5. 16th March 2012 – Part 2 – You say Snore, I say Sanur

2nd  Annual MonoWilli&Clops ChilLaxCation March 2012

Sanur – Bacon, walking standing still & ice cream

Day 6 continued

we lug our suitcase & 3 carry on luggage down onto the street to find a cab. Hoping for a newish one with a normal driver & cool air con we kind of get the opposite (old car, key stuck in boot, driver wearing no shoes, weird whirling sound as car gains speed & no seat belts – great!). Oh well what’s 30 mins of terror?

Eventually we arrive at the Griya Santrian in Sanur. My first impressions of the hotel aren’t that positive but then we have come from such a wonderful property. Never mind, we are helped with our bags to our Suite at the back of the hotel. The poor porter who insisted on carrying our 25 kg bag upstairs did a great job of making us feel welcome. Our Suite is great – we are very happy with the room & pretty big veranda.

This is going to be a great stay.

We are hungry so we head out onto the beach path and wander around the corner heading North. 3 steps along my husband & I turn grinning to each other “I know where we are!” we say. An overwhelming sense of comfort & calm descends upon us. We are home : )

We dine next door at the Besahki. It’s amazing, we feel like we have never left after last year.

We gather our washing and head out in search of a laundry. We wander down a little Jalan and admire how street proud the Baliense are. Ladies out sweeping, street free from litter. We find our laundry and get it weighed – 4.2 kg – it’s going to cost 40,000! Bargin! I would gladly pay them double & maybe even triple. (note: I might have miss quoted the weight & prices here but it was a very good deal in my mind!).

Down to Hardy’s for some groceries then back for a swim. Decisions, decisions… which out of the 3 pools will we choose? We choose the beach front one right on the path. After our swim we head out for dinner. We dine at the restaurant at La Taverna. It’s called something like Isalata. It’s expensive for what it is but we really don’t care tonight. The restaurant at night is just so appealing. All the twinkling candle and several different areas to sit it really was beautiful. Walking past in the day light it just isn’t the same – but that can be said for any place can’t it. I had a cocktail and I didn’t care (within reason) how much it cost I just wanted it to taste like it should but it didn’t, it was watered down. This happened in other places too so must be a normal MO in Sanur.

We get home and walk through the door only to be punched in the nose by a very strong smell of cigar smoke! DISGUSTING! Our room has an interconnecting door and this is where the smoke is coming from. I can not on behalf of my child, husband or myself tolerate this so go to front desk and calmly explain the problem. There is no others suite available for us to move to. The only other room is the lowest room style. I ask if they have some gaff or packing tape and if we can tape up the door gaps – they happily oblige thank goodness. Air con on to rid the room of foul stench. We all sleep well.

Day 7

Breakfast buffet is good. It’s small but has almost everything we need. No bacon!!!! Oh well, somehow my husband survives the lack of pork and we can continue the day.

Today is the day we swim in the ocean! It’s cooler than last year but really delicious. Even girl comes in for a splash (‘the ocean isn’t a real pool cause you can’t see the bottom’ – I honestly don’t know where is gets this from as she’s been swimming happily in Sydney beaches all her life).

Lunch time so we wander south along beach path past our beloved Hyatt & land of the snea snake (from our trip last year a sea snake was capture in the water at the Hyatt – daughter couldn’t say sea snake, kept coming out snea snake – it was very funny at the time and we tease her about it frequently!), to Bamboo cafe. Coooold Bintangs and right on the water. This is what it’s all about!

We walk (if you can call the slowest act of motion above standing still walking!) back for a rest in the cool room before going and collecting our washing & having some ice cream. I have waited 12 months to know this sensation that you all rave about…. we gather around the plastic bag and slowly peel it open and draw in deep breathes…. niiiiccccceeeee. Mummy very happy.

Dinner is at the beach front hotel restaurant. It’s ok. Husbands dish was so-so, daughters dish was weird & mine was just right. It’s funny but in & around the hotel we feel like the only Australians. We notice the accents & other languages around us – it’s different to what I was expecting and what we encountered in Seminyak.

That night there is a huge storm bring down trees & cutting off road. No one is hurt to our knowledge.

Day 8

Today is Sunday, 18th March – the day the ‘terrorist cell’ are caught & killed.

Breakfast Buffet has bacon. Today was mission DVD’s. We ambled south along Jalan Tamalingalongalongsomethingorother to the start of the Hyatt before crossing and heading north again. 39 DVD’s & 5 CD’s later we head up to Hardy’s. Our suite doesn’t have a bottle opener so I think we need to get ourselves one of the carved wooden ones, you know the penis shaped ones! We chance upon a whole stack of them at a little street store and I blush as I pay full asking price to the lady. Her first sale of the day and she gets her asking price and has a good laugh at silly old me! (If you think I was uncomfortable here then just imagine my at Sydney customs!)The main thing is we can now open out Bintangs.

