Day 4 – Big shopping in the BIG rain

Weather: 29 degrees | overcast | 79% humidity
Exchange: 9,690 Rupiah = $1AUD (hotel) | 9,900 Rupiah = $1AUD (street)

I’ve been awake since 5:45am.  Now I know that’s because my body clock hasn’t changed over, because there is no reason other than to catch a plane, for me to be awake at that ridiculous time of the morning.  I’m relieved to hear complete silence, but after a coffee and sorting the laundry (18 items: total cost 150,000 Rupiah after 25% discount) the sound of light rain falling becomes clear and constant.

Today, we are planning on getting to all the shops on the list we haven’t found yet, including the place that caused us to walk way more than we had planned yesterday, Biarritz, resulting in very sore muscles today.  I think the high chance of rain today is a good excuse to travel around in a taxi – maybe it’s time to buy an umbrella?

So, we borrow an umbrella from the hotel and order a taxi to take us straight to Biarritz.  It’s raining quite steadily, but being dropped the right at the door makes the rain ok.  As we enter, a shop assistant greets us and informs there is 10% off everything today – must be morning/rain price.  We spend a good hour there, with me checking out every single item and hubby holding in the rage for having to endure more shopping and what's worse, the shop assistant is eagerly hovering at our heels.  You might have guessed that he hates shopping (unless it’s Bunnings, of course) and what’s more, he hates crowds or being crowded.  We manage to buy some amazing items, including ornaments, coasters, jewellery, wooden bowls/utensils, flags, singlets, a kite, etc for the grand total of 747,657 Rupiah (including the 10% discount).  Hubby really deserves a prize for his behaviour – I think I’ll buy him a carton of Bintang.

We decide to attempt walking in the rain; after all, we have the hotel umbrella.  We get as far as Jl Kunti and already hubby is drenched and only my top half is dry, the puddles are nearly half way up my leg.  I’m always amazed at how much water collects on the streets, but as soon as the rain stops, the puddles disappear almost instantly making you wonder if it actually rained that bad at all?!  We continue walking until we reach Jl. Raya Seminyak, checking out a few clothes shops on my list – some aren’t open (I suspect due to the weather) and don’t find anything I like.  We head towards Bintang Supermarket, but think we may have miscalculated and duck for cover at the supermarket right next door.  We take shelter there for about 15 minutes because the rain is so heavy.  I decide to pop in and check out the wine store, not leaving before I purchase a bottle of Bali Wine: Hatten Wines, Aga Red (cost = 12,500 Rupiah).

The rain dies to a drizzle, so we keep moving but decide to skip Bintang Supermarket and attempt to find the 3D Buddha shop mentioned on Trip Advisor with no luck.  The weather is really not suitable for street shopping and our feet and legs are so sore, so we decide to jump in a taxi (which is not easy as most are in use) and head to Carrefour which is a much better shopping choice, where we can stock up on supplies for the trip home (instead of doing later). 

It’s about 12pm when we arrive and debate whether to have a quick bite to eat, but decide to go straight into Carrefour instead.  I detour to Bata Shoes and pick up a couple of bargains for Miss 7 (two pairs of shoes for 120,000 Rupiah – no pictures this time, Miss 7 will have to wait till we get home for the surprise).  We spend over 2.5 hours wandering around...now hubby really deserves that carton of beer!

I get enough toiletries that I hope will last until our next trip back, some plastic boxes and lollipops to take to Pejenkawan School on Saturday, a few more snacks/water, a wok - yes, a wok and of course that carton of Bintang.  We collect our bags and special purchase items from the storage area and buy some Balinese cakes from the stall out front –Klepon and Lupis.

We wait for much longer than usual downstairs for a taxi to arrive (normally they are lined up waiting for customers).  We return to the hotel with our purchases and I realise I have left the trusty hotel umbrella... somewhere... urghhhh!  I confess to the Reception staff and accept the charge of 95,000 Rupiah – I really should have bought myself an umbrella, they were selling on the street for 50,000 Rupiah.

