Sunday 6th August

My first views of Bali.

Airport - seems quiet and peaceful. Customs men very serious until you smile and say hello then they smile back.
Bag Collection - Lots of porters asking to carry bags for us.
Money Changers - A row of about 10 booths all ranging in different value. Changed $50 each getting 4800rp for each dollar.

Walking out of airport - What a shock seeing about 100 people milling around the exit all holding up signs with either a hotel name, a travel agent or the name of a person. Being a first-timer I didn't know where to look so I put my head down and walked past them all and let Rob find the one collecting us.

Driving to hotel - All seems to be one way traffic. Road Rules? What are they? If I was to drive - I would be stuck in one place for hours letting people in. Crowded streets. Lots of motor bikes. Horns beeping at each other. But no road rage - yet.

Hotel Entrance - looks pretty basic, but once inside, seems clean and modern. Staff friendly - always smiling. Pools clean and sparkling. Rooms clean, quite large.

A lot warmer here than back home. Changed into summer clothes as soon as opened suitcase. Went for a walk down to the beach. As soon as we walked onto the sand I had a lady ask if I wanted a massage which was fine, and another asking if I wanted a sarong. Both were fine until the first put her hand on my shoulder. That was a little scary for a first-timer. I think I am going to be saying "no" quite a bit over the next week.

Lots of people on the beach. Boys everywhere in groups playing with soccer balls. Seems to be very popular.

Watched my first Bali sunset. Although a little cloudy looked ok. Took my first photos in Bali - the sun and the beach.

Tea in the hotel restaurant. Orange Juice a little watery. Banana split very nice.

Asleep by 9.30!!!!!

Monday 7th August

Awake at 6.30am. Laid in bed and watch old shows of Home and Away and A Country Practice. Showered, dressed and out for brekky - Fried rice, fruit, toast and juice.

Went on our first expedition to Jalan Legian. I made a mistake of accepting a card from a man! Couldn't get away from him. I had read on the forum about the time-share people, but he just wouldn't take no for an answer. (Rob's comment: This was a promotion for the Hotel Royalty. According to the blurb that our friend started reading after we'd been shanghai'd they have hotels in Australia and somewhere else in Asia. He was phenomenally pushy. Of course according to the prize cards we'd won (gee!). 2 free t-shirts and the chance of a week at the Royalty! Once we were in the taxi he explained that we'd be subjected a 90 minute presentation. He then asked if we were employed, married, etc. Once we got to their office near the back entrance to Matahari's we excused ourselves, told them we didn't want the prizes or the presentation and left. I almost felt sorry for him as the taxi ride probably came out of his pocket, but he was so incredibly pushy and plain dopey it served him right. We got a free taxi ride to Matahari's so it wasn't a total loss.) After this episode its going to be very easy to say a definite NO to any people handing out cards. There are lots of them around. even some Aussie or English.

At Matahari's we bought fruit, orange juice, lollies and chocolates! Had lunch at Macca's. Changed some money - 5000rp = $1.00.

Walked back to our hotel where I quickly changed into bathers and had a dip in the pool. Even just the short while I have been in the sun today, a tan is appearing!

Had to buy insect repellant. "No mossies" Rob said, but why am I getting eaten alive by mossies????

Even after reading lots of info on the forum and travelling to Bali with someone who had already been here, it is still very daunting for a first-timer. If I had been by myself today, I would have been trying to get a flight home already.

After a relaxing few hours at the hotel (swimming) we headed back down the beach to try and meet up with some people from the forum without any luck. On the walk back to the hotel we bumped into someone Rob used to work with at the uni in Adelaide. Headed up Poppies 2 and dropped into a bar/restaurant for a drink. Even sitting in here people come up to you trying to sell papers, magazines, or perfume.

More purchases - bongo drum and tiny guitars.

Kuta at night is just as busy as during the day. Still lots of traffic (cars, motor bikes, horse and carts) The most thing we have been asked for is "Transport boss"? After lots of walking today we got a ride back to the Wina in a horse and buggy. (Rob's comment: I know I paid far too much for the ride. It's about ten minutes by buggy from Kuta Square to the Wina. I haggled down to Rp35,000, and when we got to the
hotel I gave the guy Rp50,000 if he promised to buy a Bintang for the horse too! It's the incurable romantic in me!)

Another nice feed at the hotel. A quick call home to the kids and its almost time for bed again.

