9 and a half days but did quite a lot!
In my last JBR I mentioned that it was my second trip for the year and I would need to concentrate on house repairs until next July. Then my friend Ali begged me to go with her for a short trip of 9 days. Well being a good friend I had to oblige and we had a fantastic time. My 12th trip I think. In the July trip Ali was also at Sanur (first time Sanur but several Bali trips) so we slipped back into the place rather easily.
Day(night really) 1.27th September
Hate the late flight in from Adelaide but we got to the Bumi Ayu Hotel around midnight and headed down to Warung Beringan for a late dinner. Under $2 for one of Annie's delicious Nasi Gorengs, the streets were actually quite busy being a weekend.(Even in Sanur)
Day 2 Sunday
Next morning after a light breaky we were off to Ayu Spa for quick hairstyling before heading to the St Regis for the well known Sunday Brunch. That was my fourth St Regis visit for the year and while many dishes are always available the desserts change regularly which is good. Fantastic time.
Using our great planning skills to get the most out of the short stay, we did a stop at a few surf outlets on the way back for a little Christmas shopping.
I hadn't let my local friends know I was coming and after surprising the mum of our teenage friend (in tears) we went to the cafe in Renon called Gosha where she works Sundays all day and in the mornings before going to college at night. It gave her quite a shock. The cafe has lovely food.
Day 3 Monday 29th September
For the first time we made use of the long lounges on the beach at Luhtus. Had breakfast, turns for massages at the adjacent spa and some swimming.
Called into the leather shop I use (Full Collection) and we ordered some shoes each and a hot pink jacket for me.
Quick shower, coffee at Kopi Kiosk and a catch up with the guys that work there.
Dinner was at Kayu Manis, always great food. I ordered tuna steak for main course cooked medium, I should have said well done as it was a little under for my liking and I was just eating around the edges when out of the kitchen about 15 metres from me came the chef/owner? to enquire if something was wrong. I don't know how he could even see it at that distance, meal recooked to my liking and a lovely farewell at the end - that was great service. Beware though of small boulders on the footpath near the restaurant or you may walk straight into one as Ali did. (think they are to stop cars parking but not terribly well lit area). Unfortunately I did find it amusing. Blame the wine.
Stopped at one of the beach cafes for a catch up with another local friend on the way home.
Day 4 Tuesday
Busy day starting at Alta Moda for fabric shopping. They have lovely silk and strethy fabric.
Sea Circus for one of the delicious raspberry juice virgin Mohitos and then some strolling through a market at Seminyak. Biku for High Tea for lunch with a glass of bubbly- always lovely. This day was almost a recreation of one in July.
Stopped at Tina's shop, Soul Sisters and a few others at Legian.
Once home went to see the tailor with our fabric and talk designs.
Great dinner at Mona Lisa's
Day 5 Wednesday
We finally got back to Zula's for breakfast (loved it in July) and sat upstairs with the great wifi and food for a couple of hours.
Moved to go to lunch, back to Gosha to see our friend.
Then a whizz round Denpasar as Ali had not been in before. Would have been nice to have a stroll but stopped at Gramedia for some book and stationery supplies and some kids clothes at Matahari and then time to head back towards Sanur.
Did food shopping at Lotte to take to some families who live at the rubbish dump village and we had a lovely catch up with the family of two young kids I sponsor through Bali Care. They had a new baby sister so I had gathered a lot of clothes from friends to take with me. Lots of cuddling and photos with the baby.The Coke $2 soccer ball was also a big hit. My travel agent had paid for an extra 20 kilos for me and then given me clothes from her children and bits and pieces and a lot of that went to these families to share.
Home for a pool swim and some Gin and Tonics - bit slow on the drinking - it's the same duty free bottle from about 3 years ago.
Dinner at a newish cafe called Elsewhere which was really good, even has vegetarian options.
Quick shopping in Hardys - often find a nice dress in there at a bargain price.
Day 6 Thursday
Breakfast at The Porch - lovely.
Massages
A bit of a restful day.
Dinner at Echo Beach and then a drink at nearby Old Mans Bar.
Day 7 Friday
Writing this it does seem a lot of food was consumed. True. But today we outdid our selves.
Left home at 8am and returned about 12 hours later and never left Sanur.
Started with a breakfast at Zula. Granola with cashew milk and raspberry and mint juice for me.
Long walk along the beach path. Hours.
Coffee at Sweet Magnolia.