The Australian Grand Prix is on so Husband is busy for the day. No mind as girl & I swim, watch dvd’s & annoy him. Room service for lunch as husband can’t possibly miss a moment of Webber not coming first again. Girl & I swim and Daddy joins us later. We have a cocktail each (just the adults!) and chill out.

I have a hair cream bath but don’t really rate it. I can imagine how it could be wonderful but not for me stuck in a hairdressers chair/sink thing (I’m quite tall so it’s a bit uncomfortable). Spa area at the Griya Santrian is interesting. It’s a little cabana style building with open walls so you hear any conversations walking past & feel the breeze.

Dinner we went to the Three Monkeys. Can I just say that it was the best meal we had all holiday. It was a bit over $50 including 2 cocktails & 2 courses for 3 people & some soft drinks but it was just so great to eat something inspired & out of the usual deep fried or pizza or nasi goreng style that we had been having. The cocktails tasted like they should, the food was so fresh & tasty. The service was smart and the restaurant design & furniture was a real treat. I wish we had a restaurant in our suburb like this. If you can spare $50 for dinner and are in Sanur please give them a try. They also have 2 restaurants in Ubud the waiter was saying.

We go back to hotel and watch Tin Tin. Another storm in the night but not as bad as the night before.

Day 9

I check my emails and read about the ‘Terrorist cell’ that had been caught. I search the Jakarta online news for details. Details are contradictory. I read they were killed in Sanur. I have a strong panic to myself then discuss with husband. Nothing we can do now as we are here in Bali. They caught them. We are heading home before Nyepi Day. That being said I did push it to the back of my head and continued to enjoy our holiday.

Bacon is available today. Today we hire 2 bicycles from the hotel. Daughter sits on back of Daddy’s bike. Off we go! It is so much fun! We head north along the beach path and go as far as we can. We see the sights including the God awful blue, glass, wedding venue monstrosity just past the highrise hotel. We turn around and head South. I do my best Julia Roberts – Eat, pray, love impersonation and get many a look from the locals – I’ll read that as mission accomplished not OMG what is she doing!

We ride to the Stiff Chilli which was our favourite spot from last year but the oven isn’t hot so we say we’ll be back and carry on south. Last time we never went further south that here so it was great to have a look. We rode through the Puri Santrian and it looked great. I wonder why it doesn’t have as good reviews as the Griya. We go as far south as the Mecure. At this point my bum has had enough and it’s time to paid a bemo drive to transport the bike back. No my husband says so we head north again. At this point I would like to address the path walking problem. In Australia at school we were taught to stick to the left similar to when driving on the road. I still adhere to this theory at home. When in another country I walk on the side of the path that the cars would drive on on the roads in that country. Is that how you all think? Even one of the resorts have foot prints painted on the path to indicate this but no one cares and walks where ever they like. I women tut tutted me cause I didn’t get out of her way! Rant over : )

Finally we arrive at the Stiff Chilli so I have a medicinal ale. We have our pizza and relax even more. Bum has really had enough so the final stretch was walked by me. Back to resort, lock the silly bikes up and have a swim. We watch a DVD inside this afternoon and just relax. Time for another swim so we have a cocktail at pool bar while girl swims. I have just got to say that I was constantly surprised by peoples choices of swimwear here in Sanur. The level of taste is lacking me feels. Please, dear husband, don’t ever let me leave the house in less than suitable attire, thank you.

For dinner we have some delicious Indonesian soup at the breakfast restaurant. More rain that night.

Day 10

We sleep in this morning! Breakfast (yes, there is bacon) then a walk to Hardy’s for some little presents for her school friends. We find these very cute colourful turtles who’s heads wobble – perfect!

It’s mid morning so we feel it’s time for ice cream!

We grab a scoop each and sit to watch the world go by. We do some shopping at Kapul Jewellery. Before changing some money & heading back to the coolness of our room. We watch the Pirates of the Carribean. Swim then lunch including desserts – yum. I have a wonderful massage at the hotel. It’s softly raining, there is on one around and I just enjoy an hour of relaxing.

We grab our last Bintang & penis bottle opener and stand under an umbrella at beach and watch our girl frolic in the rain. We walk North for dinner – Bonsai Cafe.

The heavens had opened and we are saturated! It so doesn’t matter, it’s funny. Back home and watch Indian Jones & the something of somethingson. Our last night in Bali – we sleep well.

Day 11

Up and over to breakfast – they have bacon this morning thank God. Back to room to pack. We check out at 6pm but I need to make sure it all fits! Only brought one suit case this time and only paid for luggage x 1 person! Stress – it was all ok in the end : )

Lunch we walk down to Omang Omang at the Hyatt.

We really wished we could have picked up the Hyatt hotel and put it over the Griya Santrain – keeping our suite & location but having the Hyatt grounds & amenities.

We will be torn when we next go between these two properties so will probably have to find another. Lunch is expensive but so good. Taxi back to room for final swim.