We unpack our goodies and I am so hungry after skipping lunch and all that walking, so cannot resist the local cakes.  I love them, hubby is not fussed and they certainly wouldn’t be to everyone’s taste (I know someone who hates coconut and would not like these delicacies at all).  I’m still peckish, so tear open a pack of Pop-smile Popcorn.  Now, if that special person who got me addicted to salty and sweet popcorn is reading this, I can confidently say that I would have no problem living here now that I have found this.  Do not let the “cheddar cheese” flavour fool you... it’s almost identical to my favourite at home.

It’s just gone 5pm and hubby is crashed on the bed... I think I will join him.  Let’s hope we wake before it’s too late to eat tea.

We wander down to Reception about 6:30pm, they call us a taxi and we go to a restaurant called "Bloody Sweet" on Jl Legian, just around the corner from Jl Patih Jelantik.  It’s a rather large open restaurant, that offers a variety of cuisine from Mexican to Chinese – we’ve noticed this place each time we come to Bali, but have never eaten there.  We order Prawn Spring Rolls and Yam Dumplings to share, Hainan BBQ Chicken/Pork Combination, Pork Ribs Sechzuan, 2 Large Bintangs and 1 Mix Max Sparkling Wine (total cost = 370,260 Rupiah).  The food was nice, hubby says he’ll come back, but I spy the Japanese restaurant tucked back next door that I suggest we really need to try.

We catch a taxi back, through the crazy Kuta traffic and stop by Reception to see if our laundry is ready.  The hotel staff member, Eddie who collected us from the airport has grown fond of us and jumps in to assist.  He makes a call and explains we need laundry urgently and promises us it will be here soon.  Ten minutes later, we receive a call from Housekeeping, with many apologies stating they will bring our clothes up right away.  Clean clothes delivered with that wonderful Bali look and smell, although a little more expensive than I had calculated due to the surcharge (total = 193,752 Rupiah).

An early night tonight, as we need to be dressed and fed for our driver, Alex to collect us at 8:30am tomorrow morning.  We will spend the day sightseeing on our way to Ubud, where we will end up and check in to Beji Ubud for two nights and make our visit to the school during this time... can’t wait!

Day 3 – What’s on the cards?

Weather: 25 degrees | thunderstorms | 95% humidity
Exchange: 9,690 Rupiah = $1AUD (hotel) | 9,850 Rupiah = $1AUD (street)

We wake to rain for the first time.  The sound is lovely, but I begin to wonder how long it will hang around for.  I check my phone to find a message from Miss 7, which was sent 7:30am Adelaide time and realise I stirred about 5am – not sure if it was because I heard the message or my body clock hasn’t adjusted yet (probably a bit of both).

A wonderfully warm shower, Travelan tablet washed down with morning coffee and we’re ready to head to breakfast about 9am.  Hubby is over his dodgy belly, so goes in search of bacon but as I mentioned previously, is nowhere to be found.  As a waiter approaches, I joke “no bacon?” – He tells me no problem, just need to order... bacon butt coming up!  I locate an interesting dish that I have never tried before “Jackfruit curry”, so pop a bit on my plate.  Not bad – a great alternative for vegetarians – the texture could easily be mistaken for shredded chicken.  Another waiter circles the room with a tray full of mixed fruit smoothies as a treat for guests.  Before we leave we are approached by another staff member asking what we thought about the smoothies, as they like to offer something new each day, so I compliment them on their effort.  The staff here are delightful and I assume due to the recent name change (they dropped the “Quest”) perhaps they are under new management – no complaints here!

We are soon to head to Seminyak for a bit of shopping and what I hope to be an amazing experience enjoying Asian High tea and Tarot Card reading at Biku Bali.

The hotel phones for a taxi and we manage to find “B Design” (Jo’s Shop) near Kerobokan Prison.  We ask the driver to wait and while hubby rushes me around the shop, I still manage to pick up a number of gorgeous items for a grand total of 370,000 Rupiah.  I confirm with the shop assistant where their other shop is in Legian and inform hubby I will return there by myself another day.

