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Hello everyone, this is my first
JBR so I hope I don't bore you all. We departed boxing day from Perth 8am
after going through 5 security checks. That was sufferable but not being
allowed to take back packs or hand luggage onto the plane was not. I am sure
this lady was just randomly picking as i didn't see it happen to anyone
else, nevertheless as you do, have your bits in your packs, magazines,
lollies, hairbrush and in ours loo paper in readiness, well it all had to
come out and go into one! All the other packs had to be placed into the
cases which were full of stuff we were taking to Balinese. Not happy Jan.
Arrived 11.40 am and the smell of Bali was instant. Looked for Patra Jasa
sign and the big friendly smiles were there also.
Being 3 minutes from airport was very handy as we waisted no time getting
there and in the pool. When we arrived, the manager and assistant manager
and his wife and their daughter of 2 years, were all there waiting to greet
us. They were again apologetic that the renovations weren't complete but
their attention was superb. We had airconditioning that worked and we had a
pool and great service, that was all i needed. We gave them gifts.
From there we caught the free shuttle up to Kuta and then a taxi near to
Bounty and we found my Balinese friends Kelly and Mary. Hugs all around and
screams of excitement. We gave them their gifts. They walked us around to
Kelly's husband Robby who is a Kijang driver based outside Bounty. We went
into Bounty for a swim and some lunch( i normally stay there) and he then
took us straight to the bomb site, on my request. We stood and thought in
silence......We signed the banner that was up and we took photos. I was
upset as i wanted to lay some flowers but there are a few shops closed down
in Kuta and one of them was the florist. Going to Denpasar right then wasn't
very appealing. So no flowers just thoughts.
We then went to Legian looking
for the Gonnas but i had the address back at the hotel so we couldn't find
it. Back to Patra Jasa for dinner and more wonderful service and then to bed
about 11pm.( we have an 8 year old).
Went to the most yummy brekkie which was included and then Robby drove us
over to Sanur to find a tailor that had been recommended to me. When we got
to sanur she told me she has another shop now in Tuban !!!!! Oh well we got
a visit to sanur in which was good for the kids. Then onto Denpasar. Over to
Ramayana to buy our dvd's and the markets. Disappointing really, there was
mainly just fabric and gold. Didn't want fabric and the gold was dearer than
in Australia and believe me i searched. The rain came heavy so we took Robby
and his son and went to McDonalds. His son had never eaten there and to see
his face when a toy came out with the kids meal was delightful.
On our way home Robby took us to his house in Denpasar and Kelly made us
tea. It was great to see how they live and again we gave all the children
(23 people live in the house) some gifts.
Back to P.J. for showers and then headed to Legian to Gonnas and discovered
that we had actually walked right past it the night before and not seen it
!!!! We met Kerry and Milton and we also met Kaz and her family so that was
great (hi all). We had a lovely meal and the delicous black rice pudding and
icecream YUM. My daughter was itching quite a bit with the heat, trying to
adapt and Kaz told us about dettol powder, so a stop at the apotek next door
to buy some was in order. Bed about 11.30pm.(daughter is enjoying this)
Next morning after brekkie we went to Kintamani to let the kids see the
volcano and amazingly enough it was clear and beautiful. Obviously we had
done the celuk thing on the way. We then handed out some winter clothes for
the kiddies up there and they were so grateful, instead of them selling me
things i was handing them things.
We decided to eat at Ubud however the rain started and boy did it rain. It
was so heavy it was coming into the car and motorbikes parked were half
submerged. Then a powerline was down leaving just enough room to drive under
it and to our horror they did exactly that. (Robby said he had never seen
rain that heavy in Ubud before). The rain slowed us up so we only had about
an hour at the markets which had some lovely beaded stuff, pots and bowls
and hairclips etc that Kuta didn't have. We ate lunch and again we invited
Robby and his son to join us and they both had nasi goreng. Well the little
boy ate so fast and filled his mouth so full, his whole face was bulging.
They had never eaten out like that, most people make them wait.
Last stop was the monkey forest. How cute, yes they can be naughty and one
did bite me on the shoulder through my tshirt and we were filthy dirty but
how cute !!! We had stopped at a fruit stall so i could try their salaks and
mangosteens and we think the monkeys could smell the fruit on us.
Toilets stunk and had no paper but i had my roll and we blocked our noses.
The rain had been so bad that my shoes were ruined so i had to buy some
thongs from one of the stalls there.
Home to p.j .for showers and up to Kuta to visit Mataharis as i realised i
had been there 2 1/2 days and not shopped. We then ate at Du-Langs? next
door and it was then as we were sitting out front that it struck me that we
might be unsafe and a target. Main strip, out front and all. Only because
there were no aussies around anywhere. We finished eating and went back to
P.J. I had also found another friend of mine who works at Bounty called
Budhi so we gave them gifts too. (in return they gave my daughter a much
awaited ride on her motorbike a couple of days later).
