I left Brisbane on the Friday morning at 10.10 am on Virgin and I have to say it was a great flight and the hours just slipped by and we arrived about 20 minutes early. Being in row 5C I was on the first bus and skipped through both the VOA and Customs but all this time was lost with a long 30 minute wait for the luggage to come through. But no worries I was in my lovely Bali.
I was picked up by a driver from Kuta Angel Hotel where I was staying for the first 4 nights. Loved this quirky boutique hotel right in the heart of Kuta and just around the corner from Kuta Square - for those interested I have written a review.
That afternoon after check in I ventured out to get money changed (10,750rp) my SIM card, stock up on toiletries, my favourite Revlon lippy, drinks, and nibbles at Matahari. And have my first nasi goreng at Dulang Kafe the one near Matahari with the mist spray out front ... great way to start a wonderful holiday. Back up to room to clean up and go have my first massage of the trip 175,000rp ++ at Angels Heaven Spa located on the top floor at Kuta Angel. Having been awake at 3.30am that morning I crashed early.
As most of you know I am a spa-alcoholic so if you want to read more about my sometimes several treatments per day varying from upmarket resort spas, day spas, and salons then you might like to check out my 3 Part blog http://www.salonspabusiness.com/index.php?page=blog
Day two I was up early for my morning walk around Kuta and then caught a taxi to Cocoon for brunch before being picked up by the driver from Lady Marmalade Nails & Spa after a lovely pedi and a chat to Mr Made (the owner) I headed to Tommy's Handbags to order a copy of a Bally tote in navy for my daughter. She is the ultimate perfectionist and although I have had bags made for her from Tommy before I am always on edge that it may not turn out the way she wants. I had emailed photos, measurements etc and had an appointment with Tommy himself (such a lovely helpful man) ... but the colour she wanted presented a problem.
So I was asked to come back on Monday before heading to Sanur to select from a few new colours they would have for me to choose from. Long story short I did this on Monday and by Tuesday when I had relocated to Sanur I got a phone call to say they couldn't get enough of the chosen leather. But Tommy said he was happy to make up the bag in another navy leather he thought would be closer to the photo colour but if I was not happy with the end result I would get the deposit back. After worrying about it for 6 days when I went to pick the bag up it was perfect and daughter was very pleased. Cost 1 million rp not bad when the real Bally costs $1,200 and it's hard to tell the difference.
Did the usual visit to Ketut's to pick up sons favourite Nike long shorts 40,000rp and to organize for the making of a long pair of cargo pants for the big fella (son) at 110,000rp. Has a little further browse around Garlic Lane and dinner at Our's. I finished my day with a very relaxing Lomi Lomi massage 85,000rp at Inner Glow in Jl. Pantai Kuta a few doors down from my hotel ... excellent as usual but I do think they need a complete refurb as it's getting a bit shabby.
The next day was my best massage of the trip at the Sheraton Kuta's Shine Spa still well priced in my view for the quality of the treatment and the lovely surroundings at 320,000rp ++. I then went for a look through Beachwalk but couldn't find anything I would spend my money on then tried to find Fat Cow Café in Poppies 2 but must have had my post-massage blinkers on because I didn't locate it but did so later in the trip. Walked all the way through Poppies out onto Jl. Legian and then stop ... starting whenever I needed a cool drink or Air Con till I got to Megah Disc on Bemo Corner - Michael from Megah had emailed me the movie & TV list so I had an over 200 DVD list for myself, son and granddaughter. I sat down in the cool while the nice lad collected my DVD's.
Then it was back to my hotel for a cool shower in my room called '27 Degrees' (Kuta Angel names not numbers their rooms) personally I felt they should have put me in the one called 'Me, Myself and I' seeing I was solo. Loved this hotel because it is so new clean the Air Con is excellent and the staff are all great. Had another nasi goreng and melon juice for dinner again at Dulang Kafe ... can't beat it.
Monday was a shopping day and I had hired a driver (good English) for the day through the reception at the hotel but at the street price of 500,000rp. I was on a mission and at 8.30am we headed to Canggu way to have breakfast at the beautiful Bungalow Living Café yummy fresh healthy modern style food. I have been following Bungalow Living on Facebook and wanted to meet the famed BB King the owner Giovanna's chocolate standard poodle. Well I was in luck because not only did I catch up with Giovanna and BB King but his half-sister was visiting with her owners a delightful expat Aussie retired couple ... retirement is looking good to me in Bali!
Then it was off to my next stop at OLé OLé OLLIE Cupcakes for morning tea and I had the most amazing Red Velvet Cupcake and a chat with another local Aussie expat who is also in the spa industry. OLé OLé supports the 'I Love Bali Dogs' group and I wanted to pick up a few fund raising gifts they stock for a dear friend back home who is involved in caring for abandoned dogs back here in OZ.
Then it was on to Echo Beach to the Therapy Spa where I had my Sparkling Ice Ball Facial - read all about it in my blog. Lovely treatment and this urban spa is gorgeous and my facial was 300,000rp. On our way back we called into Divine Diva the plus ladies shop but unfortunately I didn't find anything I wanted and as I live on the Gold Coast and visit Noosa regularly I had quite a few outfits of similar design. We then headed to my next spa appointment at Think Pink Nail Spa for a manicure appointment unfortunately I mixed up the address and didn't have their phone number with me so after wasting 30 minutes we gave up. But I emailed them when I got back to the hotel and apologised and rebooked for later in the trip.
On the way back down Jl. Raya Seminyak I saw the Rope Dogs that have been talked about recently on TA well I bargained down and got the small size for 150,000rp and it was meant to be a gift for my dog-mad granddaughter but unfortunately even though I did the plastic bag and pest spray thingy it was still confiscated at Customs although if I had wanted to spend $120 for a gamma ray treatment I could have kept it. By the way I found out they are made of banana leaves ... there lays the problem.
Tuesday was hotel move day ... onto Sanur but before then I was heading to Glow Spa at Mandira for a Golden Spoon Facial 295,000++... this treatment won the best facial of the trip gong. Back to the hotel and onto relaxing Sanur.
More to follow ....
Cheers Caro