We check out and meet our driver who takes us to the airport. Eddie is a wonderful & thoughtful man. We enjoyed talking with him about his view of Bali and Indonesia. He drops us off, we tip him way too much and wheel our bags toward departures. 3.5 hours in airport all good. Onto plane – it seems we have a different airline home – what was it? BoganStar? Hosties cranky, 6 hour flight seemed like 10, daughter vomits as we land, I declare my penis opener at customs, I blush, taxi ride home frightening. We are home : )

Another FANTASTIC holiday to Bali. Well worth all the hard work I did to get us there. Well worth taking our daughter out of school. Well worth stalking this forum for 2 years! Thanks for reading this JBR. Hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it. MonoWilli

4. 11th March 2012 – Part 1 – The Yak & all that!

2nd Annual MonoWilli&Clops ChilLaxCation March 2012

The Yak & all that – Pink caps, tap water & Bintangs in Cabanas

Day 1 

5.35pm flight from Sydney – Jetstar – sales fares too hard to resist yet again! Fellow travellers all of the non bogan variety – a great start! An empty seat in our row so the 3 of us can spread out. Easy flight except for 2 things: – one announcement for a doctor or nurse to assist & two attempts to land in Denpasar! Off the plane and through VOA & customs in no time at all. We meet our driver and head out onto the new walk way to the car park. Sure it’s a bit of a walk but not a bad one at all. The hustle & bustle of Bali makes my heart beat with excitement. We are back at last. The driver is shocking but then maybe we just aren’t used to the driving style of Bali taxi’s as yet : )

We arrive at The Royal Beach Seminyak in one piece and are greeted by a wonderful receptionist who makes us feel very welcome. He even addressed our daughter by name! A wonderful start. But wait, it gets better. We are offered a free upgrade from a deluxe room to a beach front villa! “Yes please” we say. Our Villa is wonderful – we fall into bed – it’s 2am Sydney time.

Day 2 

Up so early it’s still dark. We go for a wonder around the resort, we laugh at each other at just how slowly we are walking already. WOW – it’s so calm & beautiful at this time of day. We walk through the pool area with all it’s sunloungers. The pool looks out to the beach with a great grassed area between. Oh we are gunna love it here. The neighbouring hotel (Antaria or something) towers over the Royal but to me it just makes the Royal feel more welcoming, like an oasis.

Breakfast buffet is finally open (6.30am) so we enjoy all the options including some spicy soup with shredded veges – was divine. Buffet was good. Coffee not so – luckily we have an instant espresso machine in our villa – the coffee pods are delicious. Time for a swim! Mind you it is only 7.30am (don’t worry people my daughter only squealed with delight a little bit but we weren’t anywhere near any rooms to wake fellow guests up!) but the water was warm, clean & wonderful.

After the 1.5 hour long swim (eye roll!) we dress & go for a wonder. Some how last year we hadn’t even known this area existed. It’s a little out of the way & the shops & restaurants aren’t like the ones on Eat Street. We wonder all the way to Bintang Supermarket for some supplies but not before we change some money. I have never had a problem with exchanging our money but do stick to the rules when selecting a changer and always count for myself. We grab a cab back to hotel. Husband pays and stuffs up paying the taxi guy 80,000 instead of 8,000 (something like that!). It’s so not a big deal but is the last mistake we make as far as money is concerned.

 Lunch is by the pool & beach. Food is standard fare of club sandwiches, etc. Bintangs are coooooool.

My daughter spends the whole lunch pouting (as much as a 5 year old can pout) – she can see the pool, she can hear the pool but she isn’t feeling the pool! Lunch done, it’s back to the pool for another marathon swim. Whilst there a little girl is left in the wading pool by her father who hops out. She’s only 15 months or so. My daughter is smiling at her and I am sitting on the pools edge watching my daughter. The little girl sits down in the pool! Head goes under, mouth gasping for air, her little eyes on me with fear in them. I scream, jump up & run into the water. I grab her by the arm just as her father is there too. I thrust her at him and walk away so paralysed with terror myself. She is ok after a cough & a splutter. I utter many a swear word to myself and try to get the adrenaline out of my system. A horrible experience and thank God she is ok.

Cat Nap x 3! I’m up first so I grab my journal, a Diet Coke (soft drink is free from the villa minibar) & head to our private Cabana in the garden of our villa to write. The last 12 months have dissolved away, every evening shift & weekend I spent away from my family to work, the news years eve I spend as a waiter to earn the cash is completely WORTH IT for this feeling.

Husband & girl awake we have a mini swim in our private plunge pool (!) before moving out onto the sun loungers on the grassed area to drink Mojito’s & watch the world go by – girls twirling hula hoops, people on horse back & many a bikini clad body goes past.

We grab a couple of Bintangs from our fridge & relax some more as the sun sets – ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Dinner – cab to Eat Street. We head to Ultimo cause from last year we have very fond memories of a great evening. Tonight is no different. Holidays rock – we are so relaxed & jolly we have a great meal & laugh so much! We wonder back to the cross road to grab a cab back but not before I buy a sun dress from Puspita. We sleep very well tonight.

