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Wednesday, April 11, 2012

My blog

In the archives on the right hand side of this page  is a list of posts, they are  from past Bali trips. 2012 and 2011 are two separate trips with a post for different areas . Under the title 2010  is just one very long page with photos and stories about lots of past Bali trips.
In the bar above (under our photo) are titles of other pages/places, click to view those holiday photos and stories.


 I love going on holidays and have had so much help over the years from people on the net. I hope sharing our holidays will help others.



Monday, April 9, 2012

Shopping for March 2012 trip

I love a challenge therefore I love shopping in Bali.
 Years ago it stopped becoming quite so much fun as I had bought most of what I wanted. 
Then I had an idea.
 I'm a hairdresser and all my clients love my Bali gear, so I now buy lots and lots of things to sell in my salon at a huge profit! 
Whatever I get from the sales (including what I originally paid) goes to Bumi Sehat Birthing Clinic 

I have fun and my clients love the fact they are making a donation plus getting unusual gear. They know they are paying a lot more than I paid and I tell them it's from Bali so there are No guarantees! They are making a donation and getting a gift! 

Good for me, good for them and best of all..... good for Bali :)

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Here is some of what I bought this trip. 

Often things start at what we call 'silly price' if I can remember I have written starting price in brackets so if your new to shopping in Bali you'll realise how much you can bargain down sometimes.
Prices can change from shop to shop, sometimes someone will not match what you just paid 5 minutes ago.

Sunglasses any type
 We paid 20,000-25,000 in Kuta/Legian/Sanur but only 15,000 for the same at Sukawati markets near Ubud.
 Then we met up with a girlfriend who said they had only been paying 10,000 to 15,000 in Kuta
(Starting price can be around 200,000)


Pencil chop sticks for Ry
from Lolita's in Seminyak
 I think they were 35,000 rp set price

 Bought these at Matahari in Kuta I lOVE them.
 Lisa calls them my little Kickers
549,000 RP

 I buy these frangipani butterfly clips every trip 25,000 rp for a box of twelve. Some places want more but you'll get them somewhere.
(starting price can be 50,000 each clip)
Maybe I've paid 30,000 rp a box if I absolutely love the colours.
I've bought them at Ubud markets, Sukawati markets, also around the southern beaches but I can't remember where.
Open the box and check a few clips, also make sure you haven't got the box with all the left over dull colours.



Shear cotton scarves from Ubud markets 12,000 rp each 
I saw them for the same price at Hardy's in Sanur




The sarongs from Ubud markets paid 25,000 for some and 30,000 for others, exactly the same sarongs just got them cheaper at different stalls.
(starting price 200,000)


 I call this my Mary Poppins bag from the street along side Sukawati markets
35,000 or 40,000 I can't remember exactly

Beaded bangles from  Sukawati markets 20 for 20,000 rp
( starting price something stupid like 80,000rp each!)

15,000 rp most beautiful butterfly sarong from Sukawati
Lisa Joe and I all bought one:)
(starting price about 120,000)


Lisa's little dog she paid 180,000 rp .
 We saw similar in Sanur set price shop for over 900,000 rp
(starting price around 450,000 rp)

Silk tops from Ubud markets and Ubud streets 100,000 rp
I have a gorgeous silk top Lisa bought me last year that is over locked and washes well. These tops aren't over locked, the stitching started to come undone as soon as I carefully hand washed them! 
I still love them:)
But they are not worth 100,000rp

See how the green neck (below) scoops down a little more? it's amazing how hanging up they look the same. Because when they are on, the necklines sit like two different styles.
 Never assume it's the same just because it looks alike.



Silk sarongs from Ubud markets two for 300,000 rp maybe I paid to much but these are lush! Took forever to get them for this price.
I'm on a mission next trip to get them cheaper for work.
Tips anyone???


 My cotton skirt from 'sama sayang' on Hanoman Street Ubud 150,000 rp
I loved a lot of stuff in this shop and I'll be back in July

Apron from Down To earth in Ubud 100,000 rp

My yoga top from Yoga Shop on Hanoman Street
 OMG I can't believe I paid that much!! 


 Shell sun catchers 10,000 each Sanur
I think I should of paid 5,000 each
(starting price 50,000 each)

Green pottery bowl I've got a few of these in different sizes and patterns, I'm fussy with the colour and glaze. This one is very rich in both.
105,000 rp from Rita gift shop 
Jl. Danau Tamblingan No 81 Sanur


Wind catcher from next door to Ritas
35,000 rp
  
Bottle opener from Sanur beach markets 20,000

 Long rayon pants 40,000 each Sanur beach markets.
 I have bought these for 35,000 in the past.
  
Rainbow dress, it's the only thing I regret buying.
Sanur beach markets 50,000 rp

 My beautiful feather duster.
 The customs lady in Australia laughed at me!
 she said all it's going do is make dust go all over the place.
I don't care :)
From coco mart in Sanur 
I can't find the receipt but it wasn't much, maybe 12,000 rp or was it 22,000rp?