We jump back in the taxi about 20 minutes later and head straight to Biku Bali, costing us a total of 70,000 Rupiah – not bad considering the crazy traffic from Kuta to Seminyak and the waiting time.  Unfortunately, we are 1 hour early for our Biku reservation and the place is packed (as most reports would indicate is normal).  We decide to stroll down the street, pop into a deli to grab some water and when we come out it starts to rain – quite steadily.  We walk fast back towards Biku, take shelter a few doors down and watch the pouring rain for about 20 minutes.  At 12:55pm we quickly walk back to Biku and I’m saturated, but the wonderful staff usher us straight in and to our seats, before immediately escorting me over to Christine, my Tarot Card Reader.

Approximately 15 minutes later, after receiving an informative and enjoyable Tarot Card reading – a lot that made sense and gave me some insight to what might be in store for me in future – I return to hubby, who is looking rather bored.  We are attended to right away and Asian High Tea is delivered to us in moments... absolutely delicious!  This includes: Coffee or Tea, Samosa with chutney, Vietnamese Spring Rolls, Ayam sisit with Sambal Matah tart, Curried egg sandwich, Date scones with mango jam, Moroccan Orange Cake with rose tea syrup, Pineapple and Mint Agar –agar, Kue mocha, Salak poached in cinnamon and star anise (Total 170,000 Rupiah for 2 people) – I order Cold ‘Wedang Jahe’ Ginger (Sweet Javanese ginger served with fresh wild ginger blossom and a cinnamon stick) and hubby has a Long Black with Arvo Tea; we order a further Long Black and Biku Blend over ice (served with mint, star fruit, and fresh wild ginger flower) and the Grand Total is 239,000 Rupiah.  I search through the Book Section and find a bargain book “Dancing out of Bali” (John Coast) for 70,000 Rupiah.

We quickly get in a taxi right outside Biku Bali and end up having the most enjoyable ride back to the hotel.  We have a very colourful conversation about education, politics, knowledge, watching TV, his wife’s fertility problems and nearly wet ourselves laughing every time he uses common Aussie expletives like FN BS.  When I can change the subject, I explain to the driver I have been searching for a book but cannot find anywhere, so he detours to PeriPlus Books for us before dropping us at our hotel - still no luck finding "A Little Bit of One O'clock".

We spend the next hour on Skype with Miss 7, Nanny and Grandpa and all is well at home.  As the rain has finally subsided, we decide to go for a leisurely walk from our hotel to Bali Brasco and possibly Biarittz.  The time is approximately 5:30pm and after a fair distance to Bali Brasco (which did not impress me much), we ask for directions to Biarittz.  Down Jl Sunset... walking, walking, walking... not sure if we are going in the right direction... pass another tourist who pulls out a map and has even less idea about where we are then we do... car lights are beginning to be turned on... I’m certain we are on the wrong road.  Eventually we come across a group of shops and there it is!  But... the pearly gates are closed.

So... we decide to keep walking – down Jl Kunti, left up Jl Raya Seminyak which turns into Jl Legian, in search of somewhere to eat dinner.  By now it’s 7pm and what do you know, we are right in front of our Painter friend Julio.  We decide to pop in and see if we can find a picture we would like painted for us – something that represents Bali.  After a few minutes searching the net, we come across exactly what I have been visualising in my head – can’t wait to see the finished product, 70x90 for 400,000 Rupiah.

We keep walking up Jl Legian – it’s eerily quiet – until we finally come across a restaurant we remember eating at last year that was fairly decent, and does not charge any tax, The Sidoi.  We order Nasi Goreng Seafood, Pan Fried Mahi-Mahi with sautéed veggies and fries, 2 icy cold Bintangs and 2 icy cold Smirnoff Ices (total = 208,000 Rupiah).

Across the road, into a taxi, a quick visit to Circle K outside the laneway to our hotel and we are absolutely done!  After walking approximately 10km's if not more, it’s time for a shower and straight to bed for me; need to save my energy for Biarittz shopping tomorrow!

Day 2 – Breakfast alone

Weather: 28 degrees | cloudy | 78% humidity
Exchange: 9,690 Rupiah for $1AUD (Hotel) | 9,985 Rupiah = $1AUD (Street)

Many times throughout the night I stirred, but that could be due to early to bed from exhaustion, being in a strange place and of course hubby banging into the coffee table in the middle of the night didn’t help.