Day 3

Today we find the garden pool! Our body clocks have adjusted and it’s slightly later. We swim & laze in the sun.

Heading out for the morning we go back to Eat Street where I have a fish foot spa thingy. It was just as odd as I remember from last time but man, the results are so worth it. We chat to a fellow aussie couple who are on their honeymoon. We have trouble finding a money changer – don’t know why as there are so many. We ask at a circle K. The guy behind us helps us out. Another Aussie – it’s great to know we all look after each other. Money changers is good and we end up using the same one each day we are in Seminyak.

Today I feel like a bit of a shop so we wonder along looking in any boutique that takes my fancy. Girl is after a pink cap so we look here and there. I find a gorgeous dress in Sabia & some earrings & bracelet next door at Perlu. Lunch is at the Little Cafe where Deus clothes are sold – my husband buys a tshirt.

Back to Villa for a duty free cocktail in the cabana.  Girl dances to Jamiriquai much to our amusement as we chilLax. A huge rain storm hits & it’s just magic to watch.

I am not feeling very well so we order room service but I am too ill to eat it. I turn in early to try & sleep it off. I feel sick all night. During the night there was the most amazing storm. So much rain that when I got up to have a squizz the entire garden was underwater. I get back to sleep before being woken up by a neighbouring Villa’s occupants having a loud gathering. They laughed & talked at the top of the voices for hours – tools.

Day 4

I am not well. I have nothing at Breakfast and return to the villa to sleep. Bless my husband for entertaining our daughter all day. They swam, & swam & swam. I ventured up to the pool twice but just felt like crapola so each time returned to bed. He took her out for lunch & then dinner. We did manage a rest in one of the resorts cabanas on the lawn just before the beach and it was lovely to be with them. I get very bad stomach cramps (honestly the pain was on par with contractions). Although there was no vomiting or the other end I felt as sick as I had ever. You know what I think had caused it? I was stupid & relaxed and wasn’t thinking when I had cleaned my teeth the day before I wet my brush with tap water & started brushing before I realised what I had done. I threw the brush out & rinsed my mouth with mouth wash but I’d say that’s what did it! My little family returns from dinner and my girl tells me she danced and Daddy sang to a band! Wow – now I wish I had seen that. No rain or parties tonight just the sound of the waves crashing on the beach.

 
Day 5

I’m alive! Feeling so much better we have breakfast (well I actually am just there, I don’t eat anything). From here we take a walk (it’s really more a dawdle) south along the beach. We have all been to Bali before and I know the beaches are not to be compared to Australia but holey moley this was an eye opener! The sand is dark grey because it’s volcanic – makes complete sense. Some areas of the beach have clearly been swept – great. But good God the other areas are disgusting! I didn’t spy any syringes but I saw several condoms (nice!) and a dead dog! Yikes.

So we cut up the beach and walk along the path. I want to walk through The Padma so we walk until we find it.

The beach in front of the Padma is pretty. We walk through gaulking at it all. It’s huge! We have a rest in the reception. It’s a very hot day so we hang out people watching for a while. My daughter in an attempted to get away from my husband (who is trying to stop this happening mind you) falls off the raised floor down 1 metre onto the lower walk way. I of course scream and jump down to check the injuries. We both thought she had broken her leg as she was holding it and screaming! Staff ran in all directions to assist. Turns out she had strandled the edge of the marble ledge during the fall and had really hurt between her legs. An ice pack later and many a concerned staff member we hobble out of there.

We walk/hobble down Jalan Padma (I think that’s where we are) and are surprised by the shop owners all vying for our attention. We look for a pink cap but it’s hot & we are walking increasingly slower. This type of shopping isn’t what we like about Bali so we grab a cab and head back to recover. The cabby we get is new. It’s his first time to The Royal and perhaps his first time to a hotel. He parks in the middle of the port cochere instead of driving through it he parks across it! The bell boys fall about laughing. My husband & I are just in shock. It’s very cute.

We swim & order lunch pool side. ‘Tis grand. I have a 3pm massage at the hotel and it’s wonderful. Just so relaxing & serine. The gentle music, aromas of the oils & the beautiful lady who massages me. Back to Villa where we take some Bintangs & lay in the Cabana out front to watch the world go by. We jump into a taxi and return to Ultimo for dinner. I find that this holiday all the cab drivers are asking for a set price (we only used Blue Bird). We say no, put on metre please but always pay them what they ask for anyway ($3 or similar). Is this new or was I oblivious to it last year?