Lemon Meringue Pie at Gardenia. also bought a set of three mirrors here with the thin, silver metal around them in heart shapes.
Popped in to say hi to Ron and Irma (and order a grill thingy I got once before when I saw it at cooking lesson - my son plans to expand his cooking set up )
Bit more walking.
Lunch at Kayu Api, new to us, it overlooks the golf course on one side which is lovely and the Bypass Road on the other, bit of traffic noise but lovely service and food.
Cake and coffee at Ruth's nearby.
Took our young friend jeans shopping at Hardys which was a lot of fun. Dinner at Lilla's - great.
Got a few big bags of rice for some friends and a bemo helped us deliver them which was fun.
Day 8 Saturday
Breakfast at Lilla's which is excellent value and included great mango juice.
Picked up by our driver and made a stop for take away at Kopi Kiosk.
Off to Blue Lagoon for snorkelling. Tide was good so not too bad to get in and plenty of fish immediately. Taking lots of underwater pics of numerous fish varieties and then I saw a very large snake.I took lots of shots of it but it wasn't long and my camera was showing a message I couldn't read underwater. Turns out water was getting in and I now have no evidence of the "extremely enormous" snake.
We went down the hill to Padang Bai for lunch at the Colonial restaurant. Just being near the wharf of my fast boat trip to Gili T in July was enough to make me shudder. (Very rough crossing I will not do again).
This restaurant is used by a lot of divers and has an extensive and delicious menu. Hammocks out the front if you are so inclined.
We then drove to Klungkung to visit a small orphanage (Kingdom Home) that I spent an afternoon at in July with three friends doing crafts. We were mainly there to take the photos of each of the kids with the art they made that day. The photos were very popular and the kids very polite and lovely. The girls were having a sewing lesson when we arrived and looked the part with tape measures around their necks, they proudly showed off small bags they had sewn previously.
Dinner was at one of the cafes on Tamblingan - didn't choose well but still edible.
Day 9 Sunday
Pancake with lemon for breakfast.
Ayu spa for hairstyles (this is our tradition now prior to fancy brunches) Note: If you leave your brush home don't buy one just vist the hairdresser and have a shampoo and braid done every few days and it will look great and save a lot of effort.
Did a little shopping at Tootsies and Jenny's fixed price shops - nice to take the families at home something. Great new ladies leather thongs for $4 also.
So off to the Regent Hotel (Sanur) for the lobster brunch. This will be added to all future visits. Choices are oysters, smoked salmon, parma ham, beef carpaccio, cheeses and salads but the main attraction is the lobster. Cold, cocktails, grilled, soup, pasta, egg benedict all with lobster. My brother messaged to see how many I had eaten, my reply was "a small school". I grew up with a Dad who had lobster pots and thought I'd had enough of them in the past but I was wrong. Delicious, well presented food, many small desserts such as pineapple crumble, shot glasses of fancy things, macaroons etc. Wine, beer, soft drink teas and coffee and some virgin cocktails are included for $70 pp. Really nice laid back three piece band. A great afternoon on Jan and Ali's culinary tour.
Picked up the hotplate at Rons and taxi home for a swim.
We usually have a big family dinner at the hotel with our local friends but this time it was the mums and daughters (as one dad was sick another at Banjar business, a son at dance) we had a good night and topped it off with a stroll round the neighbourhood which made many dogs let their owners know strangers were around.
Day 10 Monday and departure day.
Room service pancake.
Stroll through Griya Santrian to try our new photo tips (from a table sharer at Echo Beach) out amongst the beautiful gardens. Stop for coffee. A visit from friends, visit to other friends. Lilla lunch with local friends and dropping off more clothes to people.
Leisurely coffee at Tanjung Sari enjoying the sea view followed by last minute Hardies shopping.
I was a bit sad I hadn't seen "my ibu" an elderly recycling lady who goes up and down Tamblingan whom I usually meet up with once or twice a trip. Interestingly it is often on my last day when I have given up seeing her. We were at the fish spa when Ali spotted her and I jumped up and chased her. She doesn't speak Indonesian only Balinese so we just mostly smile. The trip felt more complete now.
Last swim, last gin and tonic. Collect shoes, collect clothes being made - all great. Final dinner at Mona Lisa's. Weigh our luggage (We came with 80 Kilos, mostly to give away) and we are spot on the usual allowance to take home with lots of Christmas shopping covered as well.
Good trip with Jetstar home.
NOW, I will not go back to Bali till July 2015! Probably Not.
Cheers
Jan