15 days in Kuta, Bali

INTRODUCTION

Following is a day to day just back report of my last trip to Bali which took place in October/November. We stayed 14 wonderful nights so it is rather long! I travelled over with my mother (who's as big a party animal as I am! )and we met up with 6 good friends from Perth in Bali. This was my 11th trip to Bali and it was a kick back, relax, catching up with friends, party kinda holiday. You will find I didn't do any tours and stayed in Kuta for the whole trip (I did venture out a couple of days though) as I have already travelled majority of the island and decided to have a different style of holiday this time. Each holiday brings different things for different people. I have written about general everyday stuff plus heaps of nightlife, although some things you may find of help. Anyway hope you enjoy reading about my adventures................

DAY 1

Woke up this morning at 2am with that wonderful feeling knowing I'm heading to Bali after what feels like a lifetime although it has only been 5 months. Mum and I chucked our last minute things in our suitcases and we were ready, complete with 20kg of dog food for the Bali Street Animal Foundation. Ansett wavered the excess weight fee for us as the goods were for donation to charity. Transfer bus arrives on time which was such a relief being so early in the morning and all. Flew out from Brisbane airport with Ansett, a quick stop over in Sydney and just enough time to buy some duty free alcohol then boarded the plane bound for Denpasar just in the nick of time. Wow what a feeling being on that plane and knowing all the excitement of Bali is at the other end! The flights were ok although I must say Ansetts service has gone downhill. It was a matter of waiting for a drink for ages. I'm not talking just alcohol, any beverages or anything really. They just appeared very slack but then again who cares because I was on my way to Bali!

6 hours later and the plane touches down at Denpasar airport, so great to get off and be able to light a ciggy straight away, such a smoker friendly country! Breezed through immigration and time to collect the luggage. Surprise, surprise no porters approached us at all and just at the time we needed them! Declared our duty free alcohol at customs, we had 3 bottles between us which means 1 bottle in total over the limit. The customs guy made us pay a $10 "fine" which of course we all know goes straight in his pocket. He even goes to the trouble of taking us into a little room to try and make it look "official". I mean as if we didn't know he was scamming us! $10 well spent though I reckon, better than not being able to bring it in at all. There was no dramas with the dog food at all. One local asked what it was, he thought it was peanuts for the monkeys!

So out we walked into the lovely Bali heat. We're greeted by my aussie friend Kazza who lives in Bali, boy was she happy to see us. She even made up her own little sign with our names written on it and a big "welcome to Bali"! Into a taxi we hopped direct to Barong Hotel, Poppies Lane 2 Kuta. Greeted there by our 6 friends from Perth who had already arrived, Jen & Phill, Gill & Rick, Mandy & Tom. By now I'm so excited and haven't even left the hotel yet! Checked in with no probs, go the room we booked and everything which is a shock considering every other stay at Barong there has always been some kinda stuff up. Time to unpack which didn't take long at all, so keen to get out and into it all straight away.

So much for hitting the streets right away as we'd been in the room for about 1/2 hour when reception rings to say I've got a visitor! Went to the lobby to find my friend Wayan. He heard I'd just arrived so came to say hello, gee news travels fast in Bali! Hung around and chatted to him for a while then before long it was time to hit the town for the first big night out. Taxied to Bounty and seen Roo Ted (forumer) walking down JL Melasti, made a big spectacle yelling and screaming out the window at him, still don't know if he seen us or recognized us! Kazza came out too tonight, she hasn't been out in ages as I guess it's quite different when living there. Called into Bounty Bar which was really quiet, stayed for a few drinks then headed down to sling shot. No rides for us, just looking at all the action. It's $30 per person but they do give you a cheaper rate for multiple rides. We hit Paddys and couldn't believe how busy it was in there and therefore it was so hot! We had a reasonably early night tonight, so stuffed from all the travel and excitement.

DAY 2

Had a nice big sleep in then went for a walk down Benasari Lane. Brought a few nice photo frames for Rp20,000 each. Went to visit Kazza in her room. She rents a room in a complex, same as local living style and it's so cheap. Rp350,000 per month and it's a nice clean room right in Kuta, very basic and small but somewhere to lay the head! Also guess one would get used to the cold water only shower and the manual scoop flush style loo. I mean what could you expect for approx 70 aussie dollars a month!

Then we decided to go on the hunt for Sami & Suzi's (forum bar). If it wasn't for their hats with their names on them we never would of found the place. No forumers there this arvo, it was around 5pm so I'd say Roo Ted must of been caught up drinking Bintangs somewhere else! Snapped our pic ready for the forum album. Bob (forumer) invented this idea and it's a fantastic idea.....10 points for Bob!

Back to Barong we go and hang out with our friends from Perth for a while, so much to talk about. Met their hubbies and what a great bunch of guys! Went to Bounty again tonight and hit the UFO's which is a cocktail in the big fish bowl type of thing. It tastes like coconut and Arak, god only knows what else goes it contains! They are so yum and only cost Rp10,000 each and they are huge.

Caught our usual bemo guy friend to take us down to Paddys, he hangs right out the from of Bounty Bar and is always there each trip. It was much quieter at Paddys tonight which at least gives you some space to breath! A few Illusion Shakers later, some more dancing and it's time to head home after a huge night out. Ordered room service, pigged out then crashed out!

DAY 3

Woke up this morning with a hangover from hell, guess I got pretty used to that by the time the holiday ended! Psyched ourselves up to face the streets of Kuta in that hot burning sun, torturous at times but also heavenly. Shopped along Jl Legian today, brought a couple of those singlet dresses Rp20,000 each. They are so cool and comfortable, perfect for Bali. Checked out one of the Ulluwatu shops for some nice P.J's. Everything is expensive but the quality is fantastic. Handed over some money and they would not except one of mums Rp20,000 notes. It was the old reddish colour one. Although we found everywhere else excepted them so that was just a once off.

