The unpacking is partly done with clothes strewn all over the floor but we are too lazy to do anything about it.
The trip was a huge success, the days filled with activities albeit too much so I hardly read my holiday book. The start of the trip however was not at all rosy and too stressful.
As soon as we landed in Denpasar at 4.10pm, we were faced with about 2000 other tourists at immigration. There were confusing lines and people were shuffling in stealth from the visa line to the main line and nerves were rattled.
15 koreans shuffled right into our lane and those in the front of the line were Japanese and too polite to tell them to shove off ! T went up and tried to reason with some of them but they were nervous and looked at each other and shrugged,
After 1 long hour, we finally got through, and hit the ground running. The driver sent us to the villa to drop off the bags and we headed straight to Kudeta where the Thomases were waiting.
The place was packed and vibe clubby. I hover haven't seen them for year now and there was lots of catching up. The girls have all grown up and Ally is 7 while Maddie is 9 going on 16. :)
The next day T and I went round Seminyak street, browsing in the shops in Seminyak but I had my shopping fill 3 weeks ago so didn't buy anything else.
The villa had arranged for a 2 hour spa treat for us in the afternoon and after that we went up to Tanah Lot Le Meridien to meet the Thomases.
The girls and I spent the afternoon going down water slides and it was tons of fun. The Meridien is a bit old but the hotel grounds were lush and appeared very comfortable. At only 90 USD a night, we plan to stay there next time. With 3 pools and 5 restaurants, one doesn't really need to leave the hotel at all. Seminyak is only a half hour drive away anyway.
The golf course is the main highlight, the par 3 has the picture postcard view of the tanah lot temple and at sunset, it is a popular spot for photos.
T and D had a game, I missed out but spent the day shopping with D for her new house. Chez Thomas is 50% completed and we saw the foundations and the walls going up. In Feb 2010. the place will be fully built and hopefully we will get invited to stay over !!
The birthday dinner at Sarong was very good. The exec. chef is also responsible for Long Grain, one of my fav restaurants. Dishes were Indian and Thai influenced and everything was good. Especically the dessert which had black sticky rice with rich coconut cream and mango ice cream.
Grilled fish ....yum
On the last day, the car took us to Ungasan, the southern most tip of Bali, to Karma Kandara. The hotel is even more spectacular than the photos I posted previously. Di Mare restaurant that overlooks the vast ocean and the pool served up a fantastic meal. T has the seafood bouillabaise and I, the seared scallops with melted leeks and green lentils.
Nammos Beach Club can only be accessed via a lift ! The beach club had sofas on the sand and cabanas reserved for hotel guests.
It was truly divine but afforded only by the rich and famous. The bottom rung villas are all 2 bedrooms and cost USD 900 per night and get this, you don't even get a sea view! They are all placed at the back of the hotel. Only the 3 and 4 bedroom villas are ocean facing. The palatial villa is at USD 7,000 a night and has 5 rooms, own spa, butler, gym......
Still, it was an experience and anyone who is planning a bali trip, I say go for the food, it is outstanding.
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