I was definitely wide awake before the Bali sun came up, but continued to doze until about 6:45am Bali time [I will refer to all times in Bali time now, but if you need to do the calculation, it is a 2.5 hour difference to Adelaide time].  Usual morning dawdle, boiled kettle and one more failed attempt to get Wi-Fi connected, we decide to head down for breakfast.  Hubby is feeling dodgy this morning (Bali Belly already?!  Can’t be), so sips on coffee while I happily taste test most things on offer.  Not a bad selection, but can’t smell the bacon – will definitely be reporting that on the guest survey card!  Hubby can’t stand the sight of my breakfast plate, so heads back to the room and leaves me to eat like a solo traveller... oh well.

I head back to the room, ward off housekeeping and listen to hubby snore while typing away.  Think I’ll head downstairs to Reception and see if they can get Wi-Fi sorted for me and change some money changed.  YAY – we have connection!  Just uploaded Day 1 blog.  Hubby feeling better, so getting organised to head into Legian to visit our amazing painter friend Julio and see if we can remember how to find Frenchs Leather to have Miss 7’s leather jacket made.

We managed to jump aboard the hotel shuttle bus to Legian beach, then walked Jl Padma Utara until we hit Jl Werkudara (I’ve spotted and recognise Hotel Jayakarta).  We head down the road (the right way), stop in at a local deli to buy water and bandaids – the new shoes I am wearing are really not doing their job – and there it is: FRENCHS LEATHER.  An order in for Miss 7’s leather Jacket (1 million Rp.) we try to find our way back to Jl Legian.  A little minute later we hit the intersection and I try to get my bearings (it’s funny how a year away can make everything seem upside down and inside out) and thankfully we are heading in the right direction because there he it is right across the road – JULIO.  We hand over a photo and decide to come back later to check out other options on the computer –this time we want an original Bali type painting.

By now it’s definitely lunch time, so we continue down Jl Legian and spot my favourite mosiac articles shop (I forget the name) and the shop owner remembers me!  We buy a gorgeous moziac hanging/spinning ornament and a surprise moziac wall hanging for Miss 7 (last year we had her name made).  A little further down is the 100% Genuine Fake Shop where we buy me some flip flops (Gecko?) and hubby a Von Zipper singlet (Rp.100,000).  We turn left down Jl Padma and settle on Moo Moo’s Steakhouse Bar and Grill for (late) lunch.  We order Nasi Campur, Moo’s Mixed Platter, a small Bintang and a Guava Juice (Total = Rp.150,000).

After lunch, we drop into a market stall next door to purchase Miss 7 a pair of RED hightop Converse sneakers.  The smallest we can get (and we’ve asked at a few different stalls) is a size 3 – might be a bit big, but she’ll soon grown into them.  He wanted to charge us Rp.350,000 but without a blink of the eye, we agreed on Rp.150,000.  We find Jl Sahadewa to the left and walk up and down until we find a side lane that takes us to Ketut’s Fixed Price shop.  A little confusing, but I think her shop is the “art market” one.  I buy a seahorse dangling ornament (Rp.30,000) and a small tree of life (Rp.70,000) before heading back to Jl. Padma, flagging down a Blue Bird and going back to the hotel.

Bathers on, we spend an hour in the pool where I take my own Vodka in a water bottle and add it to Lemonade ordered at the pool bar.  I then take up the hotel’s offer of a foot reflexology massage with 25% discount (Rp.90,750) and meet the loveliest Sumatran lady, Widia.  I enjoy the chat much more than the massage, although the massage was definitely soothing and relaxing.

It’s 7pm and hubby groans of hunger, so for convenience we decide to eat at Lotus Cafe (the Hotel restaurant – where we eat breakfast).  We order Gado-Gado (veggies & peanut sauce) to share, Mie Goreng, Iga Bakar (Grilled marinated beef spare ribs), 1 Banana Smoothie and 2 (large) Bintangs (Total=Rp.310,970).  Besides the construction going on in the close distance and the threat of something large and scary falling on top of us - the ground actually shook - the meal was nice.