 Scarves from Hardy's last minute purchase 
 28,900 rp each 
 



Hair sticks from Hardy's
15,000 20,000 and 35,000rp


Silver ring with tigers eye stone from Sayang 
 Jl. Danau Tamblingan 
set price 125,000 rp

I bought this frog ring years ago in the same shop, love it!


 Bali bag number 5 for check in luggage 60,000 from Toot Sie

Sunday, April 8, 2012

6) Sanur last day

Lisa and I go home tonight.
Mum and Joe are staying for another week, heading over to Kuta for Nypie day. 

 I'm on the net and at some point I have a look on the Bali TripAdvisor forum, there are a couple of post that have been terminated so of course I click on them. There is all this talk of shootings and terrorist in Sanur! I switch to Google (my friend) to read up on it as much as I can. It seems the first night that Lisa and I were in Sanur there was a big police raid on suspected terrorist and the police shot and killed some men.

We aren't staying far from where this happened and had no idea anything was going on. People were on the forum asking if it was safe, saying they had heard people were hiding in the hotels and here we had been wandering around trying new food and checking out hotels! So much for being registered with dfat.

 I'm always surprised at peoples reaction when something happens in Bali, the government warnings are there when you book. I go to Bali feeling 99% safe (once the plane lands), but I don't consider the government warnings to be of no consequence. 
We talked about it and decide mum and Joe should rethink their Nypie day plans. That's about it, not much you can do about it really. 

To lighten the mood....
 this breakfast plate belongs to Joanne.
What a way to start the day!!

A girlfriend was staying in Kuta with her daughters and
we arrange to met up with her out the front of Griya.





When we were talking to the American lady in Ubud she said she had read Sanur beach was dirty, I told her I've never seen it dirty. I've seen lots of seaweed washed up but living on the coast I consider that to be natural not dirty.
 I hadn't ever stayed at Sanur in March before, maybe the seasons make a difference? I decided to take lots of beach photos trying to show an honest picture.

Out the front of Griya doesn't look dirty to me



only seaweed to be found


I walked out here to find star fish but there weren't any, usually there are heaps of big red ones.
Looking back towards Griya


Next beach south is a bit messy, but again mostly only seaweed and sticks. I saw one or two wrappers, cleaner than a lot of  Sydney beaches.

a tiny tiny hermit crab

 water looks good to me

 From bright sunshine to a tropical storm in a matter of about 5 mins

We end up eating at the Griya pizzeria, 
 Lisa had a calzone? below it was huge!

Our girlfriend Sharman comes back to have a swim at our pool while her girls go for a bike ride along the path. Sharman agrees our hotel looks like an institution :)

Lisa and I make a deal, one trip she will stay at the Griya with me.
The catch is I have to stay at Kuta Lagoon again... :( 

Sharman says goodbye and we go to Hardys

Hardys three floors jam packed full of 'stuff'
You need to know your prices here as some things can be over priced, always ask if they will give you a discount.

 I love these chequered sarongs but they weren't cheap,
 next trip I'm on a mission to get some



Back to the hotel, Joanne and I get the lift up to the top floor to check out the view.

The roof tops of Sanur



I've spent this trip looking for a gift for a close friend. 
Joanne comes with me to our favourite silver shop in Sanur 'Sayang'.
I can't believe it, literally at the last hour I find it.
She loves tigers eye stones and circles, perfect!!


 Lisa and I pack our bags, then grab a driver off the street, he chats the whole way.
 He shows us the area where the police raid was as we drive past and talks about the problems in Bali. 
He tells us that villages like Sanur are starting up private security groups, made up of locals they patrol the streets at night. He says locals are now always looking, looking to stop the trouble that is coming to Bali.
We talk about the traffic and I say they need more public transport "No" he says "look" as he points to a big empty bus stuck in traffic. he tells us the buses go broke because it is so cheap to buy a bike and Balinese like to be independent!

We get to JetStar check in and find out the travel agent has messed up our booking. We paid for two checked in bags, but she only booked one. Lisa and I were the fools at the check in counter pulling everything out of our luggage, stuffing it into our carry on bags. Lucky we didn't have to much weight and could redistribute, but it was hot and annoying.

We decided not to go to the lounges, went to some gross little cafe instead, after the fourth cockroach climbed up the wall I couldn't eat my toasted sandwich. I really don't like this airport, I'm sad that it's the last thing I see when I leave Bali.



7 nights makes this the shortest trip I've had to Bali, the longest I've stayed was for a month.
 I always said I wouldn't bother going for less than 2 weeks, but we had an absolutely fantastic time it felt like we had been away for two weeks. I'd go for a week again no hesitation, although 10 night would be better:)
 Over 7 nights we stayed in Kuta, Ubud and Sanur, moving around wasn't a drama at all. 
I'll be back with the same crew for three weeks in July and I can't wait!!!!