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Just back from a two week stay
at Bali Dynasty with husband and two boys (10 & 7). On arrival at Dynasty
we were overwhelmed with the amount of people there - being Aussie
school holidays. It was not a good start. Then
decided to do a bit of a tour of hotel, checked out kids club (no
supervision and it didn't improve for the two
weeks). The activities outlined for kids a lot of the times just didn't
happen. I complained to the "motivators" about the
age of kids using the kid's club slide and pool - 16 & 17 year olds jumping
off slide, walking up backwards etc etc. The
"motivators", i.e. Froggy, Soni, were too interested in chatting
to the young blonde Aussies and we actually had to complain, as did
other parents, a couple of times.
Having said that, the boys did have a fantastic time. Our room was a
'family pool view' and we literally stepped off
our verandah onto our pool lounge by the pool. Yes, there were people that
would come out of their rooms at 6am and lay about
8 towels down to "reserve" their sunbed. The Dynasty put down little
red flags if the sunbeds have been unattended for one hour but noone
takes any notice.
The meals at the hotel could not be faulted and we took advantage of the
poolside buffets where the children eat free with
two paying adults. We also ate at a few other restaurants:
- Daddys - across the road from Dynasty - had great breakfasts
there for approx $15-20 for the four of us.
Every 50,000 spent you get a stamped card and after I think it's 5 stamps
you get an American Breakfast for free which was
nice.
- Copa - across the road from Dynasty - had breafkast there first
morning - only about $12 for the four of us but
not as good as Daddys.
- All Stars - the boys loved the Sumo Wrestling and watching the
band - great terriyaki burgers. Not as cheap as
some places but still cheap enough. My youngest son spent most of the
night downstairs with the huge python wrapped
around his neck - loved it.
- Kin Khao - Thai restaurant opposite Dynasty. Fantastic meal -
beautiful Thai Beef Salad, spring rolls and red
curry - very reasonable prices and the staff were great.
- La Lucciola - Still very good, lots of bugs around flying into
your meal which wasn't that great. Meals nice
but I really don't go to Bali for pasta or European cuisine. Quite
expensive for the four of us - I think about
$80, that is only one San Miguel, three waters and main meals - no
dessert.
- Kori - fantastic - can't fault it, it was about $60 which
included main meals, garlic bread, San Miguel,
and desserts. Very nicely presented, very enjoyable.
- Green Garden - just down from Dynasty - very popular
restaurant, turned away one night, too busy. Next
night had a nice meal, not fantastic but cheap and enjoyable. About $20
for the four of us. Complimentary
hand, shoulder and neck massages while you wait for your meal.
*********
- Bird Park - we always go there and have a good time, children
love it and they love having the birds on their
hats or shoulders. Always have lunch in the restaurant, fantastic meals at
great prices. The gift shop is great which is
also reasonably priced. I had the best Gado Gado for lunch. Meal was only
about $20 for the four of us. The cost to get in
for the four of us was AUD$80 which incorporated the two parks,
reptile as well.
- Reptile Park - much smaller but still good. The area where you
hold the Turtles, Iguanas, Chameleons and other
lizards is great.
- Monkey Forest - pouring with rain the day we went so only saw a
few monkeys. I bought a bag of bananas to feed
the monkeys at the entrance, only to read a sign further on that it wasn't
advisable. The monkeys are very smart and know
when you are hiding food. As soon as one approached me, I panicked and
ended up throwing the whole bag of bananas down
for them to eat - much to my kids comments of being a "woos".
** Shopping **
Well after hearing so much about Tootsies I had to pay a visit - I
just get so sick of bargaining. Tootsies as I was
prepared, is just a regular shop but the items are all at bottom prices. It
was such a nice change just to pick up a t-shirt
and know it was 15,000. We bought heaps, t-shirts, bags, chess set,
shoes, etc etc. I just wished they stocked a lot more of wooden
articles, etc. I cannot understand why more shops
don't do this. All the market ladies got annoyed when, after approaching you
to go to their shop, you tell them that you are
going to Tootsies. Our driver had a hard time finding it at first but after
a little asking we found it easy. Paid them two
visits and recommended people at the Dynasty to go there, which
they did, and were very happy.
I love to shop in Ubud, I had a few shops that the Forum mentioned, but
my favourite is by far still Casa Lina. I love
everything in this shop, even though it is a little pricey. Bought up big on
silk cushions, tablecloths and matching napkins.
The Ubud markets are also wonderful and we got some great bargains.
I bought heaps from markets near Dynasty - sequinned shoes, boardies,
t-shirts, heaps of wooden articles (love my Father
Christmas statues), bowls, bags, paper flowers, etc etc etc.
Matahari was bedlam - people everywhere - and the service is
non-existent. Don't you hate how they have to fill
in a docket for every item before you go to the checkout? I got the boys a
gameboy game (20 games in one) from upstairs which
were AUD$40 and were great. I bought up big on Nivea and Ponds from
downstairs in supermarket; facial wash AUD$2, Eyelift, Night Repair
about AUD$5 and even stocked up on deodorants,
shampoo etc etc much cheaper than Perth.
They have some fantastic shoes but I am size 42-3 and nothing over a 40.
Just bought a couple of nice tops and some kids
clothes.
Body and Soul in Legian is great, got some trendy gear from there but it
is not cheap (but still cheaper than Perth.)
A great Art and Handicraft Shop is Jl. Clung Wanara, Kuta - heaps of
wonderful wooden stuff, worth a visit.
Ramayana Dept. Store Denpasar - great shopping here for kids and I got
myself some nice tops. The VCD's upstairs are not
great, but okay (just watch a bit first.) I bought a CDRom from there but it
doesn't work (oh well) - got about 10 playstation
games for friends - hope they work! Music CD's are around
AUD15-18 each so didn't bother as Big W or KMart have good CD's for
around this price sometimes and could not get the
ones that I wanted anyway (So Fresh and latest Kylie).
** Driver **
We had a great driver who we met just outside Dynasty - Jams (pronounced
James), his number is 08123952679 - we paid him
200,000 for a whole day which was 10am until 7pm. Just tell him Steve and
Lisa sent you.
I don't know if we will stay at the Dynasty again. Maybe if it is outside of
school holidays. We would no way stay there in
school holidays again. I am sure they didn't do a lot of the activities
because there was just too many kids. The poolside
Warung never happened and frequently there were no towels
available.
After staying at the Patra Jasa last holiday it just didn't measure up.
However, the kids loved it, so maybe we will think
about it.
We packed all our wooden stuff in one big bag so as to declare just this
bag. They went through it quite thoroughly and the
only things that were taken off us were those banana leaf photo albums
(didn't realise banana leaf was forbidden.)
Otherwise no problems.
So that should do it, if I think of any more I will post, any questions,
don't hesitate - this is our 20th time to Bali and
we will definitely be going again next year. The people of Bali are just the
nicest and most honest people that walk the earth.
They have a wonderful rapport with children. The weather - the
food - the lifestyle - who can resist!!
LisaB |
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