Bali - Summer 2014

What an adventure we have had in Bali.  

DAY 1 - 2/7

It started on the 2/7 where we left home at 7:30 to catch the bus to Qingdao airport.  A two hour drive. When we got there we went and had breakfast at a coffee shop before checking in and having a 3 hour wait before boarding our plane to Hong Kong.

Once in Hong Kong we had an overnight layover at the airport and were only flying the next day, 3/7 at 12:45 in the afternoon.  So off we went to Pizza Express for some supper.  We also window shopped at the stores.  Not knowing which gate we were boarding from we settled into the area of gate 1.  We tried to sleep on the chairs but didn't work.  A midnight snack from Mac Donalds was in order. 

 Sarah busy charging her phone.

 The airline we flew with Dragonair at Hong Kong Airport

 At Pizza Express - Brochette

 And their Four Seasons Pizza.

Paul trying to get some shut eye.

DAY 2 - 3/7

Eventually we slept for about half an hour at around 5am.  Sarah managed to sleep at one and a half hour intervals.  Early before the airport got busy, between 6 and 7 am we went and had breakfast at Pizza Express again.  Eventually our boarding gate was displayed and we had to catch a short underground train to the next building where we had to wait again for our flight.  Once we were boarded we could not feel the excitement as we only felt like zombies then.  The flight felt long, but the cabin crew were super fantastic.

Once we landed in Bali we had to buy Visas on Arrival.  You have to pay in US Dollars.  But we were there safe and sound and the manager of the Villa Kuta Regency we were staying in was there to meet us.  What a lovely man.  He took  us through to the villa and there we settled in and got our second wind.  We went for a walk to Discovery Mall, looked through the shops, then ended up at Burger King for supper. Went back to the villa afterwards for a well deserved rest.

 The villa we stayed at.

 In China they use bicycles, but in Bali its motorbikes.

 This is the main road at Kuta beach front.  Very busy.

 The road we had to walk down to get back to our villa

A very big tourist area.  

DAY 3 - 4/7

We woke up to a breakfast made by the villa.  Once we were finished we took a walk to Lippo Mall.  We walked around and shopped then went to Mac Donalds for lunch.  It was so hot that we decided to go back to the villa to drop off the parcels and for a little R&R.  (still recuperating from our flight).  Afterwards we took a walk to the beach to and enjoyed the sea and took lots of photos.  Once sunset was over, we walked to Seafood House to have supper.  There you had to choose your own live fish and have it cooked in front of you. We had drunken prawns that is flamed cooked in beer and brandy, a seafood hotpot and some vege dishes.  Afterwards to Discovery Mall and then back to the villa to retire for the evening.

Breakfast made by the villa

 The beaches are clean and blue.

 We came across turtles being released into the sea.

 These two little boys saw us taking photos and wanted to have their photo taken with me. 30 seconds later they were skinny dipping n the sea.

 Sunset

 Paul the photographer

Walking to find a place to have supper.

 Catching our supper for us.

 Cooking our supper for us.

This rock band was playing outside Discovery Mall.  That is not the wind in his hair.  It stood like that by itself.

DAY 4 - 5/7

Today the manager of the villa took us to the water sport area of the beach.  There we bought a tour to Turtle Island on a glass bottom boat.  However the sea was choppy and a little murky.  At Turtle Island we saw turtles from 10 days old to many years old.  We were able to hold the turtles and we were even challenged to pick up a 90kg turtle.  We also held a snake, bat, hawk and stood behind a toucan.  We had a Balinese lunch.  From there we went to see Secret Beach.  But we could not walk through the holes in the rocks as the tide was in.  But the area we were in was beautiful indeed.  From there we went to Lippo Mall where we found an Hyper.  Cheaper than the tourist shops.  Then we went back to the villa for a little reprieve from the sun and relaxed for the rest of the evening.  Mr Abrahams went and bought us some local supper we had in our room.

 10 days old

 Turtles of different colours and shapes

 This turtle was over 90kg.

 Fruit bats.

I was a bit nervous.

 Iguana

 The Hawk.  It is surprisingly very light.

 The Toucan.  We had to stand behind it as it is temperamental.

 And yes Sarah held the snake. It was trying to get into her bag.

 Arriving at Secret Beach

 You have to walk down and down and down till you get to the bottom.

 And Amazing

The hole in the rock you have to walk through to get to the beach.  Pity it was high tide.

 This guy is a rock climber from France.  He has been doing rock climbing for the last 20 years and he competes professionally as well.

 Our traditional Balinese Supper

DAY 5 - 6/7

Today Mr Abraham took us to see some rice fields in the Ubud area.  There are so many Hindu shrines on the road in Ubud.  We then went to Pandawa Beach - Corner Stone (English name) beach.  Stunning.  The huge stone is naturally made.  Then we went to James Bond Beach.  It is called this as in one of the James Bond movies, he was recorded jet skiing on this particular beach.  Also a beautiful beach.  Once we got back to the villa we took a walk to the beach for some sunset photos and then onto Beachwalk Mall for some supper.  We also stopped in to have Balinese reflexology for an hour.  Then back to the villa to retire for the evening.

 Wood used for carvings

Many shrines

 Balinese ladies going for prayer

 Rice fields

Motor bikes are used for everything.

 English meaning - Corner Stone Beach

 Natural rock

 This beach was stunning.

 Sarah was tired of sightseeing and just wanted to relax on the beach.

 Then we went to James Bond Beach

(The sea James Bond jet ski over for his movies)

 Beautiful sunset on Kuta Beach

Many people are out at sunset hoping to get that perfect picture.

 Supper at Rollaas Coffee and Tea Restaurant.