Dinner is good cause my daughter likes the food and we relax. It’s busy tonight with a couple of bigger tables. All well behaved until a party of 6 arrives who are already pissed. Aussies of course, they walk in like the own the place, Bintang singlets, shorts & thongs, ok – but they are holding large Bintangs and drinking from them. I know it sounds snobby but FFS behave your selves in public. I was embarrassed for them. Thankfully the got fed quickly & quietened down. We had another wonderful meal and laughed our heads off again. Off we go in search of a ydoolb  pink cap for girl. Every single kids shop, surf shop & vaguely cap possible shop was searched until we found the perfect cap in Billabong. That damn hat was worn at every chance for the remainder of the holiday! Back to Villa for my husbands first ever massage! He loved it. Stupid party next door again tonight : (

Day 6

We check out today & head over to Sanur so our final Breakfast was leisurely. The kids go for a final swim while I collect all our crap from all over the villa and begin to pack. That’s boring so I head up to the pool for a swim myself. Fun over we finally pack, call a porter & grab a cab bound for Sanur – land of the snea snake!

3. 17th March 2011 – Part 3 – Sanur land of the Snea Snake

The 1st Annual MonoWilli&Clops ClilLaxCation – 9th – 23rd March 2011

6 nights at Hyatt Sanur

Day 8

continued – Into a cab and back down through Jim Byron Bay to Sanur. Our taxi driver is the silent type so husband & I get to concentrate on checking out the changing scenery whilst girl sleeps on my lap. I’m feeling really happy to be heading back to sights, sounds & smells of real life.

Frangipani garlands & the gong announce our arrival at the Hyatt. We ask for a ground floor room which isn’t quite ready so we are invited into the bar for a complimentary drink – You guessed it Bintang!

We relax and chat for 45 mins until we are taken to our room which happens to be an Ocean View room even though I had only paid for a Garden room – wacky do for us! The room is dark and coooool with a beautiful garden area with the white sand & blue water beach beyond. The room seems small from what we have come from but I know it’s not by hotel standards. It has everything we need and I don’t mind the retro (dated) décor.

We go for a walk along the beach path and out of the Hyatt grounds only to be met by a lady trying (desperately) to sell her wares. We say no thank you but she follows us. Having not experienced this during the previous days in the Yak or Ayana it is slightly confronting and we try to continue to be polite but walk a bit faster all the same. After a long stroll we cut through a beautiful resort (can’t remember the name but it looked great) onto Jalan Danau Tamblingan and down to Hardys. Sanur has a very different feel to the other areas we have stayed – it reminds me a little of Port Stephens for some reason. We are exhausted so order Room Service that evening but only after a swim!

Day 9

Up early and over to breakfast – yum! Great buffet. Back for a swim in the green pool.

The resort grounds are just perfection. I love the way we can just wander around checking it all out. As we find out over the extra several days if it weren’t for the giggles, splashes & constant questions from my 4 year there would be no other sounds other than the distant murmurs of other guests.

Armed with our trusty Lonely Planet we walk south on the beach path today in search of the coldest Bintang in Bali. Turns out that The Stiff Chilli really does have the coldest we are impressed by the view & service. But the pizza is the best and reminds us of what I make at home (we are all a little home sick today and are missing our normal life – boring I know!).

Back to the Hyatt for a swim, sleep and duty free cocktail hour (we have been having a Bintang or 2 at lunch and duty free cocktails each arvo all holiday – sorry to only fess up now) before heading out for dinner. We are having a hard time finding a restaurant so end up back at the Hyatt at Omang Omang for a delicious piece of snapper, chips & a diet coke. We sleep very well that night.

Day 10

   

After breakfast we have our 1st swim in the Ocean and it’s wonderfully warm. We notice a crowd gathering about 15m North of us so go to investigate – it’s a sea snake!

The wild life in this resort is great – that morning we had already seen the squirrels dancing in the trees, a Komodo dragon leap into a pond to catch a fish & now a snea snake (as much as she tried girl just couldn’t say anything but snea snake!).

From here we walk North again along the beach and meet our friend again who again follows us up the path this time she was cross. We stop at Restaurant Shanti for lunch. View was again wonderful & the beer cold (not as cold as Stiff Chilli). After this we cut through and walk to Hardy for some more shopping. We head up stairs this time to have a squiz. Hair clips & bangles for her kindy friends later we head back.

My daughters legs become broken and she can no longer walk herself so Daddy has to carry her on his shoulders – this becomes her standard transport each time we leave the resort. We spend the afternoon swimming before again ordering room service – I am so impressed with the quality & service (I have managed hotel room service departments over the years myself and know the challenges involved – I am very impressed!).

Day 11 

Lunch we head back to the Stiff Chilli cause we loved it so much. We walk back feeling relaxed & happy.

We ask some ladies offering hair braiding if they can do nails with the little flowers for my girl, “yes!, Yes!” they say as they leap up to grab their kit. I try my hand at bartering (I stink clearly) and get them down to 50,000 rupiah for my girls tiny little fingers and before I know it her toes, my fingers & my toes are being done which I am secretly delighted with!

