Flew on last flight from Jakarta to Bali so in bed at 2am - TIRED..
In Bali I crashed at a cheap but cool little place called Drupadi Studio apartments. About $50 per night - no brekky - basic bathroom but good/big bedroom & kitchenette. Very firm mattress - bit of street noise. Good for a 12 hours visit which is what I did. Wifi A/C good telly....
I made it my business to go to Vienna Café also In Jalan Drupadi as have wanted to for ages. Fantastic gem of a place. Amazing Crepes and was great to get a decent coffee. Just really quaint and unexpected. Photos online do it no justice. I snooped about looking at what others had on their plates and it all looked top knotch.
Shot down to the Seminyak Flea Market - terrible name for such a nice market and bought a top, pants, kinda boob tube thing - not for me - and a scarf. About $30 the lot and she gave me a necklace and a bracelet. I've done really well at this place now a few times as they have stuff I've not seen elsewhere.
THEN - off to Chintimani Women's Retreat for 3 nights and four days of Heaven. Is about 30 minutes North of Seminyak - kinda near Tanah Lot and or Echo Beach.
Let me share a day with you - stop reading now if you are the jealous bitter type :-)
Wake in heavenly room
Wander throught the glorious grounds to Yoga and meditation ( first time ever for me)
Freshen up then best brekky ever...
Spa treatment for an hour - Massage
Rest and refresh
Lunch - best Indonesian food I've had in 30 trips to Bali...
Another Spa treatment - mani/pedi
Afternoon fruit platter
More Yoga and meditation
Shower in outdoor bathroom
Cocktails 6 - 7pm
Dinner - more of that wonderful Indonesian cooking then after some pleasant conversation ( mostly about the important things in life - shopping!! )
Bed - 4 poster - netting - bliss
So before you start making voodoo dolls of me due to painful envy I have some good news...
This place has a two for one on right now - June - as they are just brand new and trying to get known. So is about $3500 for a week BUT includes all I just mentioned/enjoyed.... So if two of you ladies reading this want to run away from home you get a room each for $1750 for a week of sublime bliss. Included Airport Transfers and extras I have not mentioned. Like they took me shopping in Seminyak to do some last minute stuff - DVD's - Martha Tillar cosmetics - pay some money to a hotel for my husbands next trip - buy cigarettes for my Mother.. Errands.. and all just so nice with the driver whizzing me about.
I was such a mess when I got there I was booked for cortisone injections in my shoulder when I got home - Nuh!! Don't need it now. The yoga and few days of dropping out was all I needed.
So if you can try and shop til you drop and drop in style - sure worked for me
Happy Travels
Nicno xx