Tuesday 8th August

"You want transport boss"? This time yes - to Denpasar. 60,000rp ($12.00) there and back, a cheap ride. Rob bought himself a bass guitar for 500,000rp ($100.00) (Rob's comment: I bought a Prince brand bass guitar. sort of P-Bass copy for those who need to know. The same bass at Matahari's was Rp596,000, so by the time you add the Rp500,000 for the bass and the Rp60,000 for the taxi ride we saved Rp36,000. about A$7! Oh well, the trip into Denpasar and back was interesting.) 

Relaxed at the hotel for an hour before heading back down to Kuta square. Changed money, bought t-shirts, dresses, smokes more guitars. 

(Rob's comment: Hey I like those little guitars, they're cheap at about Rp15,000, and I brought back a heap to give away to my guitar-playing friends. they were rapt!)

Back at the hotel for another swim. Have done lots of walking again today. Headed down to Sammy and Suzies. Didn't really know what to expect. Sammy and Suzie are nice people. be prepared for the hawkers who gather around you as soon as they see you standing still! Met Kim (Kimba from the forum) and friend. Manicure and pedicure for 35,000rp and 3 watches for 100,000rp ($20).

Gave the kids a quick call then wandered back down to Poppies 2 to check emails. 
Internet - 300rp per min. 15mins - 4500rp = $1.00. (Rob's comment: We went to several cybercafe's, and Rp300/min seems the going rate. One was Rp500 and we told him it was too dear. On refection I realised it would have cost us about A$2 more. You gotta keep things in perspective. it's peanuts to us but a living to these people!)

We were asked a new question tonight. "You want hash"? Offer rejected. Did the long walk back to the hotel. Feet real sore tonight. After a soak in the bath - crawled into bed with a Jim Beam and coke and some chocolate to watch some tv and read.

Wednesday 9th August

Lazy morning. Shower, breakfast, sleep for an hour before heading into Kuta square for a while. Had KFC for lunch. Found a music section in Matahari's. Bought some drum sticks for an aspiring drummer back home. (Rob's comment: Matahari's music section is on the thrid floor near sporting goods. They had a good range of accoustic and electric guitars, keyboards, cymbals, bongo's, bits and pieces. We bought drumsticks (good brand - Vic Firth), a stickbag and a D'Addario guitar-strap - all about half what I'd expect to pay here in Adelaide.)

Wandered back to the hotel, where we found a staff member's pet monkey tied to a swing. Fed her some banana and took some photos of her. 

Needed some supplies - water, coke, chocolate. Met up with some ladies from Adelaide in the hotel tonight. Had a lazy night in.

Thursday 10th August

Ventured down to Kuta square again. The ladies from Adelaide were saying they are not paying more than $5.00 for anything. I thought I would give it a try. It works.

Morning price (their first sale for the day is a good price). I got 2 tank tops, a t-shirt and a hat for $20.

A fish mobile for $4.00. Tommy Girl perfume for $11.00 - if it's the right stuff in the box! Rob is still looking for guitars. Now he has found keyrings with guitars on. And a kite!!!

The ladies in the stalls are funny when you offer a price for something. We get comments like "You make me laugh" or "I go bankrupt" but they seem to enjoy the bartering as much as the tourist does. 

Wandered back to the hotel for another swim and a nap. Meeting up with Jen tonight (Robs friend from Uni).

Friday 11th August

Going on a tour with Breakfree today at 11.30am. Phone call - "Much apology, we running late". One of the girls working at the Wina (Annie) did my nails. The monkey is still at the hotel so we fed her some apple.

12.00 - Headed out on our tour. Went to a temple, then travelled further up into the mountains. Lunch. Another temple by the lake. It was quite cool and clouds were low. Paid 10,000rp to have my photo taken holding a cuscus (soft sleepy furry possum-like animal) Further up the trail is a man with snakes. 3 large pythons each weighing 20kgs each. Rob had his photo taken holding all three snakes for 70,000rp, but then held 2 birds - a sea eagle and a hornbill and a large mongoose. I was able to take extra photos without paying any extra. (Rob's comment: I always wanted to be a zoo-keeper, naturalist, or vet! Playing with the monkey at the hotel was great, handling the snakes and birds and mongoose was amazing! In monkey forest I spent more time with the monkeys. This day made my trip worthwhile! I felt like a kid again!).

Headed off to monkey forest. Paid 500rp for a bag of nuts. Monkeys everywhere. I sat on a bench and had a monkey jump up on my shoulder and sit there eating a peanut. The monkeys here were very friendly.

Our guide said there were over 500 monkeys around this area, but I am sure there are more. Had our photo taken in front of the monkey temple. Rob bought a wood carving of a monkey. Headed off to Tanah Lot. Its very touristy. Lots of stalls and shops. Children trying to sell postcards. They keep trying even after being told no. The temple doesn't look like the postcards, but I suppose it wasn't sunset, plus
we were around the corner from the spot where the pics in the postcards seem to be taken from. The waves crashing onto the rocks were exciting. Headed back to the hotel. The sun over the beach looks nice tonight so we headed down to the beach to try and get some good sunset photos. Even though we didn't do a lot of walking today, it was still a tiring day.

Tea in the hotel. Started sorting out all the kids pressies and try packing them in the suitcase. Last day tomorrow with some last minute shopping.

Saturday 12th August

Last day. Changed $70 to rupiah and went out to get last minute bargains. Got shorts, sarongs, keyrings, socks, t-shirts. Its hard to remember who we have got things for and whether we have forgotten anyone. Got back to the hotel and packed up the rest of the stuff we bought. Lazed around the hotel for the afternoon. Watch the Essendon/Nth Melbourne football match.

5.55pm - phone rings. "You only have use of room until 6.00pm!" they tell us. Mad rush to have a shower and finish packing. 2 1/2 hours to kill before the van comes to take us to the airport. After drinking a coke for an hour we had our last bali meal at the Wina. (Rob's comment: I'd forgotten about late checkout! With the hotel at a fairly low occupancy rate you'd think they'd give us the extra few hours. I'd be interested to know the difference in price between late checkout and paying for an extra night. It was only a little thing but it spoiled the evening for me. It was sort of a case of "You're on your way out now so we don't have to be nice to you anymore! In fairness
when we went back to reception after we'd grabbed a sandwich for dinner they were back to their cheerful helpful selves, so maybe it was me and not them who had the attitude problem!).

8.30pm - Transport arrives and we are on the first leg of our trip home. At the airport, through check in, customes, another x-ray machine. 2 1/2 hour wait till we fly away from Bali.

11.00pm - Our flight is called. After six nice warm days we are about the fly out for home. The flight to Melbourne is only 5 hours. We have 1 hour here to get our bags, go through customs, and get to the domestic terminal. Our flight is due to leave at 8.10am. At 8.05 we are walking to gate 3!! Only just made the flight. (Rob's comment: As a South Australian it's great to be able to heap scorn on Victoria! It took ages to get through customs, then we had to push our baggage trolley up the broken down travellator (moving ramp thingy) to get to the domestic terminal! Just made it to check-in, where we were told to hurry as the flight was closing, but first to check my new guitar in to the "fragile" section! We made it but only just. We were actually
hoping that we'd miss our connection and Qantas would have to find us a seat on a later plane.)

8.55am - Back in Adelaide. My son and his gf are at the airport to pick us up. At home we get a quick hug from Rob's daughter and her best friend, and a sleepy hello from Deb's other son and her neice.

The kids wait around for their pressies!! It's a little cooler here. We have gone from 29c to 9c.

Its good to be home.

Final comment from Rob:

Once again it was a good holiday. Good service from FlightCentre, Qantas, the Wina and Breakfree generally. The "free" day tour that Breakfree include in the ticket price has a bit of a catch. Whilst the tour itself is cool, the places they stop for meals are very very expensive. The same thing happened when I was on one of their tours back in 1998. Having said that, I'm sure some people are happy paying A$20 for a simple buffet meal. I wonder if those people would be staying somewhere a bit more upmarket anyway.

A note for people travelling with health problems: I'm a 42 yr old overweight smoker with an enlarged heart and congestive heart failure. I got a letter from my doctor describing my condition and what medication I'm on and made a copy of it, then packed a week's worth of medication in both of our bags with the letter so I knew I'd be ok.

Even though when we went through the x-ray machine at Denpasar and you could actually see the cards of tablets no-one queried me about them.

I walked more during our week in Bali than I had in the past six months. By the end of each day I was tired, and by the end of the week I was starting to weaken a bit. I think that a ten day trip might have been a bit too much, or perhaps I'd need to be less active. I'd declared my heart problem as a pre-existing condition with the travel insurance company. They were happy to deny me cover for the heart problems and accept the rest. For people with mild disabilities like mine (my heart works at about half capacity) a trip to Bali is definitely within reach.

For photos of Deb and Rob's trip, click to go to their web site.