So we are picking our colours and chatting to the 3 ladies who are jolly & lovely when I look over to the ocean and think ahhh, this is the life, could it get any better when “oh my Gawd!!!!!” it’s our honeymooning friends again. Dee comes over for a hug & catch up and then her nails are being done! The men folk love each other in a macho kind of way and are busy chatting while we are having our nails done. ‘Tis great. They come back to ours for a beverage before heading off as they leave that evening for home. Again Room Service as Daddy doesn’t fancy carrying girl again : )

Day 12

 Today we feel brave so we grab a cab and go to KUTA!!! First to the DFS Galleria then over to Discovery Mall where we spoil our girl with yet more Kids a Go Go clothes. Lunch is spent in a coolly air-conditioned NY Grill Sports Bar cause it looks safe compared to the food court.

We get a cab back to Sanur and return to the water hole for a soak. We are happy we went to Kuta to see how much it had changed in 12 years (20 years for my husband) but don’t care to go back. Dinner – Room Service (I know, I know).

Day 13

We are getting tired now and a lot home sick (remember we have our 4 year old with us which makes everything a lot more challenging). I am desperate to buy some ear rings, rings & necklaces. I had been for a solo walk the afternoon before so know what I wanted but needed husbands keen eye. We went directly to Kapal-Laut on the East side of Tamblingan not too far from the Hyatt. I love the style and I think the prices are cheap! I buy a couple of presents and 3 beautiful rings for myself which I love. We wandered all the way North until the shops kind of stopped before snagging a cab back. More swimming then a cab ride to the famous Bonsai for an early dinner on our final full day. Beers are cold here too. We stay a long time before ambling home.

Day 14

Our final day in Bali – for now : )We walk south on the beach. The tide is very high and as the larger waves crash on the shore the water gushes up and all around the beach chairs causing people to leap up and rescue their bags & shoes. A young couple laying on the sand are almost washed away. We have lunch at Sanur Bay which was ok.

We come back via our nail ladies and buy our souvenirs from them. We get a ‘good’ price. Actually their brother is there and my husband starts chatting to him while the ladies make sure I have enough bintang beer holders (!) and I hear a slightly familiar accent. Turns out he lives in Frankston and has done since he met his wife 20 years ago whilst she was in Bali on holidays, awwwww.

More swimming for my family while I pack. Took hours to get the balance right – 20.4 kg in one, 19.8kg in the other. We have a 6pm check out but go early so we can grab dinner at Pizza Ria within the resort. It was lovely. We feel very happy to have spent our last leg here at the Hyatt. It was just perfect for us but we really need to go home now. 10-12 days would have been just right for us I think.Off we go with our transfer to the airport. I can’t remember the order now – in through immigration, check in bags and through the shops to wait for our flight. I spend the last of my rupiah on some frangipani essential oil so I can wash our towels in it and recreate that delicious aroma at home. We board, take off & power home arriving on time at 6.55am Sydney time.

We are through immigration, customs & whatever else we had to do and standing in our little old apartment by 8am I kid you not! Arhhhh, it’s good to be home : )Further thoughts & comments…Every single taxi driver (only used Blue Bird as per this forum) we had were excellent. They took us the quickest way, drove very well, had immaculate cars & where just lovely gentlemen.We exchanged money every day and always used the professional looking bank type ones. I’m sure we could have got a better rate elsewhere but felt so confident with the ones we used I didn’t want to risk being ripped off.We washed our hands religiously after touching money & before meals. We only ate where we felt comfortable & avoided ice & glasses when we felt it wouldn’t be safe.Rhino drinks – Oh how I miss them! Can we buy them here anywhere?I didn’t end up using the local laundry’s which I wish I had of (hand washing is no fun).We smiled at everyone who smiled our way. We met some gorgeous locals & fellow tourists. We had the best holiday I could have ever hoped for. Many, many thanks to everyone on this forum from the guru’s who know loads about it to the fellow newbies who asked the questions I didn’t even know I needed answered! I love this forum very much – Thank you : )PS. Just transferred $100 into my Bali holiday account so it can all begin again

2. 14th March 2011 – Part 2 – Jim Byron Bay & The Ayana

The 1st Annual MonoWilli&Clops ClilLaxCation – 9th – 23rd March 2011

3 nights at Ayana Resort & Spa at Jimbaran Bay – the old Ritz Carlton

Day 5

It rains today so we all sleep in a little. Breaky, swim in the rain then pack up to move to our next place – Ayana Resort & Spa in Jimbaran.

We check out and grab a cab down to Jimbaran Bay and then we are there………..WOW & I thought the last place was good but this is breathe taking. We notice on the long drive along the driveway all the garden workers out collecting the fallen leaves and this is where the perfection begins.

We upgrade to a villa rather than just a hotel room (we feel we need space after how good our last place was!). The villa isn’t quite ready so we are taken to our first allocated room to wait in comfort. Great room with beautiful views over the Indian Ocean. We notice the noise from the neighbouring rooms (just talking) and are glad we will have some privacy in the villa.

