Bali...Day 10, 25th January '12

It's our very last day in Bali and it's a 5 o'clock start this morning. The place is deserted, save for the pool guy getting the pool ready. I'm not ready to head home tonight. 10 days have gone way too fast. There are still things I want to do here and places to go... :,-(

The sun just shyly peeking out at 6 am.

Not a very clear sky but it sure beats the alternative of a stormy rainy day.

A little friendly visit from a little birdy as we were having brekky.

It was off to Seminyak for a quick shopping spree. Did I mention that leather bags are just lovely, soft and very reasonably priced. I bought a black snake skin handbag and two red snake skin ipod cases. Love them!

I spent the afternoon getting a mani & pedi by the beach under the tin-shack with the lovely ladies, Lenny and Rita whom I met three years ago. I couldn't believe that they actually recognised me first.

We ate our last meal in Bali at Hanabi Japanese Restaurant, Budi's restaurant. Who should be there when we walked in? Budi, of course He sent over a dish from his other restaurant, Loco Cafe. Spare pork ribs with lemongrass, ginger and chilli - his mother's own recipe. It was what the Balinese call "sedap" - delicious.

We had a very helpful guide escort us from the Hotel all the way to the lounge on the other side of immigration, even getting our passport stamped, baggage, departure tax, etc. VIP treatment from start to end. Very spoiled and now it was time to return to reality. Thank you, beautiful Bali, for another wonderful holiday. Can't bear to go yet but I'll be back!

I hope you've enjoyed reading my blog and viewing my photographs. If you have any queries or comments, feel free to leave them here or email me on tinlambert@optusnet.com.au. Would love to hear from you.
...abroadin5inchheels
xoxo

Bali...Day 9, 24th January '12

Day 9 of our holiday. 9 down 1 more day to go. First stop, Bali Collection - shopping. Princess' favourite clothes store, Bamboo Blonde. Lovely denim shorts, girly dresses and familiar labels from Australia like Minkpink. Then it was off for a hair extension. Just one. About A$10.

Then it was off to our favourite spa for our last massage. I told the manager about Mrs Magoo and she was sympathetic. She gave me a discount for our massage today. She must have also sent her best masseur. She was fantastic. She had what I call healing hands. She was so calming, so gently but firm. Totally relaxing and more than made up for Mrs Magoo, aka Ms Cheese-grater hands. Totally worth it. Left the establishment walking on air with a big smile on my face.

Our friends from Sydney came over for a visit to have a look at the property. We walked to the water sports area and they too went on the flying fish and had an absolute ball.

We had a swim in the pool and relaxed over cocktails and snacks. Lovely afternoon. Not too hot not too cold. Couldn't have asked for better weather.

After our visitors left, we grabbed a cab to Seminyak for dinner. Seminyak is a slightly more upmarket district with lovely exclusive villas, nice restaurants and more expensive boutiques.

Fire dance for entertainment at a restaurant.

The wifi passcode for our smart phones and ipod. Most restaurants in Bali have free wifi. Bonus!

We picked a nice restaurant called Bali Cafe with strong colonial interior deco. Owned by two Dutch couples with lighting exclusively designed by a lighting artist and his team of Balinese team of craftsmen.

Food's C&G - cheap and good with most meals under the A$10 mark. Great value! We had steak tartare for starters. I know, I know - I'm taking a huge risk with Bali belly, mad cow's disease and all. Just because I'm Asian doesn't mean that I'm immune to Bali belly and just in case you don't already know me, I'm a mad cow anyway. It was yummy though. Mmmmm...

A plunge pool in the far end of the restaurant. Staff there told me I was welcome to have a dip to cool off from the Balinese heat.

There are some unique concept stores in Seminayk. This was was taken at a surf concept store with a coffee bar attached. Very cool.

A very unique restaurant in Seminyak although I'm not too sure if the exterior would pass our OH&S standards in Australia.

Back to our Hotel. Chilled out at the Lobby Bar with a laptop on each of our laps before turning in for the night. Free wifi in the Hotel lobby sees many youngsters as well as adults sitting or standing around with their smart devices checking mail and working away. Hi-tech family time. Sign of our times.

...abroadin5inchheels.

Bali...Day 8, 23rd January '12

A traditional Chinese lion dance dazzling Hotel guests at the lobby of the Westin Nusa Dua.


Today is the first day of Chinese New Year. Goodbye Mr Rabbit, hello, Mr Dragon! Here's wishing all my Chinese friends and readers a very happy and prosperous new year. Gong xi fa cai!

There was a huge storm last night and it caused a power surge. The lights suddenly came on at about 4 am while we were in dreamland. It freaked me out. For a moment I thought someone had stormed into the room & turned on all the lights! We woke up the next day to find that it was just another day in paradise.

It was a R & R day by the poolside in the morning. We made a new friend. A little chipmunk Princess called Tourette. Tourette was a funny little thing that kept jerking his head to the left as he nibbled on his piece of toast. Tourette was very tame, friendly and hungry. Or greedy. It could not get enough of the toast. It wasn't so keen on cheese though.

We spent the afternoon at the watersports area. It was about a 15 minutes' walk from the Westin Nusa Dua. Passed a few other properties to a designated area for watersports such as the banana boat, jetskis, kite surfing, wind surfing and the flying fish.

Club Med Bali

Windsurfs on the ready for surfers on jump on as soon as the wind starts up.

Husband and daughter get on the flying fish. They are pretty safe and organised. I notice all their water sports (except windsurfing and kitesurfing) have a local person/guide accompanying each of the rides. 300,000r (approx A$32) for two persons, guaranteed 3 lift offs the air on the flying fish.

And off they go.

And into the air they went.

Holiday-makers on the banana boat.

Princess and I jumped in a cab after that to pay a lightning visit to friends of ours from Sydney who were staying at a gorgeous villa in Seminyak.

I had accommodation envy. The villa was absolutely gorgeous. Open plan with a private plunge pool, an outdoor spa, sun lounges, palm tress line the property. Striking large local artwork on every wall. Modular lounge, flat screen tv, a bar, large dining area for 12 people, three large bedrooms with double beds with moquito net, flat screen tv, large bathrooms with skylight. Pick-up to and from airport, a cook on site who shops for fresh ingredients and fixes all your meals, a butler to make all your reservations, bookings and all other arrangements. Very cool!

A few Pina Coladas later, we shot back to Nusa Dua to join the rest of the family for our Chinese New Year dinner at the Hamabe Japanese Restaurant at the Westin. The sushi buffet was worth the wait. It was fully booked the day we checked in. We had to wait a week for the next one. The quality is second to none. The food was sumptious and delicious. Level of service at the restaurant was superb. I can hardly believe that this is included in our package.

My favourite - sake.

Brilliant meal. Great spread. Very satisfying. Two days of yoga is not going to cut it for this broad in 5 inch heels. It's getting harder and harder to suck the belly in! Kampai!



abroadin5inchheels...