon room, we paid in USD cash so no hassle with them converting to rupiah then charging to my AUD credit card etc...Off for a swim and drink at the pool bar, now this is the life....Must get some work stuff done tomorrow...
Off to dinner at Mozzarella with our friend from KP. Now I have to say I was impressed, the crème brulee was to die for. The 2 for one cocktail every night is a winner, the staff are fab and all meals very reasonable price. They were all aware about GF options on the menu and helped my friend pick a great meal that she enjoyed....Dearest seemed to be 100,000 most things around 70,000 to 80,000. Had chilli basil prawns with parsley and garlic potatoes and fresh veg...almost forgot I was in Bali, until the gorgeous waiter came over and asked if we wanted more cocktails....of course at 2 for 85,000 who wouldn't. So bill worked out $25aud each for 2 coursed each plus loads of drinks....No complaints here... Off to bed at the Padma, bed so comfy and I am crashed out in minutes, not sure if it was all the shopping in the sun or the cocktails....
Friday morning rise and shine. I am being picked up by my friend who arranges stuff for my business and her family at 9am so I better hot foot it to breaky....OK reality check....Fast and breaky at the Padma will no longer be used in the same sentence. This place is insane and I have never seen such a huge buffet breakfast. We get a tour guide on the gluten free food from one of the staff and we are away. The is a cold meat and salad station, a bread and pastry station, a fruit and cereal station, an Indonesian station, a Japanese station, a sweets station, eggs bacon and all that station and a juice station. Not kidding ...lunch will no longer be required for the rest of the week....So into the bacon and eggs, banana bread chaser hot tea keeps coming, fresh pineapple and juice...oh can I squeeze in a choc croissant...yep maybe I shouldn't have but god they are good.....More tea to wash it down and I am ready to take on Denpasar....
I meet my Bali friend and get to meet her hubby and son for the first time....Her hubby will be our diver for the day. So off we go to Indograph printing to pay and pick all my printing I have pre-ordered. All is perfect so load up and off to fabric shops on Denpasar. This is amazing, shop after shop full of fabric. I love all the batik and printed fabrics. Anyone who does patchwork would be in heaven here; we found Jelly rolls in gorgeous fabric for just $13 each. Saw a few Aussies ladies stocking up. Cotton fabrics are about $3 to $4 a metre....... I found some lovely fabric for my kids range and we buy up. After about 20 fabric shops it is just the same same but different, love that saying.
We move onto see Burhan the gold jewellery man. I have made an appt for 12 noon so he is expecting me. We found the shop easily and this was one of the easiest purchases I have ever made. Rocked up with my old gold jewellery and in 20 minutes we have agreed to make it into 5 Pandora charms, I took the book from home, and one large pair of gold hoop earrings. This would all set me back about 750,000 made from my old gold, bargain! Thanks to stephjoy for the info. They delivered to my hotel 3 days later. He even returned the sapphires from some rings that we did not use. I promptly sent them back with driver as I didn't need them and figured he could use them. Lovely guy, so easy and great work....
Work in Denpasar is done so we are off to my friend's house. We stop and pick up some fruit. I was so worried it was going to be that smelly fruit everyone talks about, thanks goodness it was watermelon. I have never been inside a Balinese house before. It was great to see, so much smaller than what we have, makes me realise how lucky we really are. They had 2 bedrooms, a small kitchen and another smaller entrance area with a desk. Tinny bathroom and a little court yard to keep the bikes. They are happy to tell me about their life over some water melon and we discuss a little business. Good for me good for them. I learnt a bit about the way the Balinese live and really enjoyed the day. Back to the Padma. No sign of GF 1 and GF2 turns out their shopping expedition is still going. Quick change and I am off to the beach. This is the part of Bali I love. I head down to Sudras bar in front of LBH. I had stayed there once before and went to this bar each after noon so it was great to see some familiar faces. Funny how you remember them from years before. A cold binnie, a massage from Fergie and buy a few bits from the girls. Now I really feel I am in Bali. What a great day. Achieved some work stuff and a relax on the beach; it doesn't get any better than this. Back to hotel and meet up with the girls...did I mention we needed a porter trolley on many days to get the shopping back to the room, sad but true.... Nice swim and get ready for dinner. We are off to Bali Rani for dinner. GF1 stayed down this way last time and said she had a few good meals there. Sat in the aircon no smoking part, leather high back chairs, lots of glass all good. Order some drinks and tackle the GF meal. This took a while but we get there in the end. Meals come and they are great. My first nasi goreng and sate sticks....Totally stuffed, we wander out onto the street. Lovely night wondering in Bali...Then in a cab and back to the Padma.
Saturday I need to get a few more things done on my list so off to Bali Brumby to arrange embroidery of my logo onto aprons, thanks to a tip from the travel forum or I never would have known where to get them done. 150,000 set up cost and 50,000 per apron. Logo is about 20cm long so quite large, I am really happy with this price. They will be ready Wednesday morning before I leave. I also arrange a few sundresses, a copy of one I have with me. They delivered them all to my hotel and all perfect and as arranged...Aprons looks so great.
Off to Mattahari for some shopping. We loose GF2 who doesn't show up at meeting time... Don't think she got out of the shoe dept. GF1 has had enough shopping so she heads back to the Padma for swim and then onto Santia spa for a 1hr massage 80,000 rup ...bargain... I finally find GF2 who has definitely got the hang of shopping Bali style. We popped into the supermarket down stairs and got some satay blocks, kiss spray, nasi goreng mix, voltaren, razors, vanilla beans and saffron flower...Great prices compared to Aust...Back to legian and I head to Komangs to arrange some more pants to be made, a dinner jacket for my 12 yr old son for 750,000. I had taken his measurements and it come out perfect. Sleeve maybe 2cm too long but still a few months of growing.....
Back to Padma as I had arranged and early dinner with my dad and his friend who are also staying at the Padma. Now my dad is a stickler for eating early and goes to bed by 9.... He is getting on in age and set in his ways. I though Mozzarella by the sea would be good as we had enjoyed it so much. We got last table up the back at 6pm, all other tables booked...those 2 for one cocktails are great once again. I ordered Caesar salad, Atlantic salmon and crème brulee. They had a fab Beatles band that made the night. They were singing when I'm 64. We had a sing along and joke with my dad who turns 64 later this year. He jokes it's his birthday in 3 days. I know his joking but GF 1 and 2 thought he was for real. They went and told the band who told the staff....She comes back and says to me I have organised a surprise for your dad. They sang happy birthday. Bought our a cake, all the staff came and wished him a happy birthday...LMAO he went along with it which just made it more funny then I had to tell GF's that it wasn't really his birthday until October....Diner was $150aud for 5 people, we all had 3 course each and lots of drinks....We had a fab night, lots of dancing, place was packed.....We danced our way out of the restaurant and down the beach path back to Padma.....Best night I had had in a while....Just got to love Bali...