When our villa is ready our butler drives us there in his golf cart – we have a butler!?! We arrive – WOWOW! This place is beyond my wildest thoughts. Great private gardens & pool as well as a cabana. The villa itself blows my mind. We walk in and it just keeps going – lounge room, bedroom, dressing room, bathroom & then the BATHROOM. The bath has rose petals & frangipanis floating n it as it over looked the garden, pool & Indian ocean. Devine.

We are in a different kind of heaven now.

Dinner we grab a cab and head down for seafood on the beach as this is one of my fondest memories from my trip back in 1998. The sunset was amazing as where the Bintangs & service (always friendly, timing perfect & even offered to take our photo!).

They even had a band & 2 Balinese dancers which really made it special. Pity about the seafood – my husband is a Chef with 20 years experience in some very good restaurants in Sydney thus he knows his stuff. He had picked the prawns so knows the variety he ordered. What we got were a different variety & only 6 large prawns which do not weigh 1 kg. But the price was cheap, service so good & we didn’t feel like a fight so we didn’t say anything. I know they all do it but I’m still annoyed to be tricked. I believe in being honest – they should just charge more and serve the items ordered. Anyway I won’t say which place it was cause they all do it.

From here we walk along a dark, local street to the main road and a supermarket for some supplies. People here are just as friendly as up in Seminyak but I felt we where intruding, that is to say they weren’t focused on tourism as much as north and we stuck out like sore thumbs in their supermarket spending our money like it didn’t matter (not true to us of course but that’s how I felt). Back to Ayana and I notice the staff don’t greet us with their hands in blessing like they all did back in Seminyak. I wonder if they have been told not to? I miss it so I find myself doing it to them and getting a big smile & blessing back.

Day 6

Girl goes to kids club!!!!!!!!!!!! Husband and I hang out by the main pool over looking the ocean in our private cabana. We order burgers & Mai Tais (Husbands firm fav after Ku Da Ta).

We read, swim & chat without being interrupted by our girl for 6 whole hours – bliss. We explore the beautiful resort including down to the Rock Bar which is even better than the photo’s. We hang out in our villa enjoying the lack of child. I watch a DVD but start to feel quite ill. I fight the urge to be sick before feeling better. We pick up girl who looks very relieved to see us – maybe she thought we wouldn’t come back for her!

We swim in the children’s pool & slide. Then we order room service cause we just can’t be fagged going out. Food was very, very good. We sleep restlessly that night. Strange bumps in the night make me anxious – is there a ghost?

Day 7

After a sleep in we walk up to the river pool for the morning.

Man, this resort is just incredible. The pool boys race over to assist with our towels and are always on hand if you need a drink, etc. This is very slick service.

We call our butler (!) and ask him to take us down to the General store in search of milk for girl. None there so we order through room service excepting to pay through the nose but turns out it’s free – 1L of milk is free – now that’s what I call good service.

We hang out by pool before getting ready for dinner at the seafood restaurant just along from the Rock Bar. The sunset is magnificent yet again and we enjoy Mai Tai’s & this gorgeous savory peanut brittle that I can still taste. We order 500gms of river prawns and get so many more than the other night at Jimabaran Bay (or Jim Byron Bay if you are my daughter). We are so happy with this meal.

After dinner we walk along the cliff pool to the rock bar & up the inclinator before hitching a ride back to villa on a golf buggy. I feel very sick that night but get through it – Nothing to do with the Mai Tai’s alright : )

Day 8

We move to Sanur today. I’m happy to be going as I feel I am missing out on Bali by staying in this amazing hotel. I want to return to the feeling we had in Seminyak. We have our lunch of cheese & crackers & other items from our fridge that we don’t want to take with us including a couple of Bintangs. We pack then call our Butler for the final time and bid farewell to our gorgeous villa and leave to check out.

1. 9th March 2011 – Part 1 – Kerobokan & The Coconut Sweets

The 1st Annual MonoWilli&Clops ClilLaxCation – 9th – 23rd March 2011

Husband, 4 year old girl & I head off on the trip of a life time. 7 months of savings, planning, research & freaking out about to launch into 2 weeks of exploring, relaxing & eating!

Flew Jetstar which was fine. Seats very comfy I thought. Flight arrived 45 mins early – lucky us! Through the airport and out the other side in what seemed like a few minutes (was more like 30 mins but I was too busy focusing on if I where going the right way!). I even recognized the ‘smell’ for 12 years ago when I was last on the Island of the Gods.We are met by our transfer and whisked away into the humid night. Wow, what had we got ourselves in for?5 nights at Kokonut Suites in Kerobokan just north of Seminyakon Jalan Petitenget… We are greeted by a beautiful, smiling face and served welcome drinks & cold towel as we check in. It was raining but it didn’t matter in the slightest. Off we go to our room – WOW it was gorgeous. I have tears in my eyes as the suite is bigger than our apartment at home. It’s now quite late (4y.o on Sydney time) so we turn in for the night.