 Paul had a Balinese dish - Oxtail soup with rice and prawn crackers.

I had a New Zealand sirloin steak with mash.

 Went and had reflexology done.

DAY 6 - 7/7

Today we woke early and walked to the beach.  It is so nice to get there early as there are hardly many people on the beach.  We found a spot and enjoyed the sun and sea till midday. By then it was very busy and it had got very very hot so we decided to go back to the villa to freshen up.  To use the showers at the beach you have to pay.  Once the midday heat had past and we had been cooling ourselves down with the aircon, we took a walk to Discovery Mall to get Sarah new shoes as her slops were giving her blisters.  Then we went to a local restaurant for some local food.  Paul had a duck curry, Sarah a chicken satay and I have a beef satay.  The prices were good but you got such a small amount of food on your plate.  We then walked to Beachwalk mall  and went and had a milkshake and some crispy chicken wings and chips.  I have decided that Rollaas Coffee and Tea Restaurant is my favourite restaurant.  There was live music tonight as well.  A really relaxing atmosphere, and then back to the villa.

 Sun, sand and sea.  What more can you ask for?

 Selling pineapples.

 Paul enjoying the sea.

 Life guards on the look out.

 Enjoying the sun.

Teaching people to surf.

 Walking to go have supper.

 The local restaurant we chose to eat at.

 One of the Balinese ladies that stand at the entrance of the restaurant and try get guests to eat there.

 Duck curry.

 Beef satay

Chicken Satay

 A bakery in Discovery Mall.

 Our milkshakes at Rollaas Coffee and Tea Restaurant.

 One of the horse drawn carts.  I feel very sorry for these horses.  They are in between the cars, breathing in the exhaust fumes and they look very overworked and tired.

 Then we took photos on the way back to the villa.

This is a display in the front of Beachwalk Mall.

 There really are so many motor bikes.

The night market.

DAY 7 - 8/7

A down pour this morning.  But still very humid.  Once it died down at 9am we went through to Waterbom.  It does cost a lot to get in, but its worth every penny.  We also hired a cabana in the park which is ours for the whole day.  You then put money on a band that stays on your arm, so you can buy food etc in the park.  No service provider inside the park accepts cash. You can go on every slide for free.  There are also other activities for children but you have to pay extra.  And there is plenty of food stalls there.  And you choose your food, pay for it, and they bring it to your cabana.  Very nice and professional service.  And very safe as well.  We left all our belongings at the cabana and we got back to it all still being there.  Paul and Sarah went on two slides and we all enjoyed the lazy river.  They offer free suntan benches which we used as well.  We got there at 9:30am and left at 6pm.  A day well spent. We refreshed at the villa and then went back to the Beachwalk mall to our favourite restaurant for supper and then back to the villa for a good sleep after so much sun.

Our Cabana

 Python slide - Sarah and Paul

 Lazy River

 Constrictor slide - Sarah

Constrictor slide - Paul

 Boomerang slide

 Green Viper slide

Climax slide

Race track, boogie ride and smash down slides

 Our lunch

It was great having the waterproof bags we bought to keep our cell phones dry as well as take photos when in the water.

 Eating area.

 You can check your balance on your band.

Childrens slide and play area.

 Supper at our favourite restaurant

DAY 8 - 9/7

Today we took a long walk around Kuta through the little lanes and alley's.  We walked about 4km today.  We visited the Ground Zero where a memorial wall has been built to honour all those who died in the bombing in 2002.  We walked through Kuta square and Poppies Lane 2.  We then walked along the beach and stopped off at our favourite restaurant for a light snack.  Afterwards Sarah and I went and had a Manicure and Pedicure done.  OOOO so nice.  By 3pm we decided to have lunch at Pizza Express the back to the villa for some R&R.  When we woke we went to Hyper at Lippo Mall to buy some western goodies we cannot get in China, then decided to go to Burger King for supper.  This was the end of our last evening in Bali.  Time really does fly when you are having fun.

It was so sad to see the flowers with name tags on and even saying happy birthday to the loved ones that have died.

Don't know if I want to buy my shoes there !!!

A local praying. They go 70% of their day to pray at their shrines.

All the flowers in banana leaf baskets with incense that are offered in their prayers.

This was so relaxing.

Our lunch at Pizza Express

Going to Hyper to buy some western food to take back to China.

Our last supper in Bali.

DAY 9 - 10/7

Woke up early to start packing.  Dreading the long trip back to China.  We went through to Discovery Mall to buy some gifts and then to the beach for the last time.  Then to Burger King for the last time.  After that we went back to the villa to sleep and relax before being taken to the airport for our trip home.  It was not such a long wait for our plane and we landed in Hong Kong at midnight.

All dressed to leave but had to have some more photos of the beach.

DAY 10 - 11/7

We went and bought something to drink and then settled by gate 1 seats again and tried to sleep.  We boarded our plane at 10:45am back to Qingdao.  And once we got into Qingdao it was a race to catch the bus on time for another 2 hour drive back to Rizhao.  Well we made it home safe and sound.

 At Hong Kong airport after our flight from Bali.

 Paul and Sarah getting shut eye waiting for our flight back to China.

We have thoroughly enjoyed our holiday and we will definitely be going back to visit Bali again.

Mr Abrahams is a fantastic host and made our stay very comfortable.  As for the Balinese people, well they are calm and friendly people that are always soft spoken.

Bali is not cheap at all.  Because the destination is mainly for tourists their prices are for them as well.  You have to know where to shop - where the locals shop for cheaper shopping.

I still have four weeks left of my school holiday and will be getting a lot of R&R before school starts again in August.

Keep reading.