BALI 2009/10

Our trip to Bali did not start off so good. I left our passport wallet at the check-in counter,no ID in them so had to get checked out of the system to go back and oh ,how lucky was I they were there.? They had most of our cash in them!!!!Check in again and off we go.Arrive at hotel, get cases from car. No Trev, that is not our case! Frantic call to Raceng,who sends a driver. Back to airport , case at lost & found. Other one we have to deliver to owner. OK then holiday starts. Hotel Griya Santrian much better than expected and Vicki, Trav & Caitlyn , 5 mins walk, right next door in the Basaki.We had not been to Bali for 12 years and I list the new improved Bali. Sanur, quiet but good. Toilets at most restaurants,clean & flushing Hotel great Restaurants,good Food, variety & good Shopping, diversity Cars ,new & aircon Iced coffees(try Mona Lisa's ) Bakery items available Supermarkets with good range Safari Park, excellent Spice Gardens , interesting Bali Collection, Nusa Dua, still good Markets, shops,variety Prices,still 1/2 or 1/3 Traffic, organised chaos but never felt threatened as drivers are patient. Cars & driver, about $60-$70 a day and very obliging. (YES WE HAVE PHONE & EMAIL NUMBERS.) What with apologies to a lovely country and a lovely people; I DON"T like?????????????????????, Garuda service (the cabin stewardess had the cheek to ask for the Garuda pen back ...we travelled business!!!!!!!!!!!) Filthy toilets in airport and I believe Marta Hari too. Garuda lounge at Denpassar airport,lousy food, dirty toilet,had to tell the boy to clean the dirty coffee machine. The American who spoke loudly on his mobile while guide at Safari park was giving us information. He then had the cheek to tell Trev that he was rude for chastising him! Busy Kuta,best avoided. Bali dogs. Still a lot of dirt and unsanitary rubbish collections. Bali Belly, despite preventitive efforts. Fortunately not as bad as usual. Merry Xmas Trev Beautiful little dancers to entertain us for Xmas Dinner at the Bali Beach shack

Sunrise over pool at Griya santrian, Sanur, Bali

Lights on

Huge carving

Inside room

Outside of room

Caitlyn walking with elephant (not real)

Monkey hugs

Caitlyn feeding elephants

Safari Park, monkey helping with tree planting.

Safari park had 2 shows , with environmental themes. This elephant pretended it was shot.

Yes , the animals were this close

Yes,kissed by an elephant

Caitlyn with serviette hat in Ubud restaurant

Seeking blessings at holy spring

Bali farm worker

Rice terraces

We MUST market

Pool at Pondok Bambu, Candi Dasa

Coffee roasting

Coffee fruit at Spice Gardens

My satays at the Mona Lisa (Also have the best iced coffee in Bali) A tranquil corner at Griya Santrian

Ginger plant

High Tea at Seminyak

Something sweet at the Wicked Parrot. Bali Galleria

Raceng,Putri and family