No aussies anywhere really in Bali and that wasn't a problem only that it
made you feel strange as you were so used to seeing heaps of them.
I found the balinese no more and
no less friendly than they had ever been.Just the same wonderful people.
We found there to be far too many
tourists that were local, chinese and japanese. It congested the traffic
badly and they did not spend money and were not friendly so the balinese
weren't too happy about that, they want aussies back.
Sunday morning my husband went to
golf and as it was more than $300 aust to play 18 holes at the bali golf and
country club, i told him to enjoy !!!
Kaz rang me and organised to meet up for the funeral ceremony. We were going
to spend the day together but her daughter was sick and then as bad luck
would have it i got Bali Belly. (thank god for immodium). So we just met up
at her hotel after lunch and then Alex and his lovely sister Jenny met us
all and we went to the funeral together (with my daughter also). How
dreadfully sad and i found myself shedding a few tears when Natalies dad
read a poem. Particularly sad for KellyG as it was her best friends husband.
It was an experience not to be missed and as Alexxx said, felt strange as we
did not know John however it was the aussie thing to do, to be there to show
support and that we did. We threw flower petals into the ocean and watched
all the surfers paddle out on there boards to scatter his ashes and we were
all given a boxed traditional meal of thanks. It was YUM. We went back to
Kaz hotel and all said goodbyes and we parted. Back to P.J. and met up with
hubby who enjoyed his golf and came across a 3 foot long goanna on the
course. We went to the beach out front of P.J. and had our first massage and
Norma is just the best.
Back to Gonnas for a drink and black rice pudding and where were you Alexxx?????
you said you were both coming back. (nevermind).
Bed about 12am again.
Had been trying to contact friends that were staying at Barong and kept
missing. Finally hooked up and went to Waterbom with them. Took us 45
minutes to get from P.J. and took them 1 hour to get from Barong. All the
streets were blocked off for the cleansing ceremony they were having in Kuta
square, what a nightmare. I loved Patra Jasa but have decided that if we are
to visit again in holidays where the traffic is to be congested then it is a
bit far out so somewhere closer is better. Kaz's hotel Green garden looked
good for middle of the range.
It rained half the day at Waterbom but we were wet anyway. I am proud to say
that i got the courage to go on all but 1 slide.
That night we all continued on to Poppies for dinner,my favourite restaurant
and full as always.
Tuesday i woke with a dreadfully
sore throat and my daughter Bali Belly. We rested a lot of the day and had
massage but in the end we had to take her to BIMC for a check. She had a
very high temperature. What a great place that is and you could eat off the
floor. I asked the doctor how they coped with the bomb as it was only a
small clinic and he said they had 85 come in and mostly aussies.
As we couldn't go to kuta beach for the concert with Megawati there, because
of Stacey sick and not wanting to leave the responsibility to our son, we
stayed in for new years eve (sorry Kaz) however we got a phone call from the
management at 11.30 pm to invite us down to the lobby for drinks with them.
That we thought, was lovely.
New years day we started with Brekkie and massage (stacey too sick for
massage so she had hair plaited) and then went to Galleria to shop but ended
up at Bimc again which was just across the road as Stacey was still sick.
Ended up getting a taxi and asking him to stop whenever we wanted to shop.
Not a lot to do for Bali Belly so armed with medicines (mostly the ones i
had taken with us) we just drove and stopped and shopped.
As she pepped up a bit our son wanted to see Jimbaran Bay so my hubby took
the kids there and i stayed in to pack and get a bit of peace.
Last day, so sad.
My son and i shopped in Kuta and
my hubby took daughter to kids club as she was feeling a bit better.In the
afternoon we all had a swim and a massage (left the ladies our towels of
which they were so grateful) and then ordered room service. Showered and
departed for airport. (where were you KellyG?)
Didn't get to la luciolas, or to sami and suzzies. Didn't have a facial. But
we shopped and had massages and we waterbombed and we did the mandatory ubud
trip etc.
We had exceptional service to the point where the management called our room
to se if we were happy.
Most importantly we handed out
clothes and gifts and toys and we were there trying to help them back on the
road to recovery. We met forumites (hello to you all).
We did not have enough time, but that was all we could manage. We are back
in perth sick. Me with a sinus and throat infection and son with ear
infection and hubby and daughter with Bali Belly, hubby woke with it today.
So we feel like we need a holiday ha ha ha ha.
Still loved Bali and would go again tomorrow.
Yes we felt safe, just strange
that there were no aussies.
I agree with Alexxx, looking at the people here who arent as friendly nor as
smiley or as eager to please. Looking at the negativity here ( everyone is
happy in Bali) makes you feel sad and aloof and we have created that.
One day we intend to live in Bali for 6 months and i cannot wait.
I hope you have enjoyed my jbr and i'm going now to try and sleep and get
well. We open our shop again on Tuesday.
Regards Leonie.
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