Back to the room, time to upload blog and turn in for the night...

Biku Bali tomorrow – wonder what the cards have in store for me?

Day 1 – Waiting...waiting...

I hate waiting!  I’m told that I’m always running late, but my theory is that if I’m exactly on time, I really shouldn’t have to wait.  However, just to ensure the check-in process was problem free, we got to the airport by the ridiculous 3 hour prior deadline.  And yes, no waiting in the check-in line, bags through no problem, straight into the airport, heaps of time for a very expensive breakfast and leisurely shopping in duty free.  We opted not to purchase from the tiny shop in the main airport foyer and decided to wait until we went through International Departures... and that’s when the waiting started.  I figured that by 8am the secret doors would be open, but NO!  We were supposed to be getting on the plane by 9am.  Eventually a man came out indicating to selected guests within earshot (I made sure that included me) that we had to wait for staff to finish their breakfast – WHAT?!  I had been up since 5am; surely they had the time to finish their breakfast by now!!

About half an hour later, the doors finally opened and as we had already completed our departure cards in the foyer (good thing there was a bench set outside to save time there) it was a relatively quick process through.  My handbag did get confiscated momentarily due to the hand gel loose in there that needed to be sealed in a snaplock bag – thankfully the customs staff assisted with little fuss.  A little stressed about our now limited time to duty free shop and fit in a toilet stop; in hindsight we really didn’t need to worry at all.  After purchasing a 1ltr bottle of Smirnoff Raspberry Vodka and Jim Beam Devils Cut for the trip over (Total = $60.99) and a 1lt bottle of Smirnoff Vodka, 12yo Canadian Club and Silver Jose C Tequila (discounted 10% - who could resist) to collect on our arrival at Adelaide (Total = $88.32), we found a seat and took turns for the toilet.

When we were called to board the flight at about 9:20am (20 minutes over time) I knew there was going to be delay, even though no one was saying so.  In our seats a little after 9:30am and looking around the plane it was only half full, I thought there is no way we will be leaving on time (9:45am take off).  I didn’t think we would be sat on the plane for nearly one hour though!!  Eventually, the flight attendants informed as that there had been a delay at check-in and slowly (real slowly) but surely, the remaining passengers boarded the plane.  When the cabin doors finally locked, a passenger from down the back of the plane gingerly approaches the flight attendant to announce she had lost her passport.  A few moments later after everyone is instructed to find it for her, it is mysteriously located and nearly one hour over time, we are told the plane is ready to go... but of course now we need to wait for a clear pathway to take off due to others that had kept to schedule.  Although the thought crossed my mind to kick off a Mexican wave, I really couldn’t be bothered because I was so annoyed I had to wait... I hate waiting!

The flight was trouble free, one trip to the toilet which took up a chunk of time – it’s a long way from row 4 to the back of the plan, dodging all those obstacles.  Of course, the front toilets had been quarantined for the lonely Business Class traveller.  I read a few chapters of my book, watched a movie on the laptop and played some games on the phone and before I knew it, we had landed.  The upside of being at the front of the plane meant that we were on the first bus over to the airport.  Straight through Visa on Arrival – paid in AUD (Total = $52), which gave us some change in Rupiah.  First time we had done it this way, but sure saved a lot of issues with changing money beforehand (usually we get $50USD and a couple hundred Rupiah).  Of course, our plane had coincided with another that had landed, so this meant 20 minutes in the line up through Immigration.  Once through, we collect our luggage and find the only Customs Officer who was not busy and go figure, he waved us straight though – he didn’t even want our blue form.  I reckon it’s because he was too busy admiring hubby’s goatee (he, he).  That’s where the waiting stopped... I love Bali!

We head to the front and there is our trusty hotel driver, Eddie, holding his sign high with pride.  He has been faithfully waiting for over 1.5 hours for our arrival.  Short walk to the front, we wait at the curb, he collects the car and loads us up.  We arrive at our hotel, Kuta Central Park (formerly Quest) and realise all that waiting earlier has paid off, because for the first time ever, our room is ready!  We were greeted with a welcome drink, 25% discount vouchers for in house spa, information about Wi-Fi (which I still can’t get to work) and shuttle bus and breakfast voucher.  A fruit platter was delivered to our room.

