We are just back after two and half weeks of fabulous holiday in Bali.
Some observations:
Taxis: Used any taxis that drove by. They all used meters (some prompted). Were clean, good drivers and polite.
Best meal: Sails at Amed. Quite simply the best steak and mashed tatties I have ever eaten. View of the sea with the moon was spectacular (and romantic).
Worst meal and service: Monsoon in Legian. Felt like we were gate crashing a private function. Had to track down staff for a beer and to order and ask three times for the bill. Lousy meal, but possibly my fault for ordering breaded chicken with ham and cheese. I got what I ordered, but it was heavy and greasy.
Best view and atmosphere: No question, the upstairs room at Tegal Sari with the view of the rice fields. It had a timeless tranquility about it.
What I am missing most already: An ice cold Bintang on the beach watching the sun go down. A polite "no thank you" and the traders left us alone.
Maybe I'm getting old: The bars like Billys and Legends didn't do it for me. Music OK, but not many people and I sort of wondered what I was doing there.
Sports bars crowded and good atmosphere for the big games (league, rugby and Aussie Rules).
Only one place in the world I would eat nasi goreng or banana pancakes for breakfast.
Lounge hogs: They irritate me. If you ain't going to be on the pool lounge seat, don't try and hog it by leaving a book or towel there for hours.
A place so special I'm not going to tell you about it: Wawa Wewe 2.
Footpaths: Much better than I've ever seen (been visiting for 18 years).
CDs: Bought stuff I would never by at home just to see if I liked it. And if I do, I tend to buy full price stuff by the same artists when I get home (which helps deal with my guilt about piracy).
Secret delight: BBQ corn on the cob, dripping with something dubious that could relate to butter, but the taste was delicious and to hell with the risk.
What on earth can motivate women to shop for hours when they don't really want or need to buy anything?
There is a bit of "feel good factor" when buying somethings for a bit more than you probably need to pay, but at prices that are so cheap, why not share a bit of the goodwill.
Bintang is excelleent in Bali. I wouldn't drink it anywhere else.
Ewwww: Hotel toilets which swirl your deposits alarmingly close to the top of the bowl before draining away are oddly fascinating to watch. Like car crashes.
It is best to never know what cloths and water are used to clean hotel toilets and glassware in your room.
Is there anywhere elese in the world where "selemat pagi" gets such a friendly, happy and warm response?
Cheap dental work virtually covers the costs of airfares, even from NZ.
And finally: we should have stayed longer. Doing very little in the sunshine is compelling. Sometimes my morning nap nearly cut into my time for a swim or lunch. My afternoon doze sometimes made me late for my early evening Bintang.