After a big shop called into Bagus Pub for a while. I love the food there, especially their Satay and Nasi Goreng. Although the loud telle with those blaring movies drives me crazy after a while. Guess not the place to go with a hangover or if you want to have a good chat! With a belly fully of delicious Indo food we hit the sack for an quick nap in preparation for tonight's partying.

The guys from Okie House next to Barong dropped us off at Bounty tonight. Nice bunch of guys and we've known them for years now. The whole crew came out tonight and we had a ball, dancing on the podium and all! Actually drank water from midnight on as I was still a bit seedy from the night before, gee I can't pike it this soon into the holiday! Off to Paddy's again, just chilled on a stool tonight. Kicked back and watched the action on the dance floor. Gee you see some funny sights when your sober enough to notice! Early night tonight, hopefully recharge my batteries for tomorrow. I'll be right in a few days, just warming up probably.

DAY 4

This morning we decide to head out to the Bali Street Dog Foundation to deliver some supplies and just pay a general visit. I have the address and give it to the taxi man who assures me he knows where he's going. We get to Sanur only to find out he really has no idea! He stops and asks many different people for directions and about an hour later we find it. I know it's the right place as I can hear barking dogs and lots of them! I open the gate to some really scary sounding dogs but get lead in there by some locals who tell me they will not bite. I ask for Ken & Sherry who run the fund but are told they are not here today. Back in the taxi we go very disappointed and making a point to ring first next time!

Time for a bit of Matahari Department Store shopping for some CD's, always stock up on the CD's in Bali. Have a good look around the the place, so easy to shop there with no hassle but the clothes etc are much more expensive than on the street, seem to be a totally different style too. We go down to the supermarket section and brought some beautiful fruit trays for about $1 each. Bali has so many different types of wonderful fruits to offer. Some the same as ours and some not, still can't believe the lemons as they are always green not yellow!

Back to the hotel and have our usual arvo chat and relax with Jen, Gill and Mandy, comparing what goodies we have brought. I never made it out to tootsies (set price shop at Sanur) whilst I was there but the others did and they said well worth the visit, they brought up big time!

We ordered some shoes a couple of days ago and they get delivered this arvo. Excellent as usual and cost about 25 aussie dollars. We always get our shoes made from Sito Leather 2 at Tuban through a guy named Sonny and the quality is always superb, their jackets are great too.

Tonight transport out again with the guys from Okie House. Notice how everyone in Bali seems to do transport even if it is not their job, people of many trades! Some of my step family hit the town tonight and so good to see them out enjoying themselves. Of course we buy them beers as I don't often get the opportunity to see them as they are Balinese living in Bali, we all had a good time.

Off to Paddy's again, always say we won't go there again but always end up there. Just can't drive past the place without sticking our heads in. The music is sooooo loud and the atmosphere is really happening here. So many tourists and from what I can see and hear most people would prefer Paddy's to Sari Club these days. Once again another day and night in Bali is over, time for some sleep.


DAY 5

After a nice big sleep in and some Nasi Goreng it's off to the beach we go. Had a really kick back relax kinda day which is always nice to do. Kuta beach still the same but with little less hassle from the sellers. It's amazing to sit back and watch all the planes coming and going over the beach. For a small island Denpasar airport is so busy! One plane comes and another plane goes, pretty much constantly. I sit there imaging how excited the people are landing and feeling sad for the people leaving, after all that will be me next week. I try not to think about that yet as we are still early in our trip.

We head down to our friends Kazza's room tonight for a few Bintangs as it's her boyfriends birthday. He isn't all that excited as birthday seem to be no big deal to the locals. It was nice though to spend some time with them and a great exuse to be consuming more Bintangs!

Bounty Bar tonight and the whole crew come out again, our friends from Perth are so much fun to go out with and we had another excellent night. Took heaps of pic's as well which are all great memories. We leave Bounty and down to Paddy's we go, just the usual drinking, dancing, laughing and meeting heaps of great people. We met some wonderful people of all ages from all over the world, every body is so friendly when holidaying in Bali, a bit different to at home when everyone is so busy with their everyday lives.
DAY 6

Big headache this morning, has to be that Arak, tastes nice at the time but the next day you pay for it, oh well it's all worth it as I never drink here so when in Bali the hair gets let down. I've certainly warmed up into things by now with many drunken party filled nights been and plenty more to come! Down to Internet Cafe, there are so many in Poppies 2, they are really popping up everywhere now. The going rate seems to be Rp 500 per minute which has gone up quite a bit from a few months ago when they were Rp150 per minute. I found a couple for Rp 300 a minute which seems to be the cheapest now. I was surprised though at how much the speed has picked up, I found the computers there to be faster than mine at home! That's great news as who wants to be stuck in an internet cafe for longer than you have to aye!

Went down to Bagus Pub for lunch, ordered some Chicken Satay which is so tasty, oh and their lemon squashes are the real thing the way we used to make them years ago. Bagus is always packed out, bar lined with mainly aussie men bearing there beer bellies and looking like lobsters. I'd say that is from their asses being practically cemented to the stools at their hotel pool bars, such a favourite pastime for some aussie guys. Well seems to be the case at Barong Hotel anyway! And no I'm not paying out on aussie men, good on them as you're in Bali to have fun!

Won't bore you all with tonight's episode as not much different at all, the same thing really and also by now I'm having big problems in recalling things. Good sign that I've neally been here for a week, everything starts becoming a bit blurry from all the big nights out! I'm sure all of you that go on drinking holidays can relate to this!