 

Day 1

All three of us wake & ready for breakfast trouble is it’s still verrrrry dark outside – 5am local time and 2 hours until breakfast! Girl & I creep outside into our private courtyard, along the stepping stones which lead to the pool. We have our 1st Bali swim and it’s wonderful. We explore the grounds delighting in every flower, statue & pretty thing we see in the garden.

Finally it’s breakfast and we are very hungry. Buffet is good but the staff are wonderful.

Ok so we need supplies – water, snacks, Bintang so out we head into the unknown. OMG we are not in Crows Nest anymore. Off we walk on the road (no footpaths here and a very open gutter with lots of rain water whooshing past). I can not believe my eyes – the traffic is amazing. Whole families on scooters, trucks full of work crews, taxi’s toot, tooting every few seconds – we have hit peak hour Kerobokan style but some how it all works beautifully. On we walk wide eyed.

Back we head to our suite for a morning not unlike every other morning we spend in Bali – swimming.

Then lunch in our room (seriously we did this a few times but with such a young child it was just easier plus at this stage we had no idea just how cheap & easy getting cabs would be!). We all have a nana nap before another swim.

Suddenly we are hungry so we venture out into it again. This time we grab a cab and ask to be taken around to Eat street. We are there in no time, pay the cabby then stand on the road side and think God what next…. Then I see a very familiar face! It’s our honeymooning friends from home. Small world and a very happy coincidence.

We decide to walk around to Ku Da Ta for a cocktail or three. Stunning place this Ku Da Ta – and equally stunning people. This is the place where all ‘the beautiful people’ go or at least that’s what they think ; ) GREAAAAT cocktails though & the view is amazing.

The sunset was beautiful and now we where hungry.

Off we go to find a meal. We end up at a place called Nirvana (but could have been Nirwana and I just misread it through my watermelon cocktails). What a weird and wonderful place this was. Bright, plastic, cascading floral light things. They also do nails during the day. We sit down and the lights go off. Hmmm, Mummy doesn’t feel very relaxed. Lights back on and we order. The place is heaving with other tourists so we feel safe to enjoy our sate. Lights end up going off 7 times during our time there. And then the fire dancing & twirling girl comes out and soon has a crowd around her on the street. The men folk & my girl are mesmerized! Off we go to walk the shops. We make our daughters first (of many) purchases from Kids a gogo (gorgeous stuff but not cheap). We say goodbye to our friends before grabbing a cab home and rolling into bed. A wonderful & eye opening first day complete.

Day 2

My husband thinks someone tried to break in last night as he heard the doors & windows rattling. In his cocktail & Bintang haze he must have dismissed it and gone back to sleep. Turns out it was actually the earthquake that struck Japan but we didn’t know this until later in the day when speaking with an American gentleman who we caught the free shuttle down to Bintang Supermarket with. We had no idea of the Tsunami nor the fate of so many in Japan.

We spend everyday doing very similar things – Breakfast, swim, walk around, lunch, back to hotel, swim, sleep, evening walk, dinner, home to bed so I won’t go into all of that but will mention the fun things we saw, dined at or did. We had lunch at The Junction during an amazing Bali rain storm.

We walk back around to the shops and spend some time window shopping. Dinner that night was pizza at Ultimo in the courtyard out the back – it was very good.That evening we feel an aftershock then switch on the news – we are stunned.

Day 3

Off we go to Carrefours for a sticky beak. We stock up on snacks, water, Bintang and marvel at the live frogs in barrels. Lunch is spent in room in between swimming. That arvo we go and buy some DVD’s. Our purchases are put in a black plastic bag and I am torn between thinking we are new tourists and this is a sign to all vendors of how crap we are at haggling (I think 100,000 rupiah is a steel and I’m not going to insult him and ask for a discount!) or if it’s simply to hide the pirate copies – who knows but to be sure we put them in our bag : ).

Off we go walking around Jalan Petitenget stopping to greet the cows grazing at the side of the road. We arrive at the start of the shops where we spy a fish foot spa place. My husband has been daring me to have one (I’m unbelievably ticklish especially on my toots) ever since we saw it on Getaway. So as I am feeling young, brave & wanting to come out the winner I decide to do it. It was great and I’m so happy to have done it. The best (only) pedicure I have ever had. Actually I should have had another before we left Bali but just didn’t get around to it. Off we go around through the shops where I find a gorgeous boutique called Puravida. I make my first purchase. Dinner that night is at the hotel restaurant as it was complimentary. It was good, honest food with a free drink each but we are the only guests in the restaurant.

Day 4

Our final full day in Seminyak & I feel quite sad. I like this place very much. Aside from our usual swimming, etc we have lunch at The Corner Store before my husband makes his first purchase in Deus.

Dinner we live it up and go next door to Metis. It was just so good. The food, service & ambience was spot on. We ate like royalty and found the price to be well worth it considering the quality. We rolled out of there full as googs but very happy.