The complex is more like a traditional hotel style, comparable with Australian standards – not really the usual style I would prefer in Bali.  There is even a lift, but of course happy to use the stairs.  The pool is smaller than the photos depict, but it does have a decent playground for kids (Miss 7 would have loved it).  We have a Studio Room, balcony with view of pool area, king size bed, huge shower alcove and the room is well set out and of good size.  Definitely nothing to complain about for just over $50AUD per night including breakfast (and pick up from airport).

Once we’ve checked out the room, the reception desk phones a taxi for us and it’s off to Carrefour for supplies, including toiletries (we didn’t pack this time) and of course, a carton of Bintang.  Hubby decides I can come back here by myself next time to stock up before we leave – can’t handle the enormous selection of beauty products I need to wade through.  Back to the hotel to drop off our purchases, a quick email home on the hotel’s computers in the foyer, a Bintang for the road we head into Legian/Kuta to sort out phone SIM card and find somewhere for dinner.  We decide to walk in, which is definitely doable (approximately 20 minute walk), but the road is really not designed for walkers – if anyone knows Jl. Patih Jelantik (think Alta Moda), you know what I mean.  After dodging the traffic, we get to Jl. Legian walk down to Commonwealth Bank to take out some more Rupiah and drop in to the Circle K to set up our phones. 

Across the road to Blue Skyz – one of our favourites from last year – we order a Bintang, Chocolate Milkshake, Curry Seafood and Beef Rendang (Total = Rp.151,000/$16AUD).  It’s now about 9:30pm still on Adelaide time; we are absolutely buggered and catch a taxi back to the hotel.  Hubby knows I’m done, as I’m not chatting with the driver and he nudges me in the taxi to see if I’m still awake.  Back into the hotel, many attempts to get the Wi-Fi connected a shower and a couple of vodkas later I fall into the comfy bed and sleep my first night in one of my favourite places in the world!

Ps. I'll do better with picture taking tomorrow and promise to include more photos...

Who could possibly sleep...?

Bags packed... check!


I can't believe how great we packed this time.  One whole suitcase full of donations, not to mention the other large suitcase holding our smaller carry on and some of our clothes - the rest in our carry on.  If my calculations serve correct, that equates to approximately 35kg of shopping to bring back.



Kitchen clean... almost!  Just got to put away those dishes.

Time for bed... definitely!!

I'm so excited that I just know I'll lay awake for hours, but realise that I need to get to bed at a reasonable time to make the most of our first day back in Bali.

After getting our warning email to be at the airport 3 hours prior to check-in, we have reassessed our wake up and travel time, which means at least a 5:30am start to the day.  That really doesn't sit well for a night owl like me!!

Miss 7 is all packed and settled at Nanny and Grandpa's - you wouldn't even think she realises we are gone and won't be seeing her for TWO WHOLE WEEKS!  I'm sure it will sink in within a few days... Meanwhile, I couldn't swallow the lump in my throat as we drove around the corner.  This will be the longest I have ever been separated from her.

I know the time apart will be good for all three of us, but can't help feeling that there will always be this feeling that something is missing... and of course it will be.

Ok now, let's start counting Bintangs in our sleep...

10 sleeps

Well... officially kicked off my first ever "BLOG".  So many times I've wanted to capture every single little detail of our travel experiences and then desperately rack my brain to recall the details when I finally get around to creating our scrapbook of memories.

This trip to Bali we go without child; 2nd honeymoon most would say.  First major holiday in 10 years for just the two of us.  I am very excited, but bitter-sweet - whatever will we do without miss 7yo to fill in the blanks?  Which is why it is even more important to keep a journal of just how mummy and daddy can cope by themselves and share our fun and exciting times with daughter when we return and as we grow old.

So, I'll start by saying: NOT... LONG... NOW!!  Until I shut my eyes, we have 10 more sleeps.  A full evening of scanning TA and catching up on others' blogs has inspired me to